Age-Stratified Sex Disparities in Care and Outcomes in Patients with ST-elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Abstract Background Women are undertreated and have worse clinical outcomes than men after acute myocardial infarction. It remains uncertain whether the sex disparities in treatments and outcomes persist in the contemporary era and whether they affect all age groups equally. Methods Using the National Inpatient Sample registry, we evaluated 1,260,200 hospitalizations for ST-elevation myocardial infarction between 2010 and 2016, of which 32% were for women. The age-stratified sex differences in care measures and mortality were examined. Stepwise multivariable adjustment models including baseline comorbidities, hospital characteristics, and reperfusion and revascularization therapies were utilized to compare measures and outcomes between women and men across different age subgroups. Results Overall, women with ST-elevation myocardial infarction were older than men and had more comorbidities. Women were less likely to receive fibrinolytic therapy, percutaneous coronary intervention, and coronary artery bypass surgery across all age subgroups. Women with ST-elevation myocardial infarction overall experienced higher unadjusted in-hospital mortality (11.1% vs 6.8%; adjusted OR = 1.039, 95% CI: 1.003-1.077), which persisted after multivariable adjustments. However, when stratified by age, the difference in mortality became non-significant in most age groups after stepwise multivariable adjustment, except among the youngest ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients 19-49 years of age (women vs. men: 3.9% vs. 2.6%; adjusted OR = 1.259, 95% CI:1.083-1.464). Conclusions Women with ST-elevation myocardial infarction were less likely to receive reperfusion and revascularization therapies and had higher in-hospital mortality and complications compared to men. Younger women with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (19-49 year of age) experienced higher in-hospital mortality that persisted after multivariable adjustment.