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Interventional Diagnostic Procedure: A Practical Guide for the Assessment of Coronary Vascular Function
10:28

Interventional Diagnostic Procedure: A Practical Guide for the Assessment of Coronary Vascular Function

Published on: March 15, 2022

Percutaneous coronary intervention in women

Elizabeth M Holper1, David P Faxon

  • 1Section of Cardiology, University of Chicago, USA.

Journal of the American Medical Women'S Association (1972)
|December 3, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Women with cardiovascular disease face a high risk, yet often underestimate it. Contemporary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) shows no sex difference in outcomes, and is superior to thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction in women.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Interventional Cardiology
  • Women's Health

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S., with many underestimating their risk.
  • Referral patterns and outcomes for women undergoing invasive cardiology procedures like percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have historically raised concerns about sex-based disparities.
  • Initial studies on balloon angioplasty suggested poorer outcomes for women, but this review examines contemporary data.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and analyze sex differences in demographics and outcomes for women undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
  • To assess the current landscape of PCI utilization and effectiveness in women compared to men.
  • To address concerns regarding potential sex discrepancies in referral for invasive cardiac procedures.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent clinical data and studies focusing on percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in women.
  • Comparative analysis of demographic features and clinical presentations between men and women referred for PCI.
  • Examination of outcomes data, including success rates, risks, and mortality, stratified by sex.

Main Results:

  • While women referred for PCI may present with different demographic and clinical profiles than men, contemporary PCI practices show no significant sex difference in outcomes.
  • Primary PCI for acute myocardial infarction in women is associated with improved mortality rates compared to thrombolytic therapy.
  • Historical concerns regarding poorer outcomes for women in angioplasty have not been substantiated by recent data.

Conclusions:

  • Current evidence suggests that women experience comparable outcomes to men with modern percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) techniques.
  • PCI is a viable and often superior treatment option for acute myocardial infarction in women compared to older therapies.
  • Further attention to women's cardiovascular health and risk perception remains crucial, alongside equitable access to advanced treatments like PCI.

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