Atypical Manifestations of Women Presenting with Myocardial Infarction at Tertiary Health Care Center: An Analytical Study

Characteristics and outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndrome who present with atypical symptoms: a systematic review, pooled analysis and meta-analysis

How frequent and whether outcomes are worse for patients with atypical presentation in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) across the literature is not known. We conducted a systematic review of the literature on patients with ACS or acute myocardial infarction who reported whether their symptoms were atypical or typical. We determined the proportion of patients with atypical or no chest pain and used meta-analysis to evaluate predictors of atypical presentation and mortality associated with atypical presentation. A total of 43 studies were included with 1 691 401 patients (mean age: 65.4 years, 63.8% male). The proportion of patients with atypical presentation ranged from 4.6 to 74.2% while for those with no chest pain it ranged from 1.4 to 35.5%. Atypical presentation occurred in 11.6% of patients (28 studies) and no chest pain occurred in 33.6% of patients (16 studies). The three strongest factors associated with increased odds of atypical presentation or no chest pain presentation were non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction [odds ratio (OR): 2.38, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.55-3.64], greater Killip class (OR: 2.22, 95% CI: 1.84-2.67), and prior heart failure (OR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.76-1.82). There is a two-fold increase in odds of mortality with atypical or no chest pain presentation in ACS compared with the typical presentation (OR: 2.07, 95% CI: 1.71-2.50, I2  = 99%). Atypical presentation occurs in approximately 1 in 10 patients with ACS but can be as high as 1 in 3 in some populations. Patients who present atypically are at two-fold increased risk of mortality.

Prodromal Symptoms of Acute Myocardial Infarction in Women: A Systematic Review of Current Evidence

AIM

To synthezise quantitative current evidence on the prodromal symptoms experienced by women before the onset of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), focusing on the prevalence, nature and clinical implications of these symptoms.

DESIGN

A systematic review.

METHODS

The review adhered to Synthesis without meta-analysis guidelines and was registered with the PROSPERO database (ID: CRD42024541840). Systematic searches were conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, APA PsycArticles, APA PsycInfo and EMBASE. Included studies were quantitative, focused on women aged ≥ 18 years with confirmed acute coronary syndrome and reported prodromal symptoms. The Quality Assessment with Diverse Studies and the Cochrane Risk of Bias in non-randomized studies of Interventions tools were used for critical appraisal.

RESULTS

Of 2170 identified records, 11 full-text studies were reviewed. The most frequently reported prodromal symptom was unusual fatigue, followed by sleep disturbances and anxiety. Prodromal symptoms often occurred well before the acute event but were frequently misattributed to non-cardiac causes. Chest pain, typically associated with acute coronary syndrome, was less commonly reported as a prodromal symptom in women, complicating timely diagnosis and treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The results highlight the need for increased awareness of these early warning signs among healthcare providers and women themselves. Enhanced recognition and understanding of these symptoms could lead to more timely and accurate diagnosis, ultimately improving outcomes for women at risk of acute myocardial infarction.

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE

To educate both health professionals and patients about the variability and significance of prodromal symptoms in women is essential to improve outcomes.

IMPACT

This study is the first to systematically review and synthesize the existing literature on prodromal symptoms of acute coronary syndrome specifically in women. The results show l that women are more likely to experience a broader and more complex range of prodromal symptoms, including fatigue, sleep disturbances and anticipatory anxiety, which often precede the acute event. The insights provided by our review could lead to significant improvements in the early diagnosis and treatment of AMI in women, ultimately reducing morbidity and mortality rates associated with cardiovascular diseases.

REPORTING METHOD

The review has adhered to relevant EQUATOR guidelines and has followed Synthesis without meta-analysis guidelines.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

No patient or public contribution.

Sex-specific outcomes in myocardial infarction: a dual-cohort analysis using clinical and real-world data

BACKGROUND

Sex-related differences in symptoms, treatment, and outcomes in patients presenting with myocardial infarction have been reported but vary largely between studies. We sought to characterize sex differences in presentation and outcomes of patients with acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous intervention (PPCI).

