Tag: gender

In ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), infarct size is correlated with duration of coronary artery occlusion. De Luca et al. [1] demonstrated that every 30 min delay to revascularization will increase annual mortality by 7.5%. Nonetheless, the available evidence suggests that transport for primary angioplasty improves short- and long-term outcomes better than immediate thrombolysis [2, 3]...

Research on cardiac rehabilitation has raised interesting methods and effects without however establishing the share of the profits according to age, sex and cardiac pathology. Yet today, this disease with various pathologies strikes people of all ages and both sexes, and the recommended rehabilitation exercise intensity is often the ventilatory threshold.

The vast majority of research on the quality of life (QoL) after myocardial infarction (MI) concentrates on such factors as: the type and course of MI, methods and stage of treatment or the patient’s occupational and family status. Drawing from general psychological knowledge we may assume that some individual factor, especially personality, is also a significant contributor. The present study focused on a specific personality dimension: sense of coherence (SOC). It is defined as a global life orientation to perceive life as comprehensible (rational, predictable and structured), manageable (adequate and sufficient resources to overcome adversities are perceived as available) and meaningful (the demands created by adversities are seen as challenges and worthy of engagement).

Background and methods: 362 symptomatic subjects of 45 years of age or younger were selected from a large database of around 4100 persons who underwent coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring by means of a 64-multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). Amongst them, a group with the CAC > 0 Agatston units (n = 65) and a group with no detectable calcium (CAC = 0, n = 297) were compared in terms of risk factors presence. Risk factors considered were gender, body mass index, smoking habits, blood pressure level, blood lipids, presence of diabetes mellitus, family history of cardiovascular disease, and physical activity...

Since analysis of data from the CASS registry [1] critical stenosis of unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) has become a classic indication for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with stable angina pectoris. Effective and safe percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in ULMCA stenosis in stable patients is technically feasible, and long-term outcomes are highly satisfactory when drug-eluting stents are used [2, 3]...

Even with normal aging process, changes in myocardium occur and may modify lusitropic function of the heart. These changes include a remodeling of the myocardial interstitium, an increase in myocardium collagen content and a prominence of myocardial fibrosis, probably due to the activation of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone axis [1]. This heart aging phenomenon surely affects the diastolic function of our patients and needs to be readily and easily assessed...

Impaired renal function is a well-known independent risk factor for mortality and morbidity in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) [1, 2]. Several studies reported that impaired renal function is more prevalent in women, while female MI patients are generally older and have more comorbidity than male patients [2, 3]. The impact of gender difference on prognosis after ST-segment elevated MI (STEMI) has been a popular and debated topic in clinical practice [4–10]...