Gender differences in variables related to B-natriuretic peptide, left ventricular ejection fraction and mass, and peak oxygen consumption, in patients with heart failure.

Aim And Methods: We assessed gender differences in variables related to B-natriuretic peptide (BNP), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), peak oxygen consumption (peak-VO2), and LV mass (LVM), among patients recently hospitalized for suspected heart failure (HF).

Results: Of 930 consecutive patients, 409 accepted follow-up after discharge, 221 of these had definite HF (90 women, mean age 74.5 [9.8]years). In 141 HF patients (61 women) with BNP data, women had lower BNP than men (43.9 [38.1] versus 76.3 [88.9]pmol/L, P=0.0193). LVEF (all HF patients) was higher in women (49.8 [13.4] versus 42.4 [13.9]%, P=0.0004). Peak-VO2 (147 HF patients, 48 women) was lower in women (13.9 [4.3] versus 16.3 [4.2]mL/kg/min, P=0.0093). LVM index (200 HF patients, 78 women) was lower in women (130.4 [46.5] versus 171.7 [57.6]g/m(2), P<0.0001). Among HF patients, variables independently related to BNP were body mass index (BMI) and peak-VO2 exclusively among men, mitral regurgitation, respiratory disease and angiotensin receptor blocker treatment only among women. Variables independently related to LVEF were resting heart rate, acetylic salicylic acid use and BNP exclusively among men. No variable was exclusive for women. Variables independently related to peak-VO2 were right ventricular size, BNP, resting and peak heart rate solely among men, BMI and stable angina pectoris exclusively among women. Variables independently related to LVM were left atrial diameter only among men, BMI exclusively among women.

Conclusion: Among elderly HF patients, there were some important gender differences in BNP, LVEF, peak-VO2 and LVM, and in variables independently related to these factors.