Gender-specific prevalence of ischemic heart disease among emergency-department patients : Saudi Arabia

Abstract EN

Few epidemiological studies have discussed the gender-specific prevalence of ischemic heart disease (IHD).

We aimed to investigate the gender-specific prevalence of IHD among Saudi patients visiting the emergency department and if it is affected by diabetes mellitus and/or hypertension.

Three hundred patients were recruited from Prince Sultan Cardiac Center in Al Ahsa, KSA.

Hypertension was identified as systolic pressure equal to or more than 140 mmHg and/or diastolic pressure equal to or more than 90 mmHg or by the patient currently being on antihypertensive medication, and coronary artery disease (CAD) was diagnosed by electrocardiogram, cardiac markers, cardiac exercise testing or coronary angiography.

Hypertension was found in 80% of males and 72% of females.

A significantly higher rate of diabetes was noted in females (62%) compared to males (48%) (p<0.012).

Co-existing diabetes and hypertension was found in 70% of females as compared to 38% of males.

The occurrence of IHD in males was significantly higher than that in females (p<0.001).

However, the incidence of myocardial infarction was greater in females (52%) compared to males (38%) (p<0.035).

Co-existing hypertension and diabetes may affect the gender prevalence of myocardial infarction among emergency department patients, with more infarctions being noted among females.

This finding helps to guide the treatment strategy for both genders.