Background: An increasing interest has been shown in potential gender differences in treating patients with heart failure (HF), a serious condition for the individual. To evaluate whether there are any differences in the prevalence of HF, cardiac function, biomarkers, and the treatment of HF with respect to gender.
Methods and results: All persons ages 70 to 80 in a rural municipality were invited to participate in the project; 876 persons accepted. Three cardiologists evaluated the patients including a new history, clinical examination, electrocardiogram, chest x-ray, blood samples, and Doppler echocardiography to assess both systolic and diastolic function. The patients were followed during a mean period of 8 years.
Conclusion: Females had hypertension more frequently and included fewer smokers than their male counterparts. A female preponderance was seen in those with preserved systolic function, whereas males predominated among those with systolic dysfunction. During the follow-up period, 20% of the males and 14% of the females died of cardiovascular diseases. The results did not show any inferior treatment of females with HF, but it clearly was more difficult to correctly classify female patients presenting with symptoms of HF.