Long-term clinical impact of sex disparities in patients with ST elevation acute myocardial infarction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of adjusted observational studies

Objectives We aimed to address an evidence gap by investigating the clinical impact of sex differences on long-term outcomes after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) for acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis. Data sources Medline, Scopus and EMBASE were searched through August 2024. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies. We included adjusted observational studies reporting HRs, comparing long-term clinical outcomes (beyond 1 year) between women and men undergoing pPCI for ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Data extraction and synthesis Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed risk of bias using the ROBINS I (Risk Of Bias In Non-randomised Studies - of Interventions) tool. Data were pooled using generic inverse-variance weighting, computing risk estimates with 95% CIs. Heterogeneity was assessed (Cochran Q statistic) and quantified (I 2 statistic). Results 22 observational studies globally encompassing 358 140 patients (169 659 women vs 188 490 men) were included in the quantitative analysis. After a median follow-up of 3.3 years, no significant differences in terms of all-cause mortality were reported after multivariable adjustments (adjusted HR, adjHR 1.06, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.14, p=0.10). Women had a higher rate of cardiac death compared with men after multivariable adjustments (adjHR 1.86, 95% CI 1.25 to 2.77, p=0.002). No other significant differences in terms of recurrent MI, stent thrombosis and target vessel revascularisation persisted between women and men after multivariable adjustments. Conclusions Women undergoing pPCI for acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction experience an increased risk of cardiac death compared with men after a long-term follow-up.