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Published on: June 10, 2025
Gender differences among Norwegian patients with heart failure
Bjorn Brandsaeter1, Dan Atar, Stefan Agewall
1Medical Department, Division of Cardiology, Aker University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
International Journal of Cardiology
|August 25, 2009
Summary
Gender differences exist in heart failure characteristics and treatment, but survival rates were similar for men and women in a real-world Norwegian study.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Clinical Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Growing evidence suggests disparities in heart failure (HF) outcomes and treatments between genders.
- Real-world data is crucial for understanding these potential sex-based differences in HF management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gender-specific differences in the treatment and outcomes of patients with heart failure.
- To compare characteristics and survival rates between men and women diagnosed with heart failure.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 3,632 patients from the Norwegian Heart Failure Registry (2000-2006).
- Patients were stratified based on ejection fraction (EF) ≥ 50% and < 50% for gender comparisons.
- Follow-up data was collected until death or end of 2006.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in baseline characteristics and medical history were observed between genders, particularly in the EF < 50% group.
- Men showed higher usage of statins and warfarin; coronary heart disease was a more frequent cause of HF in men.
- Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed no significant difference in survival rates between men and women.
Conclusions:
- Real-world heart failure patients exhibit distinct characteristics, medical histories, and treatment patterns based on gender.
- Despite these differences, overall survival rates in heart failure were found to be equal between men and women in this cohort.
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