Predicting coronary heart disease events in women: a longitudinal cohort study.

BACKGROUND: More than 240 000 women in the United States die of coronary heart disease annually. Identifying women's symptoms that predict a coronary heart disease event such as myocardial infarction (MI) could decrease mortality. OBJECTIVE: For this longitudinal observational study, we recruited 1097 women, who were either clinician referred or self-referred to a cardiologist and undergoing initial evaluation by a cardiologist, to assess the utility of the prodromal symptoms (PS) section of the McSweeney Acute and Prodromal Myocardial Infarction Symptom Survey (MAPMISS) in predicting the occurrence of cardiac events in women. METHODS AND RESULTS: Seventy-seven women experienced events (angioplasty, stent placement, coronary artery bypass, MI, death) during the 2-year follow up. The most common events were stents alone (38.9%) or in combination with angioplasty (18.2%). Ten women had MIs; 4 experienced cardiac death. Cox proportional hazards was used to model time to event. The prodromal score was significantly associated with risk of an event (hazard ratio, 1.10; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-1.13), as was the number of PSs endorsed by each woman per visit. After covariate adjustment, 5 symptoms were significantly associated with increased risk: discomfort in jaws/teeth, unusual fatigue, arm discomfort, shortness of breath, and general chest discomfort (hazard ratio, 3.97; 95% confidence interval, 2.32-6.78). Women reporting 1 or more of these symptoms were 4 times as likely to experience a cardiac event as women with none. CONCLUSIONS: Both the MAPMISS PS scores and number of PS were significantly associated with cardiac events, independent of risk factors, suggesting that there are specific PSs that can be easily assessed using the MAPMISS. This instrument could be an important component of a predictive screen to assist clinicians in deciding the course of management for women.

Using the McSweeney Acute and Prodromal Myocardial Infarction Symptom Survey to Predict the Occurrence of Short-Term Coronary Heart Disease Events in Women.

BACKGROUND: Few instruments capture symptoms that predict cardiac events in the short-term. This study examines the ability of the McSweeney Acute and Prodromal Myocardial Infarction Symptom Survey to predict acute cardiac events within 3 months of administration and to identify the prodromal symptoms most associated with short-term risk in women without known coronary heart disease. METHODS: The McSweeney Acute and Prodromal Myocardial Infarction Symptom Survey was administered to 1,097 women referred to a cardiologist for initial coronary heart disease evaluation. Logistic regression models were used to examine prodromal symptoms individually and in combination to identify the subset of symptoms most predictive of an event within 3 months. RESULTS: Fifty-one women had an early cardiac event. In bivariate analyses, 4 of 30 prodromal symptoms were significantly associated with event occurrence within 90 days. In adjusted analyses, women reporting arm pain or discomfort and unusual fatigue were more likely (OR, 4.67; 95% CI, 2.08-10.48) to have a cardiac event than women reporting neither. CONCLUSIONS: The McSweeney Acute and Prodromal Myocardial Infarction Symptom Survey may assist in predicting short-term coronary heart disease events in women without known coronary heart disease.

A Review of the Literature on Cardiac Symptoms in Older and Younger Women.

OBJECTIVE: To describe acute and prodromal cardiac symptoms in older and younger women. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and Web of Science databases were searched for articles published between January 2000 and January 2015. STUDY SELECTION: A combination of the MESH terms acute coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction, symptoms, prodromal symptoms, sex, gender, and age was used. The search was limited to studies on humans published in English and original articles related to symptoms of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in women with symptoms stratified by age or analyses adjusted for age and/or sex. DATA EXTRACTION: A total of 432 articles were identified, and 20 met the inclusion criteria. DATA SYNTHESIS: Key findings for differences in acute ACS symptoms for women based on age included the following: (a) typical chest pain and pain of any kind were less likely in older women (≥65 years); (b) women were more likely to have nonpain symptoms of nausea, dyspnea, and fatigue after adjustment for age; (c) most researchers did not adjust for menopausal status or hormone replacement therapy; and (d) findings were consistent across international cohorts. The most common prodromal symptoms in women after adjustment for age included unusual fatigue, discomfort in arms, sleep disturbance, anxiety, general chest discomfort, discomfort in jaws/teeth, and shortness of breath. Although chest symptoms were reported by some women, they were not reported by most women. CONCLUSION: Women older than 65 years with ACS experienced fewer symptoms, more ambiguous symptoms, less chest pain, and more dyspnea. Women older than 50 years were more likely to report prodromal symptoms that include sleep disturbance. Many symptom differences that were statistically significant by age, such as chest pain and shortness of breath, may not be clinically relevant.

African Americans' Perceptions of Adherence to Medications and Lifestyle Changes Prescribed to Treat Hypertension.

