Women Face Higher Heart Attack Beta-Blocker Mortality Risk
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Beta-blockers Linked to Increased Heart Risk in Women After Heart Attack
Women treated with beta-blockers (β-blockers) for post-myocardial infarction (MI) without reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) have a 45% increased risk of MI, heart failure hospitalization, or death compared with men, according to new study findings. The results, published in the European Heart Journal, suggest a need to re-evaluate β-blocker use in post-MI women without reduced LVEF, with a view toward more sex-specific prescribing strategies.1
“Despite the underlying reasons not being fully understood, it is indeed well established that women and men do not receive equal management-including pharmacological therapies-following an ACS [acute coronary syndrome],” the authors discussed. “Moreover, even though findings vary across studies, several reports suggest that women may experience worse long-term outcomes than men after ACS.”1
Cardiovascular Disease in Women: A Growing Concern
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) affects nearly 60 million women in the United states alone, and only 44% see it as a significant health threat for women.This is largely in response to the prioritization of male enrollment in CVD clinical trials due to dissimilarities in women’s and men’s hormones, platelet reactivity, P2Y12 inhibitors, and the likelihood of developing comorbidities, which greatly impact responses to treatment. Continued evidence shows that women with cardiovascular conditions have increased adverse responses to cardiovascular drugs compared with men, with a risk that is 1.5 to 1.7 times higher. This underscores the critical need