Gender differences in the treatment and outcome of patients with acute coronary syndrome in Navarre

BACKGROUND Gender-based approaches have revealed the differing prevalence, incidence, progression and mortality of acute coronary disease by sex. This study aims to determine the difference by sex in the treatment and outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in Navarre. METHODS Thirty-five variables were analysed from 130 users with acute coronary disease who attended the Navarre Hospital (CHN) emergency department consecutively from January to April 2012. The dependent variable was sex and independent variables were time, treatments and final outcome of the process. RESULTS Males accounted for 74.6% of the sample, with a mean age of 67, which was less than the mean age of 72 for the female patients (p = 0.043). The median for cardiovascular risk factors was three in men and two in women (p = 0.026). The patient delay in seeking health care was 161 minutes in men compared to 266 minutes in women (p = 0.006). Treatment via revascularization by primary angioplasty or fibrinolysis was performed in 71.6% of men and 41.2% of women (p = 0.002). A 5.9% death rate was registered for women, with no deaths among the men (p = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS In Navarre, acute coronary syndrome remains more prevalent among men yet more severe in women. Treatment differs according to gender. Greater delay in seeking health care is observed among women, as is self-discharge from hospital, which may contribute to their less favourable outcomes.