Subjective symptoms and well-being differ in women and men after myocardial infarction

• Published in: European heart journal Vol. 14; no. 10; p. 1315
• Main Authors: Wiklund, I, Herlitz, J, Johansson, S, Bengtson, A, Karlson, B W, Persson, N G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.10.1993
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Angina Pectoris - diagnosis; Angina Pectoris - psychology; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gender Identity; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction - diagnosis; Myocardial Infarction - psychology; Psychophysiologic Disorders - diagnosis; Psychophysiologic Disorders - psychology; Quality of Life; Sick Role; Somatoform Disorders - diagnosis; Somatoform Disorders - psychology
• ISSN: 0195-668X
• DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/14.10.1315

The frequency of subjective cardiac and psychological complaints among men and women a year after a confirmed diagnosis of myocardial infarction (MI) were compared. Among 660 survivors, 595 patients completed mailed questionnaires at home one year after the MI. There were 421 men, mean age 67.1 +/- 10.7 years, and 174 women, mean age 72.1 +/- 10.6 years. Controlling for the significantly higher mean age among the women, the latter more often had a previous history of angina pectoris, 54.6% (P < or = 0.05) versus 42.9%, and heart failure, 24.7% versus 13.5% (P < or = 0.01). Despite these facts, the women were significantly less often referred to CCU, 82.2% versus 91.7% (P < or = 0.05). One year after the MI, controlling for differences in age and co-morbidity, women reported significantly higher frequencies of psychological and psychosomatic complaints, including sleep disturbances. These differences may have clinical implications for diagnosis and treatment of women with coronary heart disease.