More than 80 million Americans have hypertension (HTN), and African Americans (AAs) are disproportionately affected. AAs also have lower rates of adherence to HTN treatment. It is important to understand AAs' perceptions of adherence to develop effective interventions. The aim of this study is to examine AAs' perceptions of adherence to medications and lifestyle changes prescribed to treat HTN. In this qualitative study, we used purposive sampling to recruit Southern AAs with HTN aged 21 and older from a free, faith-based clinic. We recorded individual, in-person interviews about perceptions related to adherence to treatment of HTN and analyzed verbatim transcripts using content analysis and constant comparison. We also conducted medical record audits. Twenty-nine AAs participated (52% female, 38% were <50 years of age, 52% had taken anti-HTN medications for ≥5 years). Audits indicated that 65% had uncontrolled HTN during the previous year. Two main themes included causes of HTN and ways to improve blood pressure. Perceived causes of HTN included diet, stress, unhealthy actions, genes, and obesity. Ways to improve HTN included using cultural treatments "passed down," increasing exercise, reducing stress, and losing weight. Many reported using home remedies to control HTN, including drinking pickle juice. More than half of this sample had uncontrolled HTN. They identified influences of culture on perceptions of adherence including causes and treatment of HTN, and possibly detrimental home remedies. It is imperative that clinicians identify culturally appropriate interventions for this high-risk group.

Perceptions of family history and genetic testing and feasibility of pedigree development among African Americans with hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Pedigree development, family history, and genetic testing are thought to be useful in improving outcomes of chronic illnesses such as hypertension (HTN). However, the clinical utility of pedigree development is still unknown. Further, little is known about the perceptions of African Americans (AAs) of family history and genetic testing. AIMS: This study examined the feasibility of developing pedigrees for AAs with HTN and explored perceptions of family history and genetic research among AAs with HTN. METHODS: The US Surgeon General's My Family Health Portrait was administered, and 30-60 min in-person individual interviews were conducted. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze pedigree data. Interview transcripts were analyzed with content analysis and constant comparison. RESULTS: Twenty-nine AAs with HTN were recruited from one free clinic (15 women, 14 men; mean age 49 years, standard deviation (SD) 9.6). Twenty-six (90%) reported their family history in sufficient detail to develop a pedigree. Perceptions of family history included knowledge of HTN in the family, culturally influenced family teaching about HTN, and response to family history of HTN. Most participants agreed to future genetic testing and DNA collection because they wanted to help others; some said they needed more information and others expressed a concern for privacy. CONCLUSION: The majority of AAs in this sample possessed extensive knowledge of HTN within their family and were able to develop a three-generation pedigree with assistance. The majority were willing to participate in future genetic research.

Disparities in heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases among women.

This article reviews literature pertinent to cardiovascular disparities in women, focusing primarily on heart failure (HF). It provides an in-depth look at causes, biological influences, self-management and lack of adherence to HF-treatment guidelines in women. Disparities in treatment of causative factors of HF, such as myocardial infarction and hypertension, contribute to women having poorer HF outcomes than men. This article discusses major contributing reasons for nonadherence to medication regimes for HF in women, including advanced age at time of diagnosis, likelihood of multiple comorbidities, lack of social support and low socioeconomic status. Limited inclusion of women in clinical trials and the scarcity of gender analyses for HF and other cardiovascular diseases continues to limit the applicability of research findings to women.

Sleep disturbance in women before myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to describe the prevalence and correlates of sleep disturbances among women who retrospectively reported sleep disturbance before their myocardial infarction (MI). MI is frequently unrecognized in women because they may have only vague symptoms, such as sleep disturbance. Describing correlates of sleep disturbance before MI may assist in recognizing women at risk for coronary heart disease. METHODS: A secondary analysis was performed of a dataset derived from 15 sites. RESULTS: Of 1270 women experiencing initial MI, 632 reported new onset of or worsening sleep disturbance before MI. Prevalence was similar across racial groups. Women reporting prodromal sleep disturbance were more likely to be older, to be heavier, and to report cognitive changes (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.47), new or increasing anxiety (adjusted OR, 2.21), and unusual fatigue (adjusted OR, 2.16). CONCLUSION: Subjective reports of sleep disturbance preceding MI seem to be prevalent in women of all races and may be an important warning sign for MI in women.

Disparities in women's cardiovascular health.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in women, and disparities affect the diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of CVD for women. Biology, genetics, and race contribute to these disparities. Obstetric-gynecologic health care providers routinely encounter women who are at risk for developing CVD and are uniquely positioned as a point of access to intervene to improve/prevent CVD by assessing for risks and discussing healthy lifestyle changes during routine visits.

Going the distance: overcoming challenges in recruitment and retention of Black and White women in multisite, longitudinal study of predictors of coronary heart disease.

High recruitment and retention rates are hallmarks of scientifically rigorous longitudinal research. However, recruitment and retention are challenging, especially with older adults and minorities. In this article, we discuss strategies that have enabled us to retain more than 80% of both Black and White women in a 5-year observational study. To overcome challenges such as staff turnover and introduction of computerized record systems, we developed a time-saving handout, streamlined procedures for documenting contact information, and motivated site staff through weekly personal contact. We responded to problems with mailed privacy consent forms by garnering approval for verbal consent that allowed immediate response to participants' questions. In addition to standard steps to minimize attrition, we encouraged ongoing participation with personal letters following interviews, "refrigerator reminders" of the next interview date, and "missing you" letters following missed appointments. We believe these and other strategies described in this article were responsible for our high retention rate.