Sunday, 22 December, 2024
A comprehensive study conducted across more than 200 centres in Europe highlights significant differences in the incidence and treatment of severe native valvular heart disease (VHD) between men and women. While numerous studies have previously explored sex-specific disparities in heart attack treatment, there has been limited research on gender-based variations in heart valve disease management.
The latest findings reveal that women are less likely than men to receive treatment for certain types of VHD according to established European guidelines. Moreover, the reasons for this treatment gap differ between genders. Prof. Julia Mascherbauer, the study's lead author, is a physician at Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences (KL Krems).
The incidence of severe native valvular heart disease (VHD) is rapidly rising as life expectancy in Europe increases. At the same time, treatment options for VHD have advanced significantly over the past few decades, largely due to the development of new minimally invasive procedures. However, research into sex-specific differences in the diagnosis and treatment of VHD remains scarce.
A recent study aims to address this gap by analyzing extensive data from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). The study examined gender-based disparities in the type of heart valve disease, the treatments administered, and the reasons behind the failure to provide appropriate treatment for male and female patients across Europe. Due to the importance of these findings, the study was published in the Fast Track section of the European Heart Journal.
“We identified clear distinctions between men and women,” explained Prof. Mascherbauer, head of the Department of Internal Medicine 3 at St Pölten University Hospital (a KL Krems teaching and research centre) and corresponding author of the study. “Women were 2.5 years older on average than men at the time their valvular heart disease was diagnosed, and they also presented with more symptoms.”
Focused on over 5,200 patients at 208 centres in Europe (and North Africa), the study found that aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aortic valve) was the most common condition treated in both sexes, while the second most common was mitral regurgitation (dysfunction of the heart valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle).
Evaluation of the data uncovered further, previously unknown differences, as Prof. Mascherbauer pointed out: “When we looked at the specific interventions carried out for treatment purposes, we found key differences between the sexes. On the whole, the procedure recommended under the applicable guidelines was performed significantly less frequently on women. This difference was primarily due to the lower number of mitral valve interventions carried out on women.” One possible reason for this was the average age of the female patients at the time of diagnosis – 71.5 years, which was 2.5 years higher than the average for male patients. However, the reasons why the recommended procedures were carried out less frequently on women than men also included female patients’ refusal to have the operation, as well as improvements in their symptoms following drug treatment. Nevertheless, there was no difference in six-month survival rates between the sexes.
The large-scale international study was conducted by researchers from Austria, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain, using data from the European Society of Cardiology’s 2017 ESC-EORP Valvular Heart Disease II survey. The data was collected to assess compliance with treatment guidelines for severe native VHD. Prof. Mascherbauer and her team analyzed the data to identify sex-related differences in diagnosis and treatment.
"It is crucial to highlight the differences between men and women in diagnosis and therapy, as these disparities often go unnoticed. Addressing them is key to ensuring optimal treatment for all patients, regardless of sex," Prof. Mascherbauer emphasised.
Source: Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences
Comments
A comprehensive study conducted across more than 200 centres in Europe highlights significant differences in the incidence and treatment of severe native valvular heart disease (VHD) between men and women. While numerous studies have previously explored sex-specific disparities in heart attack treatment, there has been limited research on gender-based variations in heart valve disease management.
The latest findings reveal that women are less likely than men to receive treatment for certain types of VHD according to established European guidelines. Moreover, the reasons for this treatment gap differ between genders. Prof. Julia Mascherbauer, the study's lead author, is a physician at Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences (KL Krems).
The incidence of severe native valvular heart disease (VHD) is rapidly rising as life expectancy in Europe increases. At the same time, treatment options for VHD have advanced significantly over the past few decades, largely due to the development of new minimally invasive procedures. However, research into sex-specific differences in the diagnosis and treatment of VHD remains scarce.
A recent study aims to address this gap by analyzing extensive data from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). The study examined gender-based disparities in the type of heart valve disease, the treatments administered, and the reasons behind the failure to provide appropriate treatment for male and female patients across Europe. Due to the importance of these findings, the study was published in the Fast Track section of the European Heart Journal.
“We identified clear distinctions between men and women,” explained Prof. Mascherbauer, head of the Department of Internal Medicine 3 at St Pölten University Hospital (a KL Krems teaching and research centre) and corresponding author of the study. “Women were 2.5 years older on average than men at the time their valvular heart disease was diagnosed, and they also presented with more symptoms.”
Focused on over 5,200 patients at 208 centres in Europe (and North Africa), the study found that aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aortic valve) was the most common condition treated in both sexes, while the second most common was mitral regurgitation (dysfunction of the heart valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle).
Evaluation of the data uncovered further, previously unknown differences, as Prof. Mascherbauer pointed out: “When we looked at the specific interventions carried out for treatment purposes, we found key differences between the sexes. On the whole, the procedure recommended under the applicable guidelines was performed significantly less frequently on women. This difference was primarily due to the lower number of mitral valve interventions carried out on women.” One possible reason for this was the average age of the female patients at the time of diagnosis – 71.5 years, which was 2.5 years higher than the average for male patients. However, the reasons why the recommended procedures were carried out less frequently on women than men also included female patients’ refusal to have the operation, as well as improvements in their symptoms following drug treatment. Nevertheless, there was no difference in six-month survival rates between the sexes.
The large-scale international study was conducted by researchers from Austria, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain, using data from the European Society of Cardiology’s 2017 ESC-EORP Valvular Heart Disease II survey. The data was collected to assess compliance with treatment guidelines for severe native VHD. Prof. Mascherbauer and her team analyzed the data to identify sex-related differences in diagnosis and treatment.
"It is crucial to highlight the differences between men and women in diagnosis and therapy, as these disparities often go unnoticed. Addressing them is key to ensuring optimal treatment for all patients, regardless of sex," Prof. Mascherbauer emphasised.
Source: Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences
Comments