METHODS AND RESULTS

We included 1206 STEMI patients from a clinical cohort and 35,123 STEMI patients obtained from the German health insurance claims. Women, despite being older and thus having a worse cardiovascular risk profile, had greater myocardial salvage and smaller infarct size than men in all patients (median with [interquartile ranges (25th-75th percentiles), IQR]; salvage index: 0.58 [IQR: 0.32-0.91] in females vs. 0.47 [IQR: 0.23-0.77] in males, p < 0.0001; infarct size: 7.0% [IQR: 1.0-22.0%] in females vs. 11.0% [IQR: 3.0-23.0%] of the left ventricle in males, p = 0.002). Same results were shown for propensity score matched pairs (n = 242) (salvage index: 0.60 [IQR: 0.33-0.91] in females vs. 0.44 [IQR: 0.23-0.70] in males, p = 0.0002; infarct size: 7.0% [IQR: 1.0-23.0%] vs. 10% [IQR: 3.0-23.0%] of the left ventricle in males, p = 0.042). Furthermore, women showed a lower risk of 5-year mortality, assessed after propensity score matching, in the health insurance cohort (n = 19,404) (HR = 0.92 [95% CI 0.87-0.97], p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with STEMI, women appear to have better myocardial salvage and smaller infarct size after PPCI and a lower 5-year mortality compared with men, suggesting better ischemic tolerance in female patients.

Characterizing chest pain in patients with acute coronary syndrome at Vietnam National Heart Institute: a case-control study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to distinguish chest pain characteristics between patients with and without acute coronary syndrome (ACS) at Vietnam National Heart Institute.

METHODS

A case-control study using a structured chest pain assessment questionnaire was performed to examine pain characteristics.

RESULTS

Smoking, a history of heart attack, and a family history of cardiovascular disease were associated with increased ACS-related chest pain risk. Patients without ACS more frequently reported left or central chest pain, mild discomfort, pain triggered by activity, and relief with rest or nitroglycerin. ACS-related chest pain was more often characterized by pain radiating to the back, a sensation of tightness or severe discomfort, gradual intensity increase, occurrence at rest or with minimal exertion, and accompanying sweating. No significant sex differences were found in ACS-related chest pain symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Targeted assessment of chest pain features-such as pain radiation, pressure sensation, symptom escalation, duration, activity triggers, and relief factors-could improve public awareness and support the development of educational resources on ACS and non-ACS symptoms.

Women Acute Myocardial Infarction-Identifying and Understanding the Gender Gap (WAMy-GAP): A Study Protocol

Barriers to accessing care and misinterpretations of ischemic heart disease symptoms due to lack of awareness contribute to women's delay in seeking care. Women may delay seeking treatment for up to 3 h or even up to 5 days. They often perceive themselves to be at low risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and prioritize family responsibilities or household chores. The causes of this delay are multifactorial and influence the decision-making process, particularly in the pre-hospital phase. The objective of this study protocol is to evaluate prodromal symptoms and identify risk behaviors in women with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This is a protocol for a multicenter study that will be conducted using the mixed-method methodology using the McSweeney Acute and Prodromal Myocardial Infarction Symptom Survey (MAPMISS) to evaluate symptoms and semi-structured interviews to investigate behaviors. This study protocol is intended to fill an important knowledge gap on premonitory and acute symptoms of AMI in women in Italy, as well as to understand the causes and mechanisms underlying delays in accessing healthcare services during an acute event such as AMI. The investigation of this issue will facilitate the removal of gender-related inequalities in the diagnosis and treatment of acute myocardial infarction while also fostering dialogue on the barriers to behavior change.

Sex differences in the pre-hospital ambulance delay, assessment and treatment of patients with acute coronary syndrome: a rapid evidence review

Background

Chest pain is a frequent symptom suffered by adult patients attended by ambulance. Evidence suggests female patients may suffer different symptoms to their male counterparts, potentiating differences in pre-hospital time delays, assessment and treatment.

