Sex-Based Differences in Characteristics and In-Hospital Outcomes among Patients With Diagnosed Acute Myocarditis

Abstract

Data are scarce regarding sex differences among patients with acute myocarditis (AM). Our aim was to define the sex differences in clinical characteristics as well as in-hospital outcomes in a cohort of consecutive patients hospitalized due to AM. We analyzed data of 322 consecutive patients from January 2005 to December 2017 who were hospitalized with the diagnosis of AM. Eighty-four percent (N = 272) of the patients were males. When compared to females, male patients were younger (36 ± 14 vs 45 ± 17 years, p <0.001), more likely to present with ST segment elevation (75% vs 44%. p <0.001) as well as PR depression upon ECG, and have higher admission troponin levels (7.6 ± 11 vs 2.3 ± 4 µg/L, p <0.001). Moreover, males were more likely to have late gadolinium enhancement upon cardiac magnetic resonance. While male patients were more likely to have ventricular arrhythmias during hospitalization (7% vs 0%, p = 0.05), there were no differences in the incidence of in-hospital mortality or the need for escalation therapy during hospitalization between both groups. There were no episodes of mortality upon all patients among a follow-up of 1 year. In conclusion, male patients, which constitute the majority of patients admitted with AM were younger, more likely to present with ST elevation, had higher troponin levels at admission, and had a higher rate of ventricular arrhythmias compared to females. There were no differences in post-discharge mortality rates between males and females.