Influence of sex and pregnancy on survival in patients admitted with heart failure: Data from a prospective multicenter registry

Background: Female sex is an independent predictor of better survival in patients with heart failure (HF), but the mechanism of this association is unknown. On the other hand, pregnancies have a strong influence on the cardiovascular system.

Hypothesis: Sex and previous gestations might have a prognostic impact on 1-year mortality in patients admitted with HF.

Methods: We conducted an observational, prospective, consecutive, multicenter registry of 1831 patients (756 females [41.2%]) admitted with HF.

Results: Females had a more advanced age (75.2 ±11.4 vs 70.4 ±12.2 years), less ischemic heart disease (167 [25.3%] vs 446 [47.3%]), and higher left ventricular ejection fraction (52.0% ±16.6% vs 41.1% ±17.0%) than did men (all P values <0.001). During 1-year follow-up, 373 (20.4%) patients died (151 females and 222 males). Female sex was an independent predictor for survival (hazard ratio: 0.79, 95% confidence interval: 0.64-0.98, P = 0.03). In 504 women (65.9%), the exact number of previous pregnancies could be determined; 62 women (12.3%) had no previous pregnancies, 288 (57.1%) women had 1 or 2 pregnancies, and 154 women (30.6%) had ≥3 pregnancies. We found an association between the number of previous gestations and better survival (hazard ratio: 0.878, 95% confidence interval: 0.773-0.997, P = 0.045).

Conclusions: In patients admitted with HF, female sex and the number of previous pregnancies are independently associated with better 1-year survival.