Gender Differences in Heart Failure: Findings from Italian Internal Medicine Wards

摘要

Background and aim: Literature evidence shows that about one half of patients with heart failure (HF) are females. However, they are poorly represented in clinical trials. Therefore, this syndrome remains still understood and its burden underestimated in female sex. The aim of our study was to compare demography, etiology, clinical patterns, outcome, comorbidity, disability and cognitive performance between females and males in a cohort of patients with HF. Materials and methods: We analyzed data of the Confine Study, a recently real world survey performed in Italian Internal Medicine wards. We compared clinical and instrumental characteristics between males and females. Results: Females with HF were significantly older than men. Hypertensive and valvular etiologies were significantly more prevalent in females whereas ischemic and dilatative were in males. Neither clinical aspects, with the exception of atrial fibrillation, nor echocardiographic aspects were more frequent in females. According to international guidelines on topic, both sexes received under-treatment, but this one was more evident in females. Females presented more frequently cognitive impairment and functional disability than males. Conclusion: Female sex is under-represented in clinical trials on HF. Our study may provide a contribute on this topic.