Jabbari R, et al. - This study focused on the gender disparities in clinical features, circumstances of arrest, and procedural characteristics in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients with ventricular fibrillation (VF) prior to angioplasty. With respect to clinical characteristics and circumstances of arrest, several sex differences existed. Furthermore, in women, especially in those with low socioeconomic status, the emphasis should be laid on the significance of seeking acute medical attention when experiencing angina.

Methods

• Researchers identified cases of VF with first STEMI (n = 329; 276 men and 53 women) from the GEVAMI study, which is prospectively assembled case-control study among first STEMI patients in Denmark.

Results

• Findings demonstrated that women versus men experienced symptoms for a longer time interval prior to angioplasty (140 vs. 166 min, p = 0.020), and were more likely to present with VF later during transport to the hospital rather than prior to emergency medical services arrival (36 vs. 52%, p = 0.040).
• Researchers noted that prior to VF, women had a significantly lower income (p = 0.002) and education level (p = 0.008), were less likely to consume alcohol (3 vs. 6 units, p = 0.040), more likely to smoke (71 vs. 52%, p = 0.007), and more likely to have depression (25 vs. 10%, p = 0.002) or a history of angina (59 vs. 42%, p = 0.030).
• Despite women having more angina within a year prior to VF, no difference was observed in self-reported contact with the healthcare system (p = 0.200).
• In addition, multivariable logistic regression models demonstrated that history of angina (OR = 2.70;p = 0.006), low educational level (OR = 2.80, p = 0.012) and low income (OR = 6.00, p = 0.005) remained significantly related to female sex.
• Men and women did not differ in terms of procedural characteristics.