'Gender gap in coronary treatment'

Research found that female patients admitted to hospital had a reduced chance of undergoing investigations such as ultrasound scans to detect heart failure.

In addition those diagnosed with the condition were less likely to receive medicines such as ACE inhibitors and beta blockers, despite strong evidence of the drugs' effectiveness.

The authors of the report, which will be published in the journal Heart, based their findings on a survey of almost 9,500 patients with heart failure admitted as an emergency to acute care hospitals in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2005.

Results indicated that heart failure was being better managed than found in previous studies, the authors of the report said. But they did identify shortcomings. Deaths from heart failure remained high, they said, while only 14% of patients were transferred to a heart specialist once admitted.

Women being admitted tended to be around five years older than the men and were significantly less likely to have undergone recommended investigations or been given heart failure treatment, the study found.

And with the exception of diuretics, women remained significantly less likely to be given medicines to prevent the worsening of their heart failure when they left hospital, even after being admitted as an emergency, the authors noted.

Irrespective of gender, only a few patients received all the appropriate care once they left hospital. As little as one in five were given an appointment with a specialist to monitor their progress and less than 1% were referred to rehabilitation or specialist palliative care.

The authors of the study stated: "Take up of recommended treatment for heart failure has been slower than for other areas of heart disease and significant geographical and gender variations exists in standards of diagnosis, treatment and care of this progressive and incurable condition."

They concluded: "Whereas heart attack, angina and arrhythmia services have clearly defined targets and have been the focus for sustained investment, heart failure still appears to be regarded as a Cinderella subspecialty, despite its ubiquitous nature."