Using reflective nursing practice to improve care of women with congenital heart disease considering pregnancy

This article examines the issue of congenital heart disease (CHD) in women, specifically women who are considering pregnancy. Some of the authors' experiences with women with CHD are described, and a reflective approach to clinical practice is used to gain a greater understanding of the women's perspective. Women with CHD need to balance general lifespan developmental tasks with issues specific to their CHD, such as changes in functional abilities or the possibility of a shortened life expectancy. In women with CHD, physiological, psychological, and family issues need to be considered when they are contemplating pregnancy. As women with CHD move through this debate, nurses may play a key role in assisting them in their decision-making process by exploring issues related to pregnancy and CHD. This exercise in reflective nursing practice allowed us to review the literature, gain new knowledge from our patients, use that knowledge to help other patients, and thoughtfully consider what still needs to be discovered in the care of reproductive-aged women with CHD. The subject of pregnancy contemplation in women with CHD in requires systematic research.     

Coronary heart disease in the elderly

In 1984, 435,759 deaths were attributed to CHD among persons greater than or equal to 65 years of age. CHD was the leading cause of death in this group. Death rates rose steeply with age among the elderly. Men had higher death rates than women, but the male-to-female ratio declined with increasing age. Considerable geographic variation in CHD mortality in the elderly was noted. Since 1968, CHD death rates have declined in persons greater than or equal to 65 years of age in each age, sex, and race group. However, prevalence of self-reported CHD in the elderly population has increased. Prevalence rates increased with age except for a slight decrease above age 75 in men. In 1985, 436,000 persons aged greater than or equal to 65 years were discharged with a principal diagnosis of acute MI. The hospital case fatality rate was 21.8%. Since 1970, hospitalization rates for acute MI have generally increased, while hospital fatality rates have decreased for persons greater than or equal to 65 years of age. Since 1979, utilization of coronary artery bypass surgery and coronary arteriography have dramatically increased among the elderly. In 1980 and 1981, elderly persons made six million visits to physicians' offices for chronic CHD. CHD contributed importantly to the 1980 expenditures of 3.3 billion dollars in men and 4.8 billion dollars in women greater than or equal to 65 years of age for heart disease care. Although mortality rates from CHD in the elderly have decreased since 1968, increasing hospitalization rates and utilization of other health care services emphasize the need for more vigorous efforts at prevention.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Coronary heart disease in women and the role of the laboratory.

Coronary heart disease (CHD), the single greatest cause of death in women, is often unrecognized by health care providers and individuals suffering from the disease. CHD is a process in which atherosclerotic lesions composed of lipoprotein particles, macrophages, leukocytes, and smooth muscle cells narrow the lumen of coronary arteries. Two clinical conditions may develop, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and unstable angina. Signs and symptoms of CHD in women may differ from those of men, leading to delays in treatment and diagnosis. Several well-recognized risk factors for CHD have been identified, including aging, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, smoking, obesity, and sedentary lifestyle. The role of the laboratory in CHD involves diagnosing and monitoring persons at risk for developing CHD, diagnosing AMI, monitoring effectiveness of perfusion post AMI, and patient risk stratification.     

Secondary prevention of coronary heart disease in primary care: a healthy heart initiative

We assessed the effectiveness of secondary prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD) in primary care, in a cross-sectional study of 1015 patients aged < 75 years with documented CHD. Patients records were examined for documentation of CHD risk factors; 722 patients then attended education sessions where blood pressure and cholesterol were measured, a supervised questionnaire detailing modifiable risk factors was completed, and advice on lifestyle modification was given. Management of risk factors was generally poor, and was worse in women. Approximately 20% of subjects remained hypertensive, with half of these receiving anti-hypertensive medication. Examining the primary care records, serum cholesterol was documented in 17.5% of men and 26.5% of women. Of the 722 subjects who had cholesterol measured, 30% of men and 25% of women had cholesterol < 5.2 mmol/l. Mean cholesterol was significantly higher in the women (6.1 mmol/l vs. 5.6 mmol/l, p = 0.001). Lifestyle risk management was also poor, with significant numbers smoking and drinking more than recommended. Women were more overweight than men (mean BMI 27.9 kg/m2 vs. 26.9 kg/m2, p = 0.006). Aspirin was being taken by 56% of patients.     

