TY - JOUR
T1 - Sex differences in symptom presentation in acute myocardial infarction
T2 - A systematic review and meta-analysis
AU - Coventry, Linda L
AU - Finn, Judith
AU - Bremner, Alexandra P.
PY - 2011/11
Y1 - 2011/11
N2 - Background: Recognition of sex differences in symptom presentation of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is important for timely clinical diagnosis. This review examined whether women are equally as likely as men to present with chest pain. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of English language research articles published between 1990 and 2009. Results: Meta-analysis showed women with AMI had lower odds and a lower rate of presenting with chest pain than men (odds ratio .63; 95% confidence interval, .59-68; risk ratio .93; 95% confidence interval, .91-.95). Women were significantly more likely than men to present with fatigue, neck pain, syncope, nausea, right arm pain, dizziness, and jaw pain. Conclusion: Health campaigns on symptom presentation of AMI should continue to promote chest pain as the cardinal symptom of AMI, but also reflect a wider spectrum of possible symptoms and highlight potential differences in symptom presentation between men and women.
AB - Background: Recognition of sex differences in symptom presentation of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is important for timely clinical diagnosis. This review examined whether women are equally as likely as men to present with chest pain. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of English language research articles published between 1990 and 2009. Results: Meta-analysis showed women with AMI had lower odds and a lower rate of presenting with chest pain than men (odds ratio .63; 95% confidence interval, .59-68; risk ratio .93; 95% confidence interval, .91-.95). Women were significantly more likely than men to present with fatigue, neck pain, syncope, nausea, right arm pain, dizziness, and jaw pain. Conclusion: Health campaigns on symptom presentation of AMI should continue to promote chest pain as the cardinal symptom of AMI, but also reflect a wider spectrum of possible symptoms and highlight potential differences in symptom presentation between men and women.
KW - Acute myocardial infarction
KW - Meta-analysis
KW - Sex differences
KW - Symptom presentation
KW - Systematic review
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=80053981925&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2011.05.001
DO - 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2011.05.001
M3 - Review Article
AN - SCOPUS:80053981925
SN - 0147-9563
VL - 40
SP - 477
EP - 491
JO - Heart and Lung
JF - Heart and Lung
IS - 6
ER -