Clinical parameters and outcomes in heart failure patients based on gender differences

The increasing prevalence of heart failure poses major challenges for patients, caregivers, health professionals, and health managers. In addition to the modifiable factors affecting the disease, non-modifiable factors such as gender should be considered in the disease management. Gender differences in this field are controversial and needs to be further understood, which requires further studies. This study aimed to determine the status of clinical parameters and outcomes in patients with heart failure based on gender differences. In this analytical cross-sectional study, 115 patients with heart failure were assessed using the convenience sampling method. Data were collected from X hospital in X city, the only specialized referral center in X province, through demographic and disease-related information questionnaire, heart failure specific quality of life questionnaire, European heart failure self-care behavior scale, and medication adherence report scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS-V.21, and descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi-Square, Fishers exact test, Mann-Whitney, and Logistic regression). A relatively significant relationship was observed between the total quality of life (QoL) score and gender variable (P = 0.06), so that women had a lower quality of life than men. Medication adherence status was not significantly associated with gender variable, but its mean score was higher in women. There was a statistically significant relationship between gender and the variables of education level, marital status, living conditions, employment status, monthly income, place of residence, BMI, Hb, TG, FBS, history of DM, history of smoking, history of lower extremity edema, self-care status and the physical dimension of QoL (P ≤ 0.05). It is suggested that special attention should be paid in identifying patients at risk of QoL, self-care, and poor treatment adherence. It is also recommended that in the process of providing care and treatment plans for patients with heart failure, some factors be considered such as predictors from the results of the present study and also gender. Also, given that women were worse in most variables, it is suggested that this difference be considered in their assessment and care planning.