Acute myocardial infarction in women.

Although CHD is the leading cause of death in women, little is known about their response to and recovery from an acute MI. The medical and nursing care offered to women following an MI is based primarily on research studies of men. Few studies have included only women, and those that have compared women and men are limited by sample sizes that are too small for meaningful comparisons and study variables that reflect men's concerns (e.g., specific risk factors or return to work issues). Women's cardiovascular anatomy and physiology differ somewhat from men's. Women average smaller chests, hearts, and coronary artery vessel diameters and different body fat distributions. Their cardiovascular systems are designed to adapt to the extraordinary demands of pregnancy and childbirth and do so by modifying diastolic, rather than systolic, function. Similar physiologic changes are often seen in response to exercise. Women's higher levels of estrogen and progesterone influence lipid metabolism and hormone receptor activity. Thus, diagnostic tests that are based on research with men (e.g., ECGs and exercise stress tests), show more false-positive and false-negative results in women. Additionally, therapeutic interventions (e.g., PTCA and CABG) that were developed for men have been less effective for women. CHD is apparently expressed differently in women. Diabetes mellitus is a strong, independent risk factor for CHD in women and results in a risk similar to that of nondiabetic men. More women present with angina as an initial manifestation of CHD than with MI and rarely have sudden cardiac death. Women experience more complications than men and a higher mortality following acute MI. They derive less benefit from medical or surgical therapy and experience more side effects. Many aspects of women's response to acute MI reflect gender rather than biologic differences. Women's worlds, the sociocultural contexts within which they live, and their activities are qualitatively different from men's. The nursing care offered to women should be based on sound scientific rationale that responds to these unique experiences and concerns.     

Change in the prevalence of coronary heart disease among Finnish elderly men and women in the 1990s

OBJECTIVE: To characterise the prevalence of, and changes in, coronary heart disease (CHD) among men and women aged between 64 and 71 years in the 1990s. DESIGN: A study of clinical epidemiology involving two cohorts of elderly persons in 1990-1991 and 1998-1999. SETTING: Primary health care in the municipality of Lieto in southwestern Finland. SUBJECTS: Persons between 64 and 71 years of age in the southwest of Finland in 1990-1991 and 1998-1999. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The occurrences of CHD were estimated using the history of a previous myocardial infarction or coronary revascularisation procedure evident in the medical records and with ischaemia or infarction as established on ECG according to the Whitehall criteria. RESULTS: The prevalence of 'probable' CHD decreased among men and women aged between 64 and 71 years, whereas the prevalence of 'possible' CHD decreased among women alone. Silent myocardial infarctions were common among women of both cohorts. Many more men of the second cohort, compared to the first one, had undergone a coronary angioplasty or bypass operation. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of CHD decreased among elderly women more clearly than among young elderly men. The favourable development illustrating a decrease in the prevalence of CHD among women should be sustained, while health promotion activities will need to be directed more actively towards men.     

Predictors of health promotion behavior in women without prior history of coronary heart disease.

The purpose of this study was to determine health promotion behavior (HPB) and the best predictors of HPB in women without prior history of coronary heart disease (CHD). The sample included 119 women aged between 35 and 60 years who had no prior CHD history. The women were asked to complete a self-administered survey regarding their demographic data, personal CHD risk factors, HPB, CHD knowledge, and perceived benefits and barriers to CHD risk factor modification. The women in this study did not practice HPB regularly and had low CHD knowledge levels, a high perception level of benefits, and a moderate level of perceived barriers to CHD risk modification. Backward multiple regression analysis demonstrated that smoking history, family history of CHD, CHD knowledge levels, and perceived barriers to CHD risk modification were the best predictors of HPB in women without CHD. Women with fewer perceived barriers to CHD risk modification, higher CHD knowledge levels, and no smoking history or family history of CHD were more likely to practice HPB.     

