[Long-term follow-up after direct PTCA in women with acute myocardial infarction]

Long-term follow-up of 204 consecutive and unselected women vs 577 men after direct PTCA for acute myocardial infarction.

Women were older, had more significant comorbidity, and had a longer prehospital phase. Direct PTCA of the infarct artery was angiographically successful in 95% of women and in 94% of men. Total cumulative mortality during 4 years of follow-up was 12.5%, 14.5% 18%, and 23% in women, respectively, vs 9%, 10.5%, 12%, and 15%, respectively, in men (p=ns through year 3, p<0.05 thereafter). After multivariate analysis, gender was no independent risk factor of increased mortality. Major cardiac events and need for target vessel revascularization were unrelated to gender.

There are no gender-specific differences in mortality after direct PTCA for acute myocardial infarction.