Abstract
Heart Disease in Women: What We Know and What We Dont Know
Variables of race/ethnicity, sex and age significantly influence the pathophysiology and clinical features of heart failure and may impact response to treatment. However, because of low rates of inclusion of these groups in randomized clinical trials, evidence for treatment specific to these groups is sparse. Comparisons of heart failure risk factors by ethnicity reveal higher incidences of hypertension in African Americans, and higher incidences of diabetes and renal disease in Hispanics compared with whites who have higher incidences of ischemic heart failure. Hospitalizations are highest for African Americans, lowest for non-Hispanic whites and intermediate for Hispanics.
Fifty percent of heart failure patients are women with greater numbers of women older than 79 years than men with heart failure. Women have less ischemic heart failure than men, and a somewhat better prognosis than men. Women hospitalized with heart failure generally receive recommended therapy at similar rates as men. However, because of the low inclusion of women in randomized clinical trials, the evidence supp
orting use of common heart failure drugs is less robust in women compared to men. |
