Contemporary sex differences in mortality among patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives To assess the effect of sex differences on short-term and long-term mortality among patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Design Systematic review and meta-analysis of contemporary available evidence. Setting PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library were searched for relevant studies reporting sex-specific outcomes among patients with STEMI published between 1 January 2010 and 1 August 2020. Risk ratios (RRs) and 95% CIs were measured using DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model. Sensitivity analyses were performed and publication bias was also checked. All statistical analyses were performed using STATA V.15.0. Participants Studies providing data about short-term or long-term mortality stratified by sex in patients with STEMI were included. Only study conducted in last 10 years were included. Primary and secondary outcome measures The primary outcome was all-cause death at short-term (in-hospital or 30 days) and long-term (at least 12 months) follow-up. Results A total of 15 studies involving 128 585 patients (31 706 (24.7%) female and 96 879 (75.3%) male) were included. In the unadjusted analyses, female were at a higher risk of short-term mortality (RR, 1.73; 95% CI 1.53 to 1.96, p<0.001, I-2=77%) but not long-term mortality (RR, 1.23; 95% CI 0.89 to 1.69, p=0.206, I-2=77.5%). When adjusted effect estimates from individual studies were used in meta-analysis, the association between female and higher risk of short-term mortality remained significant (RR, 1.24; 95% CI 1.11 to 1.38, p<0.001, I-2=39.6%). And adjusted long-term mortality was also similar between female and male (RR, 1.11; 95% CI 0.42 to 1.80, p=0.670, I-2=74.5%). Conclusions An increased short-term but not long-term mortality was found in female with STEMI. After adjustment for baseline cardiovascular risk factors and clinical profiles, short-term mortality remains higher in female with STEMI compared with male, indicating the need for further improvements in management in female patients.