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Senior Citizen Health & Medicine
Lack of Statin, Aspirin Therapy May be Why Women
Trail Men in Decline of Cardiovascular Deaths
Only 78.1% of women treated with statins, 90.8% of
men; men 6 times more likely to get aspirin, beta-blockers, too
March 7, 2008 The use of statins, aspirin and
beta-blockers seem to have led in a dramatic decrease in the
cardiovascular death rate for men. Women, however, who have led men in
the number of cardiovascular-related deaths since 1984, have not shown
this same rate decline and a new study suggests it is because women are
significantly less likely than their male counterparts to be treated
with these therapies.
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Health & Medicine |
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The researchers at Rush University Medical Center
point out that women and men experience a similar prevalence of adverse
drug reactions in the treatment of coronary artery disease; which should
eliminate that as a reason women are treated less frequently with these
drugs.
The study is published in the March issue of the
journal Gender Medicine.
Developments in disease recognition and novel
treatment strategies have led to a significant decline in overall
cardiovascular death rate among men, but these dramatic improvements
have not been observed in women, said Dr. Jonathan R. Enriquez, lead
author of the study and resident internal medicine physician at Rush.
This may be related to underutilization of medical
therapies such as aspirin, ί-blockers, ACE inhibitors or statins.
In association with Dr. Annabelle Volgman and the
Rush Heart Center for Women, the study involved 304 consecutive patients
with coronary artery disease at the outpatient cardiology clinic at
Rush.
A retrospective observational analysis was
performed to determine the usage and adverse reactions reported from
aspirin, ί-blockers, angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or
statins.
Baseline clinical characteristics were also determined to
identify the independent association of gender on usage of standard
medical coronary artery disease treatments.
The study found that only 78.1 percent of women
were treated with statins compared to 90.8 percent of men. After
adjustment for clinical characteristics, men were also found to be six
times more likely to receive aspirin and beta-blockers.
No significant
difference was noted between genders in the prevalence of adverse drug
reactions.
The physicians perception of either anticipated
adverse drug reactions or less severe disease may be influencing their
decision to not prescribe these medications for women, said Enriquez.
We encourage further studies to identify the cause of this disparity,
so that care for women with coronary artery disease may be optimized.
Coronary artery disease is the leading-cause of
death among women in the United States and annually since 1984 the
number of cardiovascular-related deaths in women has exceeded that of
men.
Women may not only suffer from decreased survival with coronary
artery disease, but may also experience a worse quality of life than
men.
Given the findings of this study and other studies
documenting the underutilization of current medical therapies in women,
we must consider potential solutions to improve care of all patients
during the outpatient visit, said Enriquez.
Editor's Notes:
At the Rush Heart Center for Women, women with
heart problems are diagnosed and treated with great sensitivity and
innovation by a team of cardiologists, nurse practitioners, nurses,
nutritionists and cardiothoracic surgeons who are supported by the
comprehensive resources of a world-class academic medical center. Women
without overt heart disease are assessed and advised on how to prevent
heart disease and stroke, according to the Center.
Rush University Medical Center is an academic
medical center that encompasses the more than 600 staffed-bed hospital
(including Rush Childrens Hospital), the Johnston R. Bowman Health
Center and Rush University.
Rush University, with more than 1,270
students, is home to one of the first medical schools in the Midwest,
and one of the nations top-ranked nursing colleges. Rush University
also offers graduate programs in allied health and the basic sciences.
Rush is noted for bringing together clinical care and research to
address major health problems, including arthritis and orthopedic
disorders, cancer, heart disease, mental illness, neurological disorders
and diseases associated with aging.
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