Women receive greater clinical benefit from CRT-Ds than men: Study

Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) today announced results from a sub-analysis of the MADIT-CRT trial data that showed women received a greater clinical benefit from its cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-Ds) than men. The results were presented during the 17th Cardiostim World Congress by Jonathan Steinberg, M.D., Chief of Cardiology and Director of the Al-Sabah Arrythmia Institute, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York.

The sub-analysis demonstrated that both men and women experienced significant benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy. However, women experienced a 70 percent reduction in heart failure events compared to a 35 percent reduction for men. Additional analysis demonstrated that women with asymptomatic or mild heart failure experienced a 72 percent reduction in all-cause mortality.

"There are a number of factors that may explain why women experienced a greater benefit than men," said Arthur Moss, M.D., Professor of Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center and Principal Investigator of the MADIT-CRT trial. "CRT-D therapy is designed to improve the heart's overall pumping ability and women are more likely than men to have non-ischemic heart disease, which typically affects the entire heart rather than a single region and can lead to reduced pumping strength, abnormal heart rhythms and disturbances in the heart's electrical system. Men are more likely to have ischemic heart disease, also known as coronary artery disease, which often leads to a more localized impact on the heart."

"These findings are noteworthy because CRT-D therapy has historically been underutilized in women compared to men with the same level of heart disease," said Kenneth Stein, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, CRM, for Boston Scientific's Cardiology, Rhythm and Vascular Group. "Boston Scientific believes that all patients should have equal access to high-quality cardiovascular care regardless of gender. We believe these findings will help reduce treatment disparities between men and women."