Sex and gender disparities in health behaviors and adherence in patients recovering from percutaneous coronary intervention

Objective:
Sex-related disparities impact adherence to essential health behaviors like a cardiac-healthy diet, exercise, and smoking cessation. However, the influence of gender on these behaviors remains unexplored. The current study examined heterogeneity in adherence to health behavior over time by studying the effects of sex and gender differences among patients who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Method:
A total of 512 participants (Mage = 64.37 ± 8.98; 84% male) responded to self-report questions concerning overall adherence, stress management, and dietary habits based on the Medical Outcomes Study. We added additional items to assess smoking status, medication adherence, and adequate physical activity. Assessments occurred following PCI (baseline) and 6- and 12-months post-PCI. A follow-up study also examined gender-related characteristics. Linear and logistic mixed models investigated the influence of sex, gender, their interaction, and various covariates on health behavior.

Results:
Dietary behavior and medication adherence improved initially but stabilized after the first month. Physical activity improved but then decreased over time. Women and feminine individuals adhered more to stress reduction and dietary guidelines, while men and gender-conforming women (i.e., women with feminine norms) were more compliant with physical activity.

Conclusion:
The current study demonstrated that cardiac rehabilitation interventions focused on diet, physical activity, and stress reduction may benefit from taking a sex- and gender-sensitive approach. However, more evidence is needed on whether sex- and gender-sensitive interventions are beneficial in terms of improving health behavior among PCI patients. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).