[Gender differences in the hospitalization and reperfusion delays in the acute coronary syndrome]

To study delay times in women with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and ST segment elevation (STSEACS) until administration of possible reperfusion therapy as well as its possible differences in relationship to the men.

A study was conducted in 1,849 patients consecutively hospitalized in a Coronary Unit from January 2000 to December 2005 who had been diagnosed of ACS. Different delay times were studied from the beginning of the symptoms, comparing them between genders and correcting this by variable age.

The percentage of women was 24.4% with a mean age of 71.5 years. Medium delay time from the beginning of the symptoms to contact with the first health care agent was significantly (p < 0.001), longer for women than for men, 164 min. vs 120 min. Reperfusion treatments were used in 57.6% of the subjects, with a significant difference (p < 0.01) of 7.6% between men (59.5%) and women (51.9%).

Delay times are greater in women than men, above all regarding the beginning of the symptoms until arrival to the first health care agent. Currently, reperfusion treatments are performed more in men than in women, the differences are minimum when adjusted by age.