Women contribute to 25 pc of bypass surgery: Study

Sapna Dogra - New Delhi

Affairs of the heart take a much more serious toll on women than is usually believed, infers a study conducted at New Delhi-based National Heart Institute (NHI). The study conducted with over 1,500 patients udergoing bypass surgery at the institute found that women contribute a sizeable 25 per cent of total bypass surgeries.

Another misconception shattered by the study was that cardiac attacks do not occur in women of less than 50 years of age. The study found that nearly 10 per cent of women needing bypass surgery were relatively young falling in peri-menopausal age group of 40-49 years.

Moreover, a phenomenal 65 per cent of women undergoing bypass surgery had high blood sugar (diabetes) and 61 per cent were having high blood pressure. Further, nearly 30 per cent had evidence of multi-organ involvement in the form of deposition of cholesterol in arteries of brain/kidney.

According to Dr Vinod Sharma, director, All India Heart Foundation and vice CEO and head of cardiology services, NHI, said high incidence of smoking, obesity/diabetes, stress, physical inactivity and consumption of contraceptive pills et al are making women susceptible to cardiac problem, which hitherto was just a man’s disease.

Higher dose of oral contraceptives has been found to increase the risk of heart diseases, especially if combined with cigarette smoking, informs Dr Sharma. Oestrogen, a hormone produced by the female body, offers protection against heart disease. Loss of oestrogen after natural menopause or due to surgical removal of uterus or ovaries may aggravate this risk sharply.

Another significant difference in the manifestation of heart problems in men and women relates to the early symptoms. Women may experience symptoms that often go unrecognised.

The study found that the risk of bypass surgery insmall frame ladies is 2.5 per cent as compared to those with larger body surface area, where it is 1 per cent

According to Dr Sharma, women may get pain in the back rather than in the chest or arm, thus confusing diagnosis and leading to delay in seeking medical attention, he fears. An alarming outcome was that the size of the blood vessels of the heart were smaller in women as compared to men.

Women with small frame and body surface area of less than 1.5 metre square fared worse than ladies with bigger frames during balloon angioplasty and bypass surgery. The study found that the risk of bypass surgery in small frame ladies is 2.5 per cent as compared to those with larger body surface area, which is one per
cent.

As the study considered women mainly from Delhi, West UP and Haryana, does it represents a trend in the northern part of the country? “The trend is similar in other parts of the country, both in urban areas as well as rural areas,” says Dr Sharma.

However, according to Dr Rajiv Bajaj, senior interventional cardiologist, Batra Heart Centre, hospital statistics is not the right parameter to comment on existing trend. “Hospitals get a selective group, thereby reflecting the changing profile of the society and not necessarily disease. A comprehensive in-depth study at a larger scale is required to reach at a conclusion,” says he.