Chest pain in a multi-ethnic population: A community-based study on sex differences in chest pain prevalence and care contacts

Objective: While chest pain is a common symptom, its prevalence among women and men across ethnic groups is unknown. Moreover, how chest pain is associated with general practitioner (GP) and cardiologist visits in women and men across ethnic groups, remains to be determined. Design: We used baseline...

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Main Authors: Bryn Hummel, Ralf E. Harskamp, Annick Vester, Henrike Galenkamp, Paula M.C. Mommersteeg, Irene G.M. van Valkengoed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:International Journal of Cardiology. Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772487524001260
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author Bryn Hummel
Ralf E. Harskamp
Annick Vester
Henrike Galenkamp
Paula M.C. Mommersteeg
Irene G.M. van Valkengoed
author_facet Bryn Hummel
Ralf E. Harskamp
Annick Vester
Henrike Galenkamp
Paula M.C. Mommersteeg
Irene G.M. van Valkengoed
author_sort Bryn Hummel
collection DOAJ
description Objective: While chest pain is a common symptom, its prevalence among women and men across ethnic groups is unknown. Moreover, how chest pain is associated with general practitioner (GP) and cardiologist visits in women and men across ethnic groups, remains to be determined. Design: We used baseline data on 12423 women and 9071 men from the multi-ethnic HELIUS cohort (Amsterdam, the Netherlands; 2011–2015). Using logistic regressions, we studied sex differences in chest pain prevalence across ethnic groups. Next, in those who reported chest pain in the past two years (henceforth; recent chest pain), we studied sex differences in GP, cardiologist, and any specialists visits, in total and by ethnicity. Analyses were adjusted for age, ethnicity (in the total population), socioeconomic factors, associated symptoms, clinical parameters, and lifestyle factors. Results: Across most ethnic groups, women were more likely than men to report lifetime (33 % vs 29 %, p < .001) and recent chest pain (4.5 % vs 2.7 %, p = .001). In those with recent chest pain, women were more likely to have visited a GP, yet less likely to have visited a cardiologist, but not any specialist, compared to men. These differences were also observed in several sensitivity analyses, including in those with symptoms suggestive of typical Angina Pectoris. Conclusion: Chest pain is more commonly reported in women than men across most ethnic groups. While men were less likely to have visited a GP than women, women were less likely to have visited a cardiologist. Combined, this suggests delays in care may occur at different points in the care trajectory for women and men.
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spelling doaj-art-3b4b0e9cc8f34e9eaad366cf21bf959c2025-08-20T02:47:04ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Cardiology. Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention2772-48752025-03-012420036110.1016/j.ijcrp.2024.200361Chest pain in a multi-ethnic population: A community-based study on sex differences in chest pain prevalence and care contactsBryn Hummel0Ralf E. Harskamp1Annick Vester2Henrike Galenkamp3Paula M.C. Mommersteeg4Irene G.M. van Valkengoed5Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Corresponding author.Department of General Practice, Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC, Amsterdam, the NetherlandsDepartment of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC, Amsterdam, the NetherlandsDepartment of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC, Amsterdam, the NetherlandsCenter of Research on Psychological Disorders and Somatic Diseases (CoRPS), Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, the NetherlandsDepartment of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC, Amsterdam, the NetherlandsObjective: While chest pain is a common symptom, its prevalence among women and men across ethnic groups is unknown. Moreover, how chest pain is associated with general practitioner (GP) and cardiologist visits in women and men across ethnic groups, remains to be determined. Design: We used baseline data on 12423 women and 9071 men from the multi-ethnic HELIUS cohort (Amsterdam, the Netherlands; 2011–2015). Using logistic regressions, we studied sex differences in chest pain prevalence across ethnic groups. Next, in those who reported chest pain in the past two years (henceforth; recent chest pain), we studied sex differences in GP, cardiologist, and any specialists visits, in total and by ethnicity. Analyses were adjusted for age, ethnicity (in the total population), socioeconomic factors, associated symptoms, clinical parameters, and lifestyle factors. Results: Across most ethnic groups, women were more likely than men to report lifetime (33 % vs 29 %, p < .001) and recent chest pain (4.5 % vs 2.7 %, p = .001). In those with recent chest pain, women were more likely to have visited a GP, yet less likely to have visited a cardiologist, but not any specialist, compared to men. These differences were also observed in several sensitivity analyses, including in those with symptoms suggestive of typical Angina Pectoris. Conclusion: Chest pain is more commonly reported in women than men across most ethnic groups. While men were less likely to have visited a GP than women, women were less likely to have visited a cardiologist. Combined, this suggests delays in care may occur at different points in the care trajectory for women and men.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772487524001260Chest painSex differencesEthnicityHealthcare seeking behaviour
spellingShingle Bryn Hummel
Ralf E. Harskamp
Annick Vester
Henrike Galenkamp
Paula M.C. Mommersteeg
Irene G.M. van Valkengoed
Chest pain in a multi-ethnic population: A community-based study on sex differences in chest pain prevalence and care contacts
International Journal of Cardiology. Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention
Chest pain
Sex differences
Ethnicity
Healthcare seeking behaviour
title Chest pain in a multi-ethnic population: A community-based study on sex differences in chest pain prevalence and care contacts
title_full Chest pain in a multi-ethnic population: A community-based study on sex differences in chest pain prevalence and care contacts
title_fullStr Chest pain in a multi-ethnic population: A community-based study on sex differences in chest pain prevalence and care contacts
title_full_unstemmed Chest pain in a multi-ethnic population: A community-based study on sex differences in chest pain prevalence and care contacts
title_short Chest pain in a multi-ethnic population: A community-based study on sex differences in chest pain prevalence and care contacts
title_sort chest pain in a multi ethnic population a community based study on sex differences in chest pain prevalence and care contacts
topic Chest pain
Sex differences
Ethnicity
Healthcare seeking behaviour
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772487524001260
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