Prevention & lipidsCross-sectional study
Sex Differences in Primary and Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in China
- Cross-sectional study
- representative
- community-based survey
- 7 geographic regions of China
Authors' conclusion
Large and variable gaps in primary and secondary CVD prevention exist in China, particularly for women.
Study context
- Population
- Adults aged ≥45 years in China, 2014–201661.3% women
- Participants
- 47,841 adults
- Exposure
- Women vs men
- Outcome
- Sex differences in primary and secondary CVD prevention (adjusted ORs)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Secondary prevention: medication use in established CVD (n 5454)
Women vs MenOdds ratio (95% CI)
BP-lowering medications
0.79(0.65–0.95)
lipid-lowering medications
0.69(0.56–0.84)
antiplatelets
0.53(0.45–0.62)
any CVD prevention medication
0.62(0.52–0.73)
- Any blood pressure (BP)-lowering, lipid-lowering or antiplatelet therapy, primary prevention: women vs men
- 48.5% vs 39.3%
- Any BP-lowering, lipid-lowering or antiplatelet therapy, secondary prevention: women vs men
- 48.6% vs 59.8%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | OR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Risk factor control in established CVD — Women vs Men · BP control | 1.31 (1.14–1.50) | |
| Risk factor control in established CVD — Women vs Men · LDL-C control | 0.66 (0.57–0.76) | |
| Risk factor control in established CVD — Women vs Men · less likely to smoke | 13.89 (11.24–17.15) | |
| Risk factor control in established CVD — Women vs Men | 1.92 (1.61–2.29) | |
| Primary prevention: high 10-year CVD risk ≥10% (n 9532) — Women vs Men · BP controlled | 0.46 (0.38–0.55) | |
| Primary prevention: high 10-year CVD risk ≥10% (n 9532) — Women vs Men · LDL-C controlled | 0.60 (0.52–0.69) | |
| Primary prevention: high 10-year CVD risk ≥10% (n 9532) — Women vs Men · bodyweight controlled | 0.55 (0.48–0.63) | |
| Primary prevention: high 10-year CVD risk ≥10% (n 9532) — Women vs Men · use of BP-lowering medications | 1.21 (1.01–1.45) | |
| 0.050.21520Odds ratio (log scale) |
- Risk factor control in established cardiovascular disease (CVD): physical activity targets (reported as less likely to achieve)
Interactions by age, residence, education
- Younger patients (<65 years) with established CVD less likely to take CVD preventive medications; no sex differences by area of residence or education level
Original publication
Sex Differences in Primary and Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in China. Circulation. Published 17 February 2020. doi:10.1161/circulationaha.119.043731
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it