SEX-DIFFERENCES IN MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION AND CORONARY DEATHS IN THE SCOTTISH MONICA POPULATION OF GLASGOW 1985 TO 1991 - PRESENTATION, DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND 28-DAY CASE-FATALITY OF 3991 EVENTS IN MEN AND 1551 EVENTS IN WOMEN

Background Scottish MONICA used medical and medico-legal records and W orld Health Organization MONICA Project criteria to register coronary events in 25- to 64-year-old residents of the high-incidence area of n orth Glasgow from 1985 to 1991. Methods and Results Age-standardized d ata from 3991 episodes of nonfatal definite myocardial infarction and coronary deaths in men (mean age, 55.5 years) were compared with 1551 in women (57.0 years). Many results, such as the overall 28-day fatali ty rates of 49.8% in men and 48.5% in women, showed insignificant diff erences. However, 74.3% of deaths in men occurred out of hospital vers us 67.8% in women (P=.0004). After admission to hospital, fatality rat es in women were 14% higher (P=.07) and after admission to coronary ca re, 22% higher (P=.04). Women were more often widowed. Fewer had a his tory of previous myocardial infarction, but the prevalence of angina p ectoris, of smoking, and of chest pain in the attack was the same as i n men; more had shock, syncope, and breathlessness. More consulted a d octor before admission to hospital, which delayed their coming under c are. More men had ECG Q-wave progression, and more women had smaller E CG changes. This, and marginally reduced chances of direct admission t o coronary care, of thrombolysis, of aspirin; and of beta-blockers, di d not explain women's excess hospital fatality. Conclusions Acute coro nary events appear to be recognized and treated fairly equally in men and women 25 to 64 years old in Glasgow, so differences are small but subtle. More men die suddenly out of hospital, the reason why more wom en die after arrival may be because the equivalent number of men have already died outside.