Risk factors of coronary artery disease in women

The present study aimed at evaluating coronary risk factors in women with definite coronary artery disease. This prospective study was conducted on 250 women with primary diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina. The patients were selected randomly using interview and registering the related risk factors. The primary diagnosis included 11.5% of myocardial infarction and 88.5% of unstable angina. All patients had risk factors. Diabetes was seen in 38.5%, hypertension in 78%, smoking in 27%, cholesterol > 150 mg in 98%, consumption of oral contraceptive in 57%, family history in 28% and limited physical activity in 2.6% of the patients. Body mass index of 59.6% of the patients was equal to or more than 27 kg m(-2). Also, 66.7% of the patients were post menopausal and history of premature hysterectomy was seen in 9.6% of the patients. There were 3 or more risk factors of coronary artery disease in most patients. Considering the known risk factors in women, dyslipidemia, premature menopause, hypertension, oral contraceptives, diabetes and smoking were regarded as the most common ones.