CONTENTS
Yale University
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Section Subhead
Sex Based Difference in Early Mortality
After Myocardial Infarction
Mortality after myocardial infarction is significantly higher among women relative to men up to the age of approximately 75 [1]. The higher the risk of death among younger women is only partially explained by differences in medical history (i.e.: diabetes), a lower rate of use of established treatment in women [2], and clinical characteristics.
Analysis from the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction 2 Database (including 384,878 patients) concluded that among patients less than 50 years of age, the mortality rate of women was more than twice that for men. (Fig. 1).
Fig. 1. Rates of death during hospitalization for myocardial infarction among women and men, according to age. The interaction between sex and age was significant (P < 0.001).
Vaccarino et al. N. Engl J Med. 1999; 341: 217-225.
Younger women with myocardial infarction represent a high-risk group.
1. Vaccarino V., Parson L., Every N., et al. Sex Based Differences in Early Mortality After Myocardial Infarction. N Engl J Med 1999; 341: 217-225.
2. Chandra N.C., Ziegelstein R. C., Rogers W.J., et al. Observations of the Treatment of Women in the United States with Myocardial Infarction: A Report from the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction-I. Arch Intern Med 1998; 158: 981-988.
Last modified: October 14, 1999 (PL)
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