Explorative analysis of gender-specific characteristics in patients with heart failure in an Italian hospital

Figures & data

Table 1 Gender-specific demographic and clinical characteristics of HF patients

	Total study population (n=719)		HF only (n=566)		HF and DM (n=144)
	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female
Number of patients (%)	317 (44.1)	402 (55.9)	243 (42.9)	323 (57.1)	72 (50.0)	72 (50.0)
Mean (±SD) age (years)	77.1 (10.6)	82.4 (8.8)	77.8 (10.7)	82.8 (8.8)	74.6 (9.9)	80.2 (8.3)
Age distribution (%)
40–49 years	1.6	n.i.	n.i.	n.i.	n.i.	0
50–59 years	5	1.2	4.1	1.5	8.3	0
60–69 years	15.5	8	15.2	6.8	16.7	13.9
70–79 years	32.5	18.4	31.7	17	36.1	26.4
80–89 years	36.3	53.2	37	54.5	34.7	47.2
>90 years	9.1	18.7	10.3	19.5	n.i.	12.5
Ventricular ejection fraction at ID^a(%)
>50%	38.3	62.1	42.0	61.3	26.4	66.0
41–50%	21.7	13.7	22.1	14.2	18.9	10.0
31–40%	22.1	13.7	19.9	13.3	30.2	16.0
≤30%	17.9	10.5	16.0	11.1	24.5	8.0
Atrial fibrillation at ID^b	56.1	58.2	62.1	60.6	37.5	47.2
NT-proBNP at ID^c
<400 pg/mL	5.2	5.6	5.4	4.7	n.i.	10.2
400–2,000 pg/mL	30.5	27.3	33.7	24.8	19.6	36.7
≥2,000 pg/mL	64.3	67.0	60.8	70.6	76.1	53.1
Serum calcium level at ID^d, mean (±SD)	2.2 (0.1)	2.2 (0.1)	2.2 (0.1)	2.2 (0.1)	2.2 (0.1)	2.2 (0.1)
Glycated hemoglobin at ID^e, mean (±SD)	5.7 (1.9)	5.9 (1.8)	5.4 (1.5)	5.6 (1.4)	6.7 (2.9)	7.6 (2.4)
Left atrium description at ID^f (%)
Normal	8.5	8.7	9.4	7.6	n.i.	14.0
Reduced	11.5	13.8	11.7	11.2	11.3	26.0
Slightly compromised	17.1	14.5	17.8	13.4	15.1	18.0
Partially compromised	62.4	63.0	60.6	67.9	67.9	42.0
Totally compromised	n.i.	0	n.i.	0	0	0
Right atrium dysfunction at ID^g	29.1	25.5	26.1	25.4	39.6	24.5

Notes: According to the Italian Regulation on protection of personal data (D.Lgs. 196/2003), results referring to a number of patients <4 cannot be presented as they are potentially reconductable to single individuals. ^aData available in 71.1% of patients. ^bData available in 52.0% of patients. ^cData available in 96.4% of patients. ^dData available in 65.4% of patients. ^eData available in 67.0% of patients. ^fData available in 70.9% of patients. ^gData available in 70.8% of patients.

Abbreviations: HF, heart failure; DM, diabetes mellitus; n.i., not issuable; ID, index date; NT-proBNP, NT-pro-brain natriuretic peptide.

Table 2 Gender-specific characteristics of length of hospital stay, subsequent HF-related hospitalization and costs

	Total study population (n=719)		HF only (n=566)		HF and DM (n=144)
	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female
Number of patients (%)	317 (44.1)	402 (55.9)	243 (42.9)	323 (57.1)	72 (50.0)	72 (50.0)
Mean length of hospital stay (ID) (days), mean (±SD)	7.0 (6.5)	6.9 (5.7)	6.8 (6.3)	6.8 (5.6)	8.0 (7.2)	7.7 (6.5)
Number of subsequent HF-related hospitalizations (%)
0	89.0	92.5	91.4	93.8	80.6	86.1
1	7.6	6.7	6.2	6.2	12.5	9.7
2	2.8	n.i.	2.1	0	5.6	n.i.
≥3	n.i.	0	n.i.	0	n.i.	0
Cost for hospitalization index (€)	3,348.01	3,395.72	3,374.27	3,386.12	3,303.97	3,449.53

Notes: According to the Italian Regulation on protection of personal data (D.Lgs. 196/2003), results referring to a number of patients <4 cannot be presented as they are potentially reconductable to single individuals.

Abbreviations: HF, heart failure; DM, diabetes mellitus; ID, index date; n.i., not issuable.