Pacemaker May Aid Women More Than Men

A type of pacemaker can help more women with heart failure than men, and yet women are less likely to get the devices, a study finds. Researchers pooled results from 3 earlier studies. They included 3,198 men and 878 women. Normally, both sides of the heart beat (contract) at the same time. Among people in the study, one side of the heart contracted slightly later than the other. The original studies were designed to test pacemakers that help both sides beat at the same time. Success was measured by a reduction in the risk of death or fewer heart-failure events that required a hospital trip or more medicine. Women with the devices had a 60% reduced risk of these events. Men’s risk declined 26%. The study also raised questions about who should get these devices.