Cost-Effective Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease

Healthcare designed to prevent future illness and minimize progression of current illness is a powerful means to improve quality of life, minimize mortality, and decrease health care costs. Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the #1 killer of both men and women in the United States. Prevention of CHD involves early identification and management of risk factors through assessment and treatment. The goal in CHD prevention is to produce the largest relative risk reduction, the smallest number needed to treat, and the lowest cost per quality-adjusted life year saved. Evidence-based treatment strategies have been shown to cost-effectively minimize CHD risk and reduce morbidity and mortality. Approaches that encompass the lifespan, solidify assessment and treatment strategies in the primary care setting, and reach into the workplace, schools, churches, and homes to make small changes in risk factors across an entire population are important areas for improving CHD preventive care. Public health policies are also necessary to support implementation of preventive programs.     

Women and cardiac rehabilitation: a review of the literature

There is a wide variety of literature available about coronary heart disease (CHD). However much of the research related to CHD has been performed using either exclusively male populations or such small numbers of women that the results from the women studied were unable to be analysed independently. It is apparent that more researchers are focusing on research that examines women's responses to CHD and the care and treatment they receive. The following literature review explores some of the issues related to women's experience of cardiac rehabilitation and demonstrates that women's experience of cardiac rehabilitation may be different to that of men. There is a need for nurses working within this area of practice to have an understanding of women's experience of recovery from a heart attack in order to better meet their needs.     

Predictors of poor coronary heart disease knowledge level in women without prior coronary heart disease

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to measure coronary heart disease (CHD) knowledge levels in women without a history of CHD and to determine predictors of poor CHD knowledge in these women. DATA SOURCES: The sample included 120 women between the ages of 35 and 60, who had no CHD history. Women were asked to complete self-administered surveys including demographic data, personal CHD risk factors, and a CHD Knowledge Test. CONCLUSIONS: Women lack CHD knowledge. Low educational level, normal serum lipids, high body mass index (BMI), and lack of access to a nurse practitioner (NP) were predictors of poor CHD knowledge levels in women without CHD history. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Women who had access to an NP were more likely to have higher CHD knowledge. In an attempt to decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with CHD, NPs may be able to improve CHD knowledge in women, particularly in those with lower educational level, normal serum lipids and higher BMI.     

Distribution of prenatal and postnatal risk factors for sudden infant death in Budapest

Mortality from coronary heart disease has decreased by 60% in Finland during the past 25 years. The prevalence of coronary heart disease decreased during the 1990s among the elderly. Silent myocardial infarction was common, especially in elderly women. The number of coronary angioplasty or bypass operations has increased considerably, especially in men. Objective &;#114 - &;#114 To characterise the prevalence of, and changes in, coronary heart disease (CHD) among men and women aged between 64 and 71 years in the 1990s. Design &;#114 - &;#114 A study of clinical epidemiology involving two cohorts of elderly persons in 1990 - 1991 and 1998 - 1999. Setting &;#114 - &;#114 Primary health care in the municipality of Lieto in southwestern Finland. Subjects &;#114 - &;#114 Persons between 64 and 71 years of age in the southwest of Finland in 1990-1991 and 1998-1999. Main outcome measures &;#114 - &;#114 The occurrences of CHD were estimated using the history of a previous myocardial infarction or coronary revascularisation procedure evident in the medical records and with ischaemia or infarction as established on ECG according to the Whitehall criteria. Results &;#114 - &;#114 The prevalence of 'probable' CHD decreased among men and women aged between 64 and 71 years, whereas the prevalence of 'possible' CHD decreased among women alone. Silent myocardial infarctions were common among women of both cohorts. Many more men of the second cohort, compared to the first one, had undergone a coronary angioplasty or bypass operation. Conclusion &;#114 - &;#114 The prevalence of CHD decreased among elderly women more clearly than among young elderly men. The favourable development illustrating a decrease in the prevalence of CHD among women should be sustained, while health promotion activities will need to be directed more actively towards men.     

