A new study has revealed that a therapy to prevent heart failure by using a defibrillator to shock the heart back into synchronized rhythm is twice as effective in women as in men.
A new study has revealed that a therapy to prevent heart failure by using a
defibrillator to shock the heart back into synchronized rhythm is twice as effective
in women as in men. The cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillator
(CRT-D) has led to 72% reduction in death among female patients. Women showed a
70% reduction in heart failure compared to 35% in men. It strengthens the
pumping ability of the heart and coordinates its electrical activity.
This is the first time that a heart treatment offers greater benefit to
women than men. The treatment may work better in women because the risks for
heart failure are different in men and women. Women are likely to have heart
disease due to inflammation, while men due to coronary artery disease, which results
in blocked arteries. Researchers stated that the finding was unexpected but
were extremely important. This device has been approved to be used in US for
patients with severe heart failure or in patients with mild heart failure to
prevent them from advancing to severe heart failure.
Researchers from the University of Rochester Medical Center studied the
effectiveness of CRT-D in 1,820 patients in Canada, Europe and the United
States and found that CRT-D combines the benefits of implantable cardioverter
defibrillator (ICD) and cardiac resynchronization therapy. The ICDs prevent
sudden, irregular rhythm-related cardiac death while the resynchronization
therapy boosts the functioning of the heart and reduces the risk of heart
failure and related symptoms. The CRT-D that has been developed by Boston
Scientific stimulates the heart improving the contraction pattern. Lead author
of the study, Arthur J. Moss said, "It's not that men did poorly in the
trial, but rather, women had really fantastic results, likely due to the type
of heart disease we see more commonly in women."
Source-Medindia