Does heart failure therapy differ according to patient sex?

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Clinical Medicine
• Sex Differences in Health

Background:

• Heart failure (HF) affects millions globally, with potential disparities in care and outcomes between sexes.
• Multidisciplinary HF units aim to optimize patient management and treatment strategies.
• Understanding sex-based differences in HF is crucial for personalized medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and one-year outcomes for men and women with HF.
• To identify any sex-specific variations in medication use and dosage within a specialized HF setting.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 350 patients (256 men) treated at a multidisciplinary HF unit was analyzed.
• Patients' first unit visit occurred between August 2001 and April 2004.
• Pharmacological interventions and outcomes were assessed at one year of follow-up.

Main Results:

• Women were significantly older than men (69 vs. 63.6 years) and presented with different HF etiologies and comorbidities.
• While men more frequently received ACE inhibitors and women received ARBs, overall use of these drug classes was similar.
• No significant differences were observed in the use of beta-blockers, loop diuretics, spironolactone, anticoagulants, amiodarone, nitrates, or statins. Women received more digoxin, while men received more aspirin. Doses of carvedilol were higher in men, and furosemide doses were higher in women.
• One-year mortality rates were comparable between sexes (10.4% for men vs. 10.5% for women).

Conclusions:

• Despite notable differences in baseline characteristics, treatment variations between men and women with HF in a multidisciplinary unit were minor.
• One-year mortality following treatment analysis was similar for both sexes, suggesting effective management regardless of sex.