[Chronic total occlusions: Is there a woman specificity?]

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Interventional Cardiology
• Vascular Medicine

Background:

• Significant gender-based differences exist in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures.
• The impact of gender on clinical outcomes following chronic total occlusion (CTO) PCI remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze potential gender-related differences in CTO PCI.
• To investigate the influence of gender on clinical outcomes after CTO PCI, using clinical cases as a starting point.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of two clinical cases presenting with CTO.
• Review of existing literature on gender differences in angioplasty and CTO procedures.

Main Results:

• Women with CTO tend to be older and have a higher prevalence of diabetes, consistent with non-CTO PCI studies.
• CTO in women is often under-diagnosed and less frequently treated with PCI compared to men.
• Despite similar success rates and positive outcomes post-successful CTO PCI, women are under-referred for this procedure.

Conclusions:

• CTO angioplasty is a viable therapeutic option for both women and men.
• Women with CTO are under-referred for angioplasty, potentially due to under-diagnosis and atypical presentations.
• Addressing gender disparities in CTO PCI referral and treatment is crucial for equitable cardiovascular care.