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Erschienen in:
01.06.2014 | Original Article
Impact of gender and age on risk factor distribution and health perception: evaluation in a prospective population with heart disease
Erschienen in: Journal of Public Health | Ausgabe 3/2014
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Aim
Several large surveys have highlighted the inadequate risk factor control in populations at elevated cardiovascular risk. These populations would substantially benefit from risk reduction and could demonstrate increased awareness for risk factor control. Risk factor segregation by gender has been previously described, yet its analysis in the medical field frequently omits sociodemographic variables, which could act as potential confounders.
Subject and methods
We analyzed risk factor prevalence in a population of 1,559 patients with severe coronary heart disease prior to a coronary bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Univariate correlations between risk factor type and frequency and gender were explored. Following, multivariable models were fitted to account for sociodemographic aspects associated with gender. Interaction terms were incorporated as fit. Lastly, the correlation between gender-specific risk factor profiles and their association with self-perceived health status was assessed.
Results
Our study identified gender as the main segregating variable for risk factors after multiple adjustments and inclusion of interaction terms. Obesity and hypertension displayed a significant association with the female population (OR = 1.598, p = 0.047 and OR = 3.737, p = 0.006, respectively), while smoking and elevated alcohol consumption prevailed in males (OR = 1.77, p = 0.038 and OR = 2.768, p = 0.013, respectively). Additionally, gender-specific analysis of health perception according to risk factor loads revealed that male patients rate their health in overall better terms regardless of their risk profile.
Conclusions
Our study confirmed the role of gender as the primary risk profile segregator after multiple adjustments for potential sociodemographic confounders, even in a population at elevated cardiovascular risk. Subjective health perception, which displayed marked gender differences, should be further investigated as a potential adherence and outcome modulator.