Gender Differences in Adherence to Healthy Lifestyle Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Coronary Artery Disease

Abstract

Background: Exercise, a heart-healthy diet and smoking cessation reduce mortality in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. However, gender differences in adherence rates to recommendations for healthy lifestyle aren’t well known. Aims: To ascertain gender differences in healthy lifestyle adherence at 12-month follow-up after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for CAD. Methods: Patients who underwent PCI at three hospitals were prospectively followed throughout hospital admission, at 30 days and 12 months. The primary endpoint was adherence to a healthy lifestyle defined as 3/3 of heart-healthy diet, physically active and no current smoking. Secondary endpoints included each aspect of this primary endpoint, change from baseline cholesterol levels and cardiac rehabilitation attendance. Results: 729 people (26% female) were recruited. Women were older, with more diabetes and lower baseline TC and LDL. Adherence to healthy lifestyle at 12 months post-PCI was 56.6% with no significant difference between genders (51.3% vs 58.5%, p = 0.084). Women were more sedentary compared to men (38.7% vs 21.8%, p = <0.001). Men smoked more (13.8% vs 7.7%, p = 0.029), with no significant difference in healthy eating habits (82.4% vs 85.7%, p = 0.309). Women had a smaller reduction in mean LDL (0.60 vs 0.89, p = 0.23) and TG (0.34 vs 0.44, p = 0.46). Less women attended cardiac rehabilitation (58.2% vs 66.4%, p = 0.045). Conclusions: At 12 months following PCI for CAD, 56.6% of patients adhered to healthy lifestyles with no significant difference between genders. Women were significantly more likely to be sedentary, not attend cardiac rehabilitation and smoke less. Women had smaller reductions in LDL and TG levels.