NATICK — Medical device maker Boston Scientific Corp. said yesterday women received a greater benefit than men from its cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators, according to an analysis of clinical trial data.
Cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators shock the heart to correct irregular beats and then coordinate its pumping action.
Boston Scientific, based in Natick, said a subanalysis of data from a study of 1,800 patients published last year showed that women had a 70 percent reduction in heart failure events compared to a 35 percent reduction for men. It also showed that women with mild heart failure saw a 72 percent reduction in death from any cause.
Company officials said in a statement the findings are noteworthy because these defibrillators have historically been underutilized in women compared to men with the same level of heart disease.
Boston Scientific’s cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators are approved to treat severe heart failure. The Food and Drug Administration is reviewing an application to expand treatment to other patients.
