Gender differences in case fatality rates of acute myocardial infarction in Serbia

We sought to investigate sex differences in clinical characteristics, treatment and in in-hospital mortality in patients admitted with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in Serbia. From October 2010 to September 2013, a total of 2348 patients have been hospitalized and received medical treatment for STEMI in 19 hospitals, referring data to the International Survey of Acute Coronary Syndromes in Transitional Countries (ISACS-TC) registry. There were 773 women and 1575 men. Women were older than man, with a higher prevalence of family history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, and diabetes. They were less likely to be smokers and more likely to have a prior angina and history of heart failure. Fewer women than men presented within 2 h from symptom onset (P = 0.005). They presented more with Killip class ≥2 than men (P = 0.004). A significantly lower proportion of women was treated with aspirin (91.3% vs 94.3%, P = 0.007), clopidogrel (88% vs. 91%, P = 0.02), heparins (61.6% vs. 66.5%, P = 0.01) and primary percutaneous coronary interventions (62.1% vs. 69.7%, P < 0.001). The in-hospital mortality was significantly higher for women than for men (13.2% vs. 6.4%, P < 0.001). After adjustment for any confounders, women showed an increased risk of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio: 1.97, 95% confidence interval: 1.28-3.01, P = 0.002). Several factors contribute to the excess in-hospital case fatality rates in Serbian women. Most notably disparities in medical treatment appear to play a crucial role. © 2013 Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2013

Gender differences in case fatality rates of acute myocardial infarction in Serbia

We sought to investigate sex differences in clinical characteristics, treatment and in in-hospital mortality in patients admitted with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in Serbia. From October 2010 to September 2013, a total of 2348 patients have been hospitalized and received medical treatment for STEMI in 19 hospitals, referring data to the International Survey of Acute Coronary Syndromes in Transitional Countries (ISACS-TC) registry. There were 773 women and 1575 men. Women were older than man, with a higher prevalence of family history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, and diabetes. They were less likely to be smokers and more likely to have a prior angina and history of heart failure. Fewer women than men presented within 2 h from symptom onset (P = 0.005). They presented more with Killip class ≥2 than men (P = 0.004). A significantly lower proportion of women was treated with aspirin (91.3% vs 94.3%, P = 0.007), clopidogrel (88% vs. 91%, P = 0.02), heparins (61.6% vs. 66.5%, P = 0.01) and primary percutaneous coronary interventions (62.1% vs. 69.7%, P < 0.001). The in-hospital mortality was significantly higher for women than for men (13.2% vs. 6.4%, P < 0.001). After adjustment for any confounders, women showed an increased risk of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio: 1.97, 95% confidence interval: 1.28–3.01, P = 0.002). Several factors contribute to the excess in-hospital case fatality rates in Serbian women. Most notably disparities in medical treatment appear to play a crucial role

Perspectives: Rationale and design of the ISACS-TC (International Survey of Acute Coronary Syndromes in Transitional Countries) project

During the past 10 years, the health of people in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union has undergone changes very different from the health patterns seen in their Western counterparts. Mortality from cardiovascular disease has been decreasing continuously in the USA and many Western European countries, but it has increased or remained unchanged in many of the states of Eastern Europe. Analysis of this phenomenon has been hindered by insufficient information. The International Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes registry study in Transitional Countries (ISACS-TC) is both a retrospective - over a 1-year period - and prospective study which was designed in order to obtain data of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACSs) in countries with economy in transition in Central and Eastern Europe, and herewith control and optimize internationally guideline recommended therapies in these countries. Adhesion to the project was given by 112 Collaborating Centres in 17 countries with economy in transition (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarius, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine). A total of 47 cluster sites in 11 countries in Central and Eastern Europe are currently collaborating in ISACS-TC. The registry encourages optimal individualization of evidence-based therapies and the international patient body ensures good representation of multiple practice patterns. It may help to make an additional improvement in clinical outcomes of countries with economy in transition