Objective

To explore the sex differences in the pre-hospital ambulance delay, assessment and treatment of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods

A rapid evidence review was conducted following the Cochrane rapid review guidelines. MEDLINE and CINAHL Complete were searched via EBSCOhost on 2 February 2023, and reference lists of included studies and reviews were screened. The Joanna Briggs Institute checklist for analytical cross-sectional studies was used to perform critical appraisal, and a narrative synthesis was conducted.

Results

From 216 articles screened, nine were included, representing over 3.1 million patients from five different countries. Female patients were more likely to suffer delays in time to first electrocardiogram (ECG) and delays in transport time to the emergency department by ambulance. Female patients were also less likely to receive an ECG, aspirin, glyceryl trinitrate and other analgesics.

Conclusion

There are sex disparities in the pre-hospital ambulance delay, assessment and treatment of patients with ACS. Future research is urgently needed to fully understand the reasons for these observations.

A retrospective single-centre study on determinants of high-risk coronary artery calcium (CAC) score in women

One of the assessments for coronary atherosclerosis during cardiac computed tomography (CT) is coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring. We conducted analysis on the determinants of high-risk coronary calcification, represented by CAC score, among women as a step to improve their outcomes and prognosis. This study involved a total of 1,129 female patients from a single centre. There were 127 patients (11.2%) classified as high risk (CAC ≥400). We found that a history of hypertension and diabetes are independent determinants of having a high-risk CAC score. Furthermore, this study demonstrated protective effects associated with physical activity and diastolic blood pressure. In conclusion, a history of hypertension, diabetes, and high uncontrolled systolic blood pressure might be used as cues for physicians to prioritise CAC assessment in women, despite the absence of chest pain or atypical symptoms.

Sex differences in myocarditis hospitalizations: Rates, outcomes, and hospital characteristics in the National Readmission Database

Inflammation of the myocardium, or myocarditis, presents with varied severity, from mild to life-threatening such as cardiogenic shock or ventricular tachycardia storm. Existing data on sex-related differences in its presentation and outcomes are scarce. Using the Nationwide Readmission Database (2016-2019), we identified myocarditis hospitalizations and stratified them according to sex to either males or females. Multivariable regression analyses were used to determine the association between sex and myocarditis outcomes. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality, and the secondary outcomes included sudden cardiac death (SCD), cardiogenic shock (CS), use of mechanical circulatory support (MCS), and 90-day readmissions. We found a total of 12,997 myocarditis hospitalizations, among which 4,884 (37.6 %) were females. Compared to males, females were older (51 ± 15.6 years vs. 41.9 ± 14.8 in males) and more likely to have connective tissue disease, obesity, and a history of coronary artery disease. No differences were noted between the two groups with regards to in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.20; confidence interval [CI] 0.93-1.53; P = 0.16), SCD (aOR:1.18; CI 0.84-1.64; P = 0.34), CS (aOR: 1.01; CI 0.85-1.20;P = 0.87), or use of MCS (aOR: 1.07; CI:0.86-1.34; P = 0.56). In terms of interventional procedures, females had lower rates of coronary angiography (aOR: 0.78; CI 0.70-0.88; P < 0.01), however, similar rates of right heart catheterization (aOR 0.93; CI:0.79-1.09; P = 0.36) and myocardial biopsy (aOR: 1.16; CI:0.83-1.62; P = 0.38) compared to males. Additionally, females had a higher risk of 90-day all-cause readmission (aOR: 1.25; CI: 1.16-1.56; P < 0.01) and myocarditis readmission (aOR:1.58; CI 1.02-2.44; P = 0.04). Specific predictors of readmission included essential hypertension, congestive heart failure, malignancy, and peripheral vascular disease. In conclusion, females admitted with myocarditis tend to have similar in-hospital outcomes with males; however, they are at higher risk of readmission within 90 days from hospitalization. Further studies are needed to identify those at higher risk of readmission.

