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Disability predicted mortality in men but not women with coronary heart disease

Anna Kattainen1, Antti Reunanen, Seppo Koskinen

  • 1Department of Health and Functional Capacity, National Public Health Institute, Mannerheimintie 166, FIN-00300 Helsinki, Finland. anna.kattainen@ktl.fi

Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
|June 16, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Disability predicts higher mortality in men with coronary heart disease (CHD). However, this association was not observed in women with existing CHD, suggesting potential gender differences in disease impact.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Epidemiology
  • Public Health
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Disability is a known mortality risk factor in acute myocardial infarction patients.
  • The population-level impact of disability on mortality in coronary heart disease (CHD) is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate disability as a predictor of all-cause and CHD mortality in a national population sample.
  • To examine potential gender differences in the relationship between disability and mortality.

Main Methods:

  • A national sample of 4,501 Finnish men and women aged 45+ was examined between 1978-1980.
  • Disability was assessed as a predictor of mortality over a follow-up period until the end of 1994.
  • Analyses adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors.

Main Results:

  • Disability predicted increased all-cause and CHD mortality in men, irrespective of baseline CHD status.
  • In women with existing CHD, disability did not predict excess mortality.
  • Disability was associated with increased mortality in women without baseline CHD.

Conclusions:

  • Disability is a significant predictor of mortality in men with CHD.
  • The predictive value of disability for mortality differs between men and women with CHD.
  • Further research in diverse populations is needed to confirm these gender-specific findings.
Abstract

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