Gender differences in cardiology

Frequent reports of gender differences in cardiology prompted us to study the cardiological situation in Tyrol, Austria, from 1995 to 2000. Mortality statistics for heart deaths 1995: women 1008 (53.5 %), men 875 (46.5 %); 2000: women 1104 (58.2 %), men 792 (41.8 %). Coronary heart deaths 1995: women 572 (50.0 %), men 571 (50.0 %); 2000: women 634 (54.4 %), men 531 (45.6 %). Angiograms 1995: women 332 (33.9 %), men 646 (66.1 %); 2000: women 688 (32.5 %), men 1429 (67.5 %). Bypass surgery 1995: women 54 (33.0 %), men 156 (67.0 %); 2000: women 42 (27.5 men 157 (72.5 %). Heart deaths 1995-2000: women +9.5 men -9.5 %; coronary heart deaths 1995-2000: women +10.8 %, men -7.0 %. By (welcome) contrast, coronary angiograms 1995-2000: women +107.2 men +121.2 %. Bypass operations 1995-2000: women -22.2 men +0.6 %. Life expectancy 1995-2000: women +0.6 men +0.6 %. Patient age at heart death 1995-2000: women +1.8 %, men +2.5 %. In aggregate, we see that for decades more women than men have died a heart death, but that cardiac mortalities remain a typically,male bastion" with persistent gender differences in access to clinical cardiology. The worsening trend for women begs for awareness programs and corresponding preventive measures.