|
James L. Holly, M.D. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James L. Holly,M.D. |
March 01, 2005 |
Cardiology Review, Vol 22 No 3 |
|
Epidemiology
- A striking difference between men and women with heart failure is the predominance of preserved left ventricular systolic function in women.
- Mortality rates are lower for patients with preserved systolic function.
- Heart failure patients with preserved systolic function have symptoms and rates of functional decline similar to those with LVSD.
- Risk factors for the development of heart failure vary by gender.
- Women with heart failure are more likely to have a history of hypertension
- Hypertension imparts a higher risk of developing heart failure in women.
- Even with LVSD, women are less likely to have underlying coronary artery disease.
- Women with heart failure are significantly older. The average age of women admitted with CHF is 77 versus men 72.
- Atrial Fibrillation is more common in women with heart failure.
- Survival following onset of heart failure is better with women than men.
- Prognosis for women with heart failure is poor - 20% one year morality and a median survival of four years.
- Women often have more heart failure symptoms, lower exercise tolerance and more signs of heart failure on presentation than men.
- Depression is independently associated with declines in heart failure health status.
- Depression is more common and more severe in women
Medical Treatment
- Women are under represented in clinical trials.
- Women do not get the same benefit from ACE Inhibitors as women.
- Women with symptomatic LVSD benefit from ACE but those with asymptomatic LVSD do not.
- ARBS are beneficial in women with LVSD
- Beta Blockers are beneficial in LVSD in men and women.
- Inspra (eplerenone) is beneficial in women with heart failure following MI.
- Requires careful monitoring for hyperkalemia particularly in patients with marginal renal function
- Women have a lower glomerular filtration rate than men reliance on creatinine is insufficient to identify women at increased risk of hyperkalemia.
- Digoxin
- Some studies have shown an increased risk of death in women treated with lanoxin.
- Guidelines recommend low-dose lanoxin for paints with symptomatic heart failure and LVSD.
- Less data to guide therapy for heart failure with preserved systolic function
- Current guidelines recommend treating underlying problem, i.e., hypertension, etc.
- ARBs have shown a slight decrease in hospitalizations.
- ACE Inhibitors have not been studied in randomized controlled studies.
- ACEI may reduced the risk of death in women either systolic or diastolic dysfunction among those with renal insufficiency and heart failure.
- Evidence supports that women do not received the quality of care for heart failure as men.
- Less likely to undergo diagnostic testing.
- Less likely to have left ventricular function assessment
- Less often referred or coronary angiography.
- Less likely to be evaluated by a cardiologist when admitted for heart failure.
Clinical Implications
- Most important goal is to apply current heart failure guidelines equally to men and women.
- Women presenting with heart failure deserve the same diagnostic evaluation as men.
- Weight of evidence supports treatment of women with LVSD with ACE inhibitors or ARBs, as well as beta blocker, barring contraindications.
- Higher rates of side effects - cough, renal insufficiency in women taking ACE inhibitors
- Women should be followed closely after initiating treatment.
- Aldosterone antagonists should be consider for women with:
- LVSD and NYHA functional class III or IV
- Women with acute MI complicated by heart failure
- Estimated creatinine clearance should be calculated to assess the potential risk of hypekalemia
- Digoxin should be prescribed to women with LVSD only with extreme caution.
- Some one say it should be avoided in women
- If used digoxin levels should be kept below 1.0 ng/mL
- Particular caution in women with reduced creatinine clearance
- No evidence to use lanoxin with preserved systolic function
- For women with heart failure and preserved systolic function:
- Aggressive treatment of hypertension
- Strong consideration of using ARBs
- Vigilance for atrial Fibrillation in women with heart failure is warranted.
- Depression is common in women with heart failure and is associated with a broad range of adverse outcomes, strong consideration should be given to routine depression screening and treatment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|