Myocardial Infarction Signs and Symptoms: Females vs. Males

Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of females in the United States today, and myocardial infarction (MI) plays a role in many of these deaths. Females also present with more "atypical" symptoms than males and appear to have differences in pathophysiology underlying their MIs. Despite both differences in symptomology and pathophysiology being present in females versus males, a possible link between the two has not been studied extensively. In this systematic review, we analyzed studies examining differences in symptoms and pathophysiology of MI in females and males and evaluated possible links between the two. A search was performed for sex differences in MI in the databases PubMed, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) Complete, Biomedical Reference Collection: Comprehensive, Jisc Library Hub Discover, and Web of Science. Seventy-four articles were ultimately included in this systematic review. Typical symptoms for both ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-STEMI (NSTEMI) such as chest, arm, or jaw pain were more common in both sexes, but females presented on average with more atypical symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and shortness of breath. Females with MI also presented with more prodromal symptoms such as fatigue in days leading up to MI, had longer delays in presentation to the hospital after symptom onset, and were older with more comorbidities than males. Males on the other hand were more likely to have a silent or unrecognized MI, which concurs with their overall higher rate of MI. As they age, females have a decrease in antioxidative metabolites and worsened cardiac autonomic function than male. In addition, at all ages, females have less atherosclerotic burden than mles, have higher rates of MI not related to plaque rupture or erosion, and have increased microvasculature resistance when they have an MI. It has been proposed that this physiological difference is etiologic for the male-female difference in symptoms, but this has not been studied directly and is a promising area of future research. It is also possible that differences in pain tolerance between males and females may play a role in differing symptom recognition, but this has only been studied one time where females with higher pain thresholds were more likely to have unrecognized MI. Again, this is a promising area for future study for the early detection of MI. Finally, differences in symptoms for patients with different atherosclerotic burden and for patients with MI due to a cause other than plaque rupture or erosion has not been studied and are both promising avenues to improve detection and patient care in the future.

Gender Particularities and Prevalence of Atypical Clinical Presentation in Non-ST Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome

Clinical presentation is one of the factors that can influence how quickly a patient with an acute coronary syndrome is treated, particularly if it is atypical. The purposes of this study are to explore gender-related differences in patients presenting with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTEACS) from the perspective of a series of common risk factors as well as treatment strategies and to evaluate the prevalence of atypical clinical presentation of NSTEACS in the study group. In addition, we explored the differences between the two entities that define NSTEACS: unstable angina (UA) and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). We conducted a retrospective study by reviewing discharge documents of patients admitted in the cardiology department of the Clinical Rehabilitation Hospital in Cluj-Napoca with NSTEACS between January 2014 and December 2015. We retrieved demographic data, clinical presentation and history, laboratory tests, and coronary angiography records as well as the implemented treatment strategies. Women in the study group were more frequently hypertensive than men (89.5% vs. 75.4%; p = 0.043), had a higher mean serum HDL cholesterol value (43 vs. 38 mg/dL p = 0.022), were more frequently diagnosed with microvascular coronary heart disease (32% vs. 9.8%, p = 0.036), and were more often treated conservatively (49.1% vs. 30.8%, p = 0.038), while men were significantly more prone to smoking than women (30.8% vs. 14%, p = 0.028) and had higher mean serum creatinine (1.2 vs. 0.8 mg/dL; p = 0.022) and uric acid values (6.9 vs. 6.2 mg/dL; p = 0.048). Out of the 122 included patients, 109 had documented information regarding symptoms. The prevalence of atypical presentation was 4.6% (95% CI 0.7–8.5%). In our study group, patients with UA had a more frequent history of cardiovascular ischemic diseases (77.4% vs. 56.7%, p = 0.015), the mean value for BUN was higher in NSTEMI patients compared to patients with UA (47 vs. 39 mg/dL, p = 0.038) and NSTEMI patients more frequently received interventional treatment compared to patients with UA (60% vs. 41.9%; p = 0.046).