A Comparative Study on the Type and Severity of Clinical Symptoms of Acute Coronary Syndromes in Men and Women

Knowing the symptoms of heart failure and the way they are different among men and women can reduce decision making time in providing diagnostic and therapeutic measures. It can also improve the quality of the response. This study aimed to compare the type and severity of symptoms experienced by men and women with acute coronary syndromes. In this cross-sectional study, 175 patients admitted to coronary care and cardiac units of Imam Hossein Hospital (Shahroud, Iran) were evaluated. Data was collected via interviews and a checklist including demographic characteristics, symptoms, risk factors, disease history, and associated symptoms. Severity of subjective symptoms was measured through a visual analogue scale. Data was analyzed using chi-square test and independent t-tests. Out of 175 subjects with a final diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome, 100 subjects (57.1%) were women and 75 (42.9%) were men. Chest pain was significantly more common in men than in females (P = 0.004). Most patients (69.7%) reported pain in the central and upper regions of the chest. However, this symptom was significantly more prevalent among women than among men (P = 0.002). There were gender differences in some atypical symptoms but angina was similar. The mean scores of severity of pain, sweating, and palpitations were significantly higher in women. This study showed that symptoms of men and with acute coronary syndrome were somewhat different. Hence, excessive attention to typical symptoms of acute coronary syndrome can foreclose care in early stages.