Women receive worse heart attack care than men
Women are being denied proven treatments after suffering a heart attack – EVEN if they have been correctly diagnosed
- Experts have long warned of a gender divide in the way heart attacks are treated
- University of Edinburgh scientists blamed ‘unconscious bias’ for the disparity
- The research was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Women are frequently denied proven treatments after suffering a heart attack – even if they have been correctly diagnosed.
Experts have long warned of a gender divide in the way heart attacks are treated, with more than two women needlessly dying every day because they get worse care.
Health charities have repeatedly raised concerns that a large part of the problem is the fact so many heart attacks are missed among women – an issue that has its roots in the persistent idea that a heart problems are a ‘man’s disease’.
But a new study by the University of Edinburgh reveals that even if a woman is correctly diagnosed with a heart attack, she still is more likely to receive worse care.
Experts blamed ‘unconscious bias’ for the disparity.
Experts have long warned of a gender divide in the way heart attacks are treated, with more than two women needlessly dying every day because they get worse care
Scientists found that when women were assessed with a troponin blood test – an accurate form of diagnosis – they were about half as likely as men to receive recommended heart attack treatments.
Only 15 per cent of women received coronary revascularisation, a procedure in which a stent is fitted to restore blood flow to the heart.
Some 34 per cent of men received the same treatment.
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Among women only 26 per cent received dual antiplatelet therapy – compared to 43 per cent of men – which stops blood clotting.
And only 16 per cent received preventative drugs such as cholesterol busting statins, which stop a repeat heart attack, compared to 26 per cent of men.
The research, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, tracked 48,282 people treated for suspected heart attacks at 10 hospitals across Scotland.
WHAT IS A HEART ATTACK?
Figures suggest there are 200,000 hospital visits because of heart attacks in the UK each year, while there are around 800,000 annually in the US.
A heart attack, known medically as a myocardial infarction, occurs when the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked.
Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, and feeling weak and anxious.
Heart attacks are commonly caused by coronary heart disease, which can be brought on by smoking, high blood pressure and diabetes.
Treatment is usually medication to dissolve blots clots or surgery to remove the blockage.
Reduce your risk by not smoking, exercising regularly and drinking in moderation.
Heart attacks are different to a cardiac arrest, which occurs when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood around the body, usually due to a problem with electrical signals in the organ.
Source: NHS Choices
Study author Dr Ken Lee of the University of Edinburgh, said: ‘Diagnosis of a heart attack is only one piece of the puzzle.
‘The way test results and patient history are interpreted by healthcare professionals can be subjective, and unconscious biases may influence the diagnosis.
‘This may partly explain why, even when rates of diagnosis are increased, women are still at a disadvantage when it comes to the treatments they receive following a heart attack.’
Dr Lee added: ‘By addressing a biological difference between men and women, we’ve successfully improved the test to detect more women who’ve had a heart attack.
‘These women would otherwise be misdiagnosed.
‘It’s now important that this blood test, with its specific measures for men and women, is used to guide treatment and that we address these disparities in the care of men and women with heart attack. Women everywhere should benefit from improved heart attack diagnosis.’
Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, which funded the research, said: ‘It’s extremely promising that bespoke blood tests for men and women could lead to better diagnosis of heart attacks.
‘But this progress in diagnosis needs to translate in to better treatment and improved heart attack survival chances for women.
‘We now need to dig deep into the complex reasons behind women having reduced access to investigations and treatment.
‘It’s essential that health care professionals are aware of the inequalities in heart care for women, and that everyone can spot the symptoms of a heart attack. With more research, and greater awareness, we can close this heart attack gender gap.’
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