Medical treatment in coronary patients : is there still a gender gap? Results from European Society of Cardiology EUROASPIRE V Registry

Purpose This study is aimed at investigating gender differences in the medical management of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods Analyses were based on the ESC EORP EUROASPIRE V (European Survey Of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention And Diabetes) survey. Consecutive patients between 18 and 80 years, hospitalized for a coronary event, were included in the study. Information on cardiovascular medication intake at hospital discharge and at follow-up (>= 6 months to 0.01) at discharge and follow-up respectively. However, a statistically significant difference was found in the use of statins at follow-up, in disfavor of women (82.8% vs. 77.7%;P 0.01). Furthermore, women were less likely than men to have received a CABG (20.4% vs. 13.2%;P < 0.001) or PCI (82.1% vs. 74.9%; P < 0.001) at follow-up. No gender differences were observed in prescribed (P = 0.10) and attended (P = 0.63) cardiac rehabilitation programs. Conclusion The EUROASPIRE V results show only limited gender differences in the medical management of CHD patients. Current findings suggest growing awareness about risk in female CHD patients