Sex differences in the quality of life of patients with acute coronary syndrome treated with percutaneous coronary intervention after a 3-year follow-up

Abstract

BackgroundThe aims of this study were to analyze the dynamics of quality of life (QoL) changes after 36 months from the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) depending on sex and identify baseline predictors of the follow-up QoL of patients hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and subjected to PCI.Methods and resultsThe study included 137 patients, females (n=67) and males (n=70), with ACS who underwent PCI. The QoL was assessed using the MacNew Heart Disease Health-Related Quality of Life questionnaire. The group of females scored lower in all the domains of the MacNew Heart Disease Health-Related Quality of Life questionnaire in the initial measurement (B1), in the measurement after 6 months (B2), and in the long-term follow-up measurement (36 months – B3). Despite the fact that both groups achieved improved QoL, its values were higher in the males. The average growth rate of the QoL score in the period from the sixth month to 36th month was higher in females than in males. In the univariate and multivariate analyses, significant independent predictors with a negative influence on the long-term QoL score included female sex (ρ=−0.190, β=−0.21), age >60 years (ρ=−0.255, β=−0.186), and diabetes (ρ=−0.216, β=−0.216).ConclusionIn a 36-month follow-up of ACS patients treated with PCI, there were no statistically significant differences in QoL between sexes. In the entire cohort, there was improvement in QoL, which was higher in the case of the females studied. For the entire group, significant independent determinants of lower QoL 3 years after ACS included female sex, age >60 years, and diabetes.

How gender-specific are predictors of post-MI HRQoL? A longitudinal study

“…Like the majority of earlier studies we observed gender differences in both components of HRQoL, however Bogg 21 found that women scored lower only on emotional HRQoL. Also like other studies of longer-term recovery [7][8][9] we found that gender difference in HRQoL were no longer present 1 year after MI.…”

“…However, our finding that in women use of beta-blockers at T1 was associated with higher discomfort at T3 is not consistent with other research. Arendarczyk [37] found that use of beta-blockers two years after MI was positively associated with HRQoL, whereas another study found that use of beta-blockers exacerbated functional decline in older nursing homes residents with cognitive impairment [38]. Use of anxiolytics at T1 positively predicted discomfort in both genders at the earlier timepoints,…”

“…There is some evidence that after MI women report lower HRQoL than their male counterparts. Most of the differences were observed at short-and medium-term follow-up (up to 3 years after MI) and among patients less than 70 years old; after longer periods (2.510 years after MI) and among older (> 70 years) patients the gender difference disappears [7][8][9]. This difference in HRQoL is dangerous and disadvantageous for women, as low HRQoL and lack of improvement in HRQoL have been shown to predict recurrence of cardiovascular events 6 [10] and 13 years after MI [11].…”

How gender-specific are predictors of post-MI HRQoL? A longitudinal study

“…It related to both components of HRQoL, but many studies indicate that the effect depends on the HRQoL dimension [21]. Also, like other studies of longer-term recovery [6][7][8], the difference in HRQoL was no longer present 1 year after MI.…”

“…There is some evidence that after an MI, women report lower HRQoL than their male counterparts. Most of the differences were observed at short-and medium-term follow-up (up to 3 years after MI), and among patients less than 70 years old; after longer periods (2.5 to 10 years after MI) and among older patients (> 70 years) the gender difference disappeared [6][7][8]. This difference in HRQoL is dangerous and disadvantageous for women, as low HRQoL and lack of improvement in HRQoL have been shown to predict a recurrence of cardiovascular events 6 [9] and 13 years post-MI [10].…”