Subjective symptoms and well-being differ in women and men after myocardial infarction

• The frequency of subjective cardiac and psychological complaints among men and women a year after a confirmed diagnosis of myocardial infarction (MI) were compared. Among 660 survivors, 595 patients completed mailed questionnaires at home one year after the MI. There were 421 men, mean age 67.1±10.7 years, and 174 women, mean age 72.1±10.6 years. Controlling for the significantly higher mean age among the women, the latter more often had a previous history of angina pectoris, 54.6% (P≤0.05) versus 42.9%, and heart failure, 24.7% versus 13.5% (P≤0.01). Despite these facts, the women were significantly less often referred to CCU, 82.2% versus 91.7% (P≤0.05). One year after the MI, controlling for differences in age and co-morbidity, women reported significantly higher frequencies of psychological and psychosomatic complaints, including sleep disturbances. These differences may have clinical implications for diagnosis and treatment of women with coronary heart disease.

Nyckelord

Myocardial infarction

gender

well-being

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)