Contemporary treatment and adherence to guidelines in women and men with acute coronary syndromes.

Background: Historically gender differences existed in treatment and outcome of patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI).

Aim: To assess gender aspects of contemporary treatment and adherence to ACC/AHA Class-I Treatment Guidelines in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: We studied 2024 consecutive patients (519 women, 26%); 1026 (51%) with ST-elevation (STE)-MI and 998 (49%) patients with non-STE (NSTE), during a nationwide ACS-survey, conducted during 2-months in 2004.

Results: Women were older than men (71 vs. 59 in STEMI; 71 vs. 64 years in NSTE-ACS patients), and had worse cardiovascular risk profiles. In STEMI-patients, acute reperfusion was less frequent in women than in men (53% vs. 63%, respectively, p=0.01; non-significant after age-adjustment). At discharge, fewer women received ACE-inhibitors/ARBs (71% vs. 75%, respectively; OR(age-adj)=0.69[0.48-0.98]). Among NSTE-ACS patients, fewer women received IIb/IIIa-inhibitors (12% vs. 21%, respectively, p=0.007; OR(age-adj)=0.58[0.36-0.96]) and clopidogrel at discharge (49% vs. 59%, respectively, p=0.005; OR(age-adj) 0.75[0.56-1.01]). No gender differences were noted in utilization of aspirin, beta-blockers or statins. Age-adjusted and covariate-adjusted mortality rates were comparable in women and men with STEMI (at 7-days 4.3% vs. 4.1%; OR(adj)=0.95[0.47-1.87] and at 1-year 13.8% vs. 9.8%, hazard ratio [HR(adj)]=1.11[0.73-1.70], respectively); in women and men with NSTE-ACS (at 7-days 1.3% vs. 2.1%, OR(adj)=0.65[0.20-1.76], and at 1-year 12.0% vs. 11.3%; HR(adj)=1.19[0.80-1.77], respectively).

Conclusions: In 2004, adherence to ACC/AHA Class-I Treatment Guidelines in ACS-patients was satisfactory. Relative underutilization of acute reperfusion was noted among STEMI patients, without gender differences after age-adjustment. At discharge, less women received ACE-inhibitors/ARBs. Among NSTE-ACS patients, less women than men received IIb/IIIa-inhibitors, and clopidogrel at discharge. Contemporary ACS management was associated with similar adjusted outcome in women and men.