Acoustic shadowing on B-mode ultrasound of the carotid artery predicts CHD

The relationship between carotid artery lesions (CALs), with and without acoustic shadowing (AS) as an index of arterial mineralization, and incident coronary heart disease (CHD) was examined in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study cohort. Among 12,375 individuals, ages 45-64 years, free of CHD at baseline, 399 CHD events occurred between 1987-1995. In a 3-cm segment centered at the carotid bifurcation, CALs with and without AS were identified by B-mode ultrasound (US). After adjustment for the major CHD risk factors, the CHD hazard ratio (HR) for women with CAL without AS compared to women without CAL was 1.78 (95% CI: 1.22, 2.60) and the HR comparing women with CAL with AS to women with CAL without AS was 1.73 (95% CI: 1.07, 2.80). Corresponding HRs for men were 1.59 (95% CI: 1.22, 2.07) and 1.04 (95% CI: 0.72, 1.51). CALs predicted CHD events; this association was stronger for mineralized CALs in women, but not men.     

Women and coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in men and women in the United States. The incidence of CHD during midlife is lower in women than men, but the gap narrows with each decade. Because women have a longer life span than men, the absolute numbers of CHD deaths are roughly equal. Effective diagnosis of CHD in women requires the recognition of gender differences in presentation and pathogenesis. Women present with atypical symptoms and are less likely to have adequate primary prevention. This article discusses the differences between men and women in CHD and examines the assessment, diagnosis, and clinical management of CHD in women.     

Risk of coronary artery disease in type 2 diabetes and the delivery of care consistent with the chronic care model in primary care settings: a STARNet study

BACKGROUND: Modifiable risks for coronary heart disease (CHD) in type 2 diabetes include glucose, blood pressure, lipid control, and smoking. The chronic care model (CCM) provides an organizational framework for improving these outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between CHD risk attributable to modifiable risk factors among patients with type 2 diabetes and whether care delivered in primary care settings is consistent with the CCM. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Approximately 30 patients in each of 20 primary care clinics. CHD risk factors were assessed by patient survey and chart abstraction. Absolute 10-year CHD risk was calculated using the UK Prospective Diabetes Study risk engine. Attributable risk was calculated by setting all 4 modifiable risk factors to guideline indicated values, recalculating the risk, and subtracting it from the absolute risk. In each clinic, the consistency of care with the CCM was evaluated using the Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (ACIC) survey. RESULTS: Only 15.4% had guideline-recommended control of A1c, blood pressure, and lipids. The absolute 10-year risk CHD was 16.2% (SD 16.6). One-third of this risk, 5.0% (SD 7.4), was attributable to poor risk factor control. After controlling for patient and clinic characteristics, the ACIC score was inversely associated with attributable risk: a 1 point increase in the ACIC score was associated with a 16% (95% CI, 5-26%) relative decrease in attributable risk. DISCUSSION: The degree to which care delivered in a primary care clinic conforms to the CCM is an important predictor of the 10-year risk of CHD among patients with type 2 diabetes.     

Migraine and coronary heart disease mortality: a prospective cohort study

A recent population-based prospective study reported that in women, migraine with aura (MA), but not migraine without aura (MoA), was associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease events (CHD). We sought to confirm this association in an Australian population-based cohort of older men and women (n = 2331, aged 49-97 years). We defined MA and MoA from face-to-face interview using International Headache Society criteria. Over a mean 6-year follow-up, 30 women (2.8%) and 30 men (4.4%) without any prior CHD history died from CHD-related causes. In women, a history of MA was associated with a non-significant twofold higher risk of CHD death (age-adjusted relative risk 2.2, 95% confidence interval 0.8, 5.8, P = 0.11), which remained similar after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. There were no CHD deaths in men with a history of migraine. Our findings support reports that in women, MA, but not MoA, may be associated with increased risk of CHD.     

Type 2 diabetes as a "coronary heart disease equivalent": an 18-year prospective population-based study in Finnish subjects

