Gender differences in the presentation of adult obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with resting gradient - A study of 122 patients

The present study investigated gender differences among adult patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (OHCM) and resting gradient. Using outflow gradients >10 mmHg and the presence of asymmetrical septal hypertr ophy of the left ventricle as inclusion criteria, 122 patients were identif ied among patients referred for echocardiographic examinations between May 1990 and October 1996. Clinical, echocardiographical and follow-up data wer e compared between male and female patients. The female patients were signi ficantly older than male patients (mean age +/- SD 66.7 +/- 10.5 vs 54.8 +/ - 12.5 years). The female patients had a smaller interventricular septal wa ll thickness, less frequent systolic anterior movement of the mitral valve, more frequent association with hypertension, and less frequent association with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and giant T wave inversion. In this stud y population, adult female patients presented with OHCM 12 years later than males. Whether this represents female patients' reluctance to seek medical attention early, a different disease process that affects predominantly el derly females, or a gender-specific end organ response to aging, hypertensi on, IHD and other processes, or the protective effects of estrogen remains to be determined.