2026, Number 2
Cardiovasc Metab Sci 2026; 37 (2)
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Is there a difference between genders?
Álvarez de la Cadena-Sillas, Jorge; Asensio-La Fuente, Enrique; García-Jiménez, Yoloxóchitl; Borrayo-Sánchez, Gabriela; Mijangos-Chávez, Janet; Hernández-García, Lillian
ABSTRACT
Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) is almost twice as common in men as in women. The leading cause in both groups is Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), but most women who present with SCD have no prior history of heart disease, are asymptomatic, or have been considered low-risk subjects for SCD. Prevention of SCD in women is more difficult, although control of risk factors for CAD has been demonstrated to reduce the incidence of SCD. Women suffering from SCD are generally older, have more comorbidities, and are less likely to die in public spaces. They also receive less bystander Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) than men. They usually present with an initial non-shockable rhythm and are less likely to survive an Out-Of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) and be discharged from the hospital. The present work reviews significant differences concerning risk factors, treatment, and outcomes that must prompt collective actions to reduce the mortality burden of cardiac arrest in women.