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Effect of gender on left ventricular function during exercise in patients with coronary artery disease
Insights
Gender does not impact left ventricular (LV) function in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Comparable CAD extent in men and women showed similar LV dysfunction and myocardial ischemia during exercise.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Medical Research
Background:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) affects millions globally.
- Understanding gender-specific differences in cardiovascular disease is crucial for tailored treatment.
- Left ventricular (LV) function is a key indicator of cardiac health in CAD patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of gender on left ventricular (LV) function in patients diagnosed with coronary artery disease (CAD).
- To compare cardiovascular responses to exercise between men and women with similar extents of CAD.
- To determine if gender independently affects LV function or myocardial ischemia in the context of CAD.
Main Methods:
- Study included 84 men and 20 women with significant coronary artery disease (CAD).
- All participants underwent rest and exercise radionuclide ventriculography using a bicycle ergometer.
- Evaluated parameters included LV ejection fraction and systolic pressure-to-end-systolic volume ratio.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were found between genders in age, hypertension, medications, or CAD extent.
- Despite longer exercise duration in men, heart rates and blood pressures were similar during exercise.
- Proportions of angina pectoris and ST depression were comparable, indicating similar myocardial ischemia.
- LV ejection fraction and systolic pressure-to-end-systolic volume ratio remained similar at rest and during exercise for both genders.
Conclusions:
- Gender does not appear to independently influence left ventricular (LV) function in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).
- Similar manifestations of myocardial ischemia and LV dysfunction were observed in men and women with comparable CAD extent.
- Findings suggest that the extent of CAD is a primary determinant of LV function during exercise, rather than gender.
Abstract:
This study evaluated the effect of gender on left ventricular (LV) function in 84 men and 20 women with coronary artery disease (CAD) (greater than or equal to 50% luminal narrowing of one or more of the major coronary arteries). All patients underwent rest and upright exercise radionuclide ventriculography on a bicycle ergometer. There were no differences between men and women in age, hypertension, medications, and extent of CAD disease (number of diseased vessels or CAD score). Although men exercised for a longer duration than women, both achieved similar exercise heart rates and blood pressures. Angina pectoris or ST depression during exercise occurred in similar proportion in both groups. The LV ejection fraction and the systolic pressure-to-end-systolic volume ratio at rest and during exercise were similar in both men and women. Thus, men and women with comparable extent of CAD demonstrate similar manifestations of myocardial ischemia and LV dysfunction during exercise. Gender does not appear to influence LV function independent of the extent of CAD.