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Differences in risk factors for acute coronary syndromes between men and women

Neslihan Kurtulmus1, Serap Bos, Senem Arslan

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Educational and Research Hospital of Vakif Gureba, Turkey. neslihandr@hotmail.com

Acta Cardiologica
|July 5, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Coronary heart disease risk factors are common in both men and women. Women showed higher rates of hypertension and diabetes, while men had higher smoking rates, indicating a need for targeted prevention strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Coronary heart disease (CHD) remains a leading cause of mortality globally.
  • Understanding the prevalence of CHD risk factors in different demographic groups is crucial for effective prevention.
  • Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) represents a critical manifestation of CHD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the prevalence of key risk factors for coronary heart disease in a population presenting with acute coronary syndrome.
  • To compare the distribution of these risk factors between men and women.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 414 patients (335 men, 79 women) diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome was analyzed.
  • Data on prevalent risk factors including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, and body mass index were collected and compared between sexes.

Main Results:

  • A high proportion of both women (74.7%) and men (84.8%) exhibited sex-specific risk factors for CHD.
  • Women presented with significantly higher rates of hypertension (58.2% vs. 28.1%) and diabetes mellitus (51.9% vs. 28.1%).
  • Men showed a higher prevalence of smoking (77.0% vs. 31.6%), while both sexes had high body mass index, with women exceeding men.

Conclusions:

  • The frequent occurrence of CHD risk factors in patients with ACS underscores the importance of preventive health policies.
  • Tailored public health strategies are necessary to address the distinct risk factor profiles observed in men and women.
  • Early identification and management of hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and obesity are vital for reducing the burden of coronary heart disease.
Abstract

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