Women with acute heart failure receive help from a cardiologist faster than men-gender disparities in acute heart failure

Abstract

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements None. Introduction Acute heart failure (AHF) is a life-threatening condition that requires quick diagnosis and immediate treatment. Emergency Department (ED) is a major stage for hospitalized patients with AHF. Recent studies have highlighted that the efficacy of any intervention and treatment may be time dependent. Purpose The aim of the study was to analyze the management of patients with AHF depending on gender before treatment in Intensive Cardiac Care Unit (ICCU). Materials and methods In the period from 06/2019 to 01/2021, 767 patients with a diagnosis of acute heart failure (AHF) were urgently admitted to the ED. The most severely unwell 122 patients diagnosed with AHF required treatment in the ICCU . The time of onset of AHF symptoms (SYMPTOMS), first medical contact (FMC) and the time of cardiologist consultation (CC) in the Emergency Department were determined. Results In the study group of 767 patients with AHF presenting to the ED, women constituted 37%.They were less likely to be admitted to the Cardiology Department with a diagnosis of AHF than men (29.5% versus 40.2%) however they died more often in the ED (6.0% versus 2.7%). Among the 122 patients with AHF treated in the ICCU, the majority were men (72%), the mean age was 68 years and the median LVEF = 30% [IQR 20-38%]. In both sexes, the phe.notype of acute decompensated heart failure predominated (68% in women and 82% in men), although acute pulmonary oedema was slightly more common in women (26% versus 15% in men). Women contacted a doctor or called an ambulance faster than men (median time SYMPTOMS to FMC shorter by 1.6 days) and the time from FMC to consultation with a cardiologist was shorter (median time SYMPTOMS to FMC shorter by 0.17th day). Consequently, the delay time from the onset of symptoms to cardiology consultation was twice shorter in women than in men: 3.1 [IQR 0.3-8.4] days vesus 6.9 [IQR1.3-15.3], p=0.05. Conclusion Women with acute heart failure treated in the Intensive Cardiac Care Unit see a doctor faster and also receive specialist help from a cardiologist faster than men.