Grant: Operating Grant

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in most industrialized countries, including Canada. Although only approximately 10% of heart attacks occur in individuals younger than 50 years of age, the incidence of early heart attacks has been increasing in recent years, with the accompanying significant clinical, psychosocial and public health implications. Furthermore, men have heart attacks more often than women in younger ages; the reasons are not clear. Finally, the differences in clinical presentation, prognosis and health care utilization between women and men have not been systematically studied. In the proposed research, we will attempt to bridge the current gap in knowledge of the sex (biological differences, as determined by chromosomes and hormonal profiles) and gender (masculine or feminine characteristics as delineated by the society and culture) differences of early occurrence of heart attacks have not been systematically studied. The proposal is a renewal for an ongoing study, which is progressing successfully, and on target. We aim to explore gender and sex differences in key factors (behavioral, environmental, psychosocial, clinical and biological) of the etiology and the prognosis of early heart attacks, as well as differences in utilization of and satisfaction with health services and quality of life. We are conducting a large multi-center study - the GENESIS PRAXY (GENdEr and Sex DetermInantS of Cardiovascular Disease: From Bench to Beyond in PRemature Acute Coronary SYndrome). We are studying women and men 18-55 years of age with heart attacks and we are comparing them with subjects of similar age without heart attacks. The knowledge derived from this study will facilitate accurate diagnosis, better assessment of risk for, and prevention of heart attacks in young adults, as well as improved care of this devastating disease. The findings will be shared with health professionals, patients and the general public to increase awareness.