WOMEN are more than twice as likely to die after a heart attack as men, a study shows.
Nearly 12 per cent of older females died within 30 days after suffering the condition, compared to around 5 per cent of men, Portuguese researchers found.
GettyWomen are more than twice as likely to die after a heart attack as men, Portuguese researchers found[/caption]
After five years, a third of women had died compared to 17 per cent of men.
Researchers suggested the higher chances of dying could be linked to women suffering different symptoms of a heart attack that are not as recognised as those in men.
Dr Mariana Martinho, of Hospital Garcia de Orta in Almada, said: “Women of all ages who experience a myocardial infarction are at particularly high risk of a poor prognosis.
“These women need regular monitoring after their heart event, with strict control of blood pressure, cholesterol levels and diabetes, and referral to cardiac rehabilitation.
“Smoking levels are rising in young women and this should be tackled, along with promoting physical activity and healthy living.”
More than 30,000 women are admitted to hospital after a heart attack every year in the UK, according to the British Heart Foundation.
For comparison, around 70,000 men are hospitalised by one annually.
Heart attacks are caused by the supply of blood to the organ becoming blocked, usually by a clot.
Warning signs include feeling chest pain or discomfort that does not go away, pain spreading to your arm, neck, jaw, back or stomach, and feeling sick, sweaty or light-headed.
Previous research has shown women have a worse prognosis with heart attack during their hospital stay compared to men.
The latest study, presented at the Heart Failure 2023 conference in Prague, looked at whether this higher risk was found in the short- and long-term.
Researchers tracked health records of 884 patients with an average age of 62.
The 8 signs of heart attack you need to know
Symptoms of a heart attack can include:
chest pain – a feeling of pressure, heaviness, tightness or squeezing across your chest
pain in other parts of the body – it can feel as if the pain is spreading from your chest to your arms (usually the left arm, but it can affect both arms), jaw, neck, back and tummy
feeling lightheaded or dizzy
sweating
shortness of breath
feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)
an overwhelming feeling of anxiety (similar to a panic attack)
coughing or wheezing
Source: The NHS
Some 27 per cent were women.
After adjusting for whether patients had diabetes, high cholesterol or blood pressure, coronary heart disease, heart failure or kidney disease, women were at greater risk of dying.
Dr Martinho said: “While our study did not examine the reasons for these differences, atypical symptoms in women and genetic predisposition may play a role.
“The findings are another reminder of the need for greater awareness of the risks of heart disease in women.
“We did not find any differences in the use of medications to lower blood pressure or lipid levels between women and men.”