Gender- and age-specific characteristics of patients with chronic heart failure in real clinical practice

Aim: to assess and describe gender- and age-specific characteristics of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Patients and Methods: in this retrospective study with a prospective component the authors analyzed medical records of 197 patients with CHF, including: CHF stage and functional class, co-morbidities, and echocardiography (Echo) findings. Twenty four (21, 28) months after discharging patients from the hospital, telephone follow-up calls were made to the patients and/or their relatives, and medical documentation of the medical information system was reviewed to assess the vital status of patients or the causes of lethal outcomes. For evaluating the obtained results, patients were divided into groups by gender and age. The middle-aged group comprised of males (45 to 59 years) and females (45 to 54 years) — 18 (9.1%) patients. The group of elderly persons included males (60 to 74 years) and females (55 to 74 years) — 69 (35.1%) patients. The senile group consisted of persons aged 75 years and over — 110 (55.8%) patients. Results: the median and interquartile range of patient age were 74.7 (68, 82) years. In the groups of middle-aged and elderly persons there were more men than women (р=0.001), while women prevailed in the senile group (р<0.001). The diagnosis of HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) was established more frequently in males than in females, and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.006). There were no statistically significant differences between male and female patients as regards the prevalence of HF with moderately reduced LVEF (HFmrEF). HF with preserved LVEF (HFpEF) was diagnosed more frequently in females than in males, and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.007). Using pair-wise comparison of LVEF in women of different age groups, it was shown that HFmrEF was more prevalent in middle-aged than in elderly (р=0.024) or senile (р=0.011) patients. The prevalence of HFpEF was higher in senile than in middle-aged women (р=0.012). No statistically significant differences in LVEF were found between the male patients of different age groups. There were no significant differences between males and females of middle-aged and elderly groups as regards the prevalence of co-morbidities. However, among senile persons co- morbidities were found more frequently in women than in men, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: more than half of the patients with CHF were senile persons. Most patients with CHF in the elderly group were males, and in the senile group — females. It is necessary to consider gender and age-specific characteristics in the management of CHF patients, risk stratification and in the selection of adequate therapy. KEYWORDS: chronic heart failure, comorbidity, concomitant diseases, age ranges, gender characteristics. FOR CITATION: Reznik E.V., Ushakova N.A., Ershov N.S. et al. Gender- and age-specific characteristics of patients with chronic heart failure in real clinical practice. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2023;7(1):13–21 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2023-7-1-13-21.