Abstract
Female heart diseases are underdiagnosed and undertreated. They are also probably under referred to cardiac rehabilitation (CR). The aim of our study is to compare CR benefits between men and women. A total of 442 patients suffering from heart failure were referred to our center for CR between 2010 and 2014. Only 67 were women (15%). All patients had physical examination, electrocardiogram, echocardiography and a cardio-pulmonary exercise test (CPET) before and at the end of CR. Age was similar between men and women with 56.8±12.4 versus 56.2±14.5 years (p: NS). Ischemic heart disease was the main etiology for men (57.6%), but not for women (30%, p<0.05). Patient’s CR characteristics are summarized in table. Abstract 0525 – Table: Patient’s clinical, echocardiographic and CPET’s characteristics Men (n=375) Women (n=67) p Before CR Heart Rate (bpm)80.3±15.7 80.3±15.7 77.3±16.4 NS Systolic blood pressure (mmHg) 109.8±19 102.8±19 <0.05 Left ventricle Ejection Fraction (%) 28.8±8.7 29.3±8.9 NS CPET workload (watts) 76±27 58.1±20 <0.05 Peak oxygen uptake: 15.6±5.2 14.7±4.9 NS – VO2 max (ml/kg/mn) – % of the normal value 56.2±17.8 63.9±22 First ventilatory threshold (VT1) (ml/kg/mn) 10.9±3.4 10.5±4 NS After CR Heart Rate (bpm) 76.8±14.6 75.4±14.3 NS Systolic blood pressure (mmHg) 110.4±20.8 98.5±19.2 NS CPET workload (watts) 92.5±32 67.8±20 <0.05 Peak oxygen uptake: 18.2±5.7 16.1±4.8 NS – VO2 max (ml/kg/mn) – % of the normal value 65.5±19.3 68.5±18 First ventilatory threshold (VT1) (ml/kg/mn) 12.4±3.9 11.9±3.7 NS The benefit on CPET strength was similar (24.8±33 W for men and 22.1±35.4 W for women, p: NS), and also for the VO2 max. There were no differences in treatments at discharge. Women have the same benefits after CR for heart failure. Efforts must be provided to increase their referral to CR.
Published Version
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