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality in diabetic subjects without prior evidence of CHD is equal to that in nondiabetic subjects with prior myocardial infarction or any prior evidence of CHD. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: During an 18-year follow-up total, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CHD deaths were registered in a Finnish population-based study of 1,373 nondiabetic and 1,059 diabetic subjects. RESULTS: Adjusted multivariate Cox hazard models indicated that diabetic subjects without prior myocardial infarction, compared with nondiabetic subjects with prior myocardial infarction, had a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.9 (95% CI 0.6-1.5) for the risk of CHD death. The corresponding HR was 0.9 (0.5-1.4) in men and 1.9 (0.6 -6.1) in women. Diabetic subjects without any prior evidence of CHD (myocardial infarction or ischemic electrocardiogram [ECG] changes or angina pectoris), compared with nondiabetic subjects with prior evidence of CHD, had an HR of 1.9 (1.4-2.6) for CHD death (men 1.5 [1.0-2.2]; women 3.5 [1.8-6.8]). The results for CVD and total mortality were quite similar to those for CHD mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes without prior myocardial infarction and prior myocardial infarction without diabetes indicate similar risk for CHD death in men and women. However, diabetes without any prior evidence of CHD (myocardial infarction or angina pectoris or ischemic ECG changes) indicates a higher risk than prior evidence of CHD in nondiabetic subjects, especially in women.     

Gender difference in the impact of type 2 diabetes on coronary heart disease risk

OBJECTIVE: To explain the stronger effect of type 2 diabetes on the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in women compared with men. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 1,296 nondiabetic subjects and 835 type 2 diabetic subjects aged 45-64 years without cardiovascular disease. The end points were CHD death and a major CHD event (CHD death or nonfatal myocardial infarction). The follow-up time was 13 years. RESULTS: Major CHD event rate per 1,000 person-years was 11.6 in nondiabetic men, 1.8 in nondiabetic women, 36.3 in diabetic men, and 31.6 in diabetic women. The diabetes-related hazard ratio for a major CHD event from the Cox model, adjusted for age and area of residence, was 2.9 (95% CI 2.2-3.9) in men and 14.4 (8.4-24.5) in women, and after further adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors, 2.8 (2.0-3.7) and 9.5 (5.5-16.9), respectively. The burden of conventional risk factors in the presence of diabetes was greater in women than in men at baseline. Prospectively, elevated blood pressure, low HDL cholesterol, and high triglycerides contributed to diabetes-related CHD risk more in women than in men. However, after adjusting for conventional risk factors, a substantial proportion of diabetes-related CHD risk remained unexplained in both genders. CONCLUSIONS: The stronger effect of type 2 diabetes on the risk of CHD in women compared with men was in part explained by a heavier risk factor burden and a greater effect of blood pressure and atherogenic dyslipidemia in diabetic women.     

血浆致动脉硬化指数在绝经后女性冠心病中的预测价值

目的 探讨血浆致动脉硬化指数（atherogenic index of plasma，AIP）在绝经后女性冠心病中的预测价值。方法 采用回顾性分析方法，收集疑诊冠心病于我院住院并行冠状动脉造影的绝经后女性患者233例，根据造影结果分为冠心病组（n=171）和对照组（n=62）。比较两组间AIP的差异；应用二元Logistic回归分析绝经后女性冠心病的独立危险因素，并分析AIP对绝经后女性冠心病的预测价值。结果 冠心病组AIP水平明显高于对照组（P<0.01）。二元Logistic回归分析显示高AIP水平、低雌二醇（E2）、高血压可作为评估绝经后女性冠心病的独立危险因素（OR=8.784，P=0.002，95%CI：2.170~35.558；OR=0.813，P=0.000，95%CI：0.764~0.865；OR=2.151，P=0.037，95%CI：1.046~4.422）。ROC曲线分析校正AIP预测冠心病的最佳临界值是2.02 ，敏感度为66.7%，特异度为64.5%。结论 高AIP水平、低E2可作为绝经后女性冠心病的独立危险因素，AIP可用于预测绝经后女性冠心病，当校正AIP＞2.02时，可认为存在冠心病的风险。     

Barriers to coronary heart disease risk modification in women without prior history of coronary heart disease

PURPOSE: To explore the extent to which women perceive barriers to coronary heart disease (CHD) risk modification and to determine if access to a nurse practitioner (NP) decreases perceived barriers to CHD risk modification. DATA SOURCES: Surveys completed by 120 women between the ages of 35 and 60 years, with no known history of CHD. The barriers scale was used to examine women's perceived barriers to CHD risk modification. CONCLUSIONS: Women with access to an NP had less perceived barriers to CHD risk modification. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: NPs are ideally suited to decrease the mortality and morbidity associated with CHD through education strategies and attention to individual barriers women face when attempting to incorporate CHD risk factor modification into their lifestyles.