Gender differences in percutaneous interventional therapy of coronary artery disease

To determine what differences exist in angiographic parameters between men and women undergoing revascularization therapy for coronary heart disease that may indicate a gender difference, a retrospective review of patients admitted to one hospital for diagnosis of cardiac ischemic syndrome, and undergoing coronary arteriography, percutaneous interventional procedure, or coronary bypass surgery, was performed. Demographic, clinical, and angiographic parameters were evaluated in men and women, including body surface area, distribution of coronary lesions, size of target coronary vessels, and results of interventional procedures. Men and women undergoing percutaneous revascularization did not differ in regard to distribution or size of vessels or outcome. Previous data support the contention that women may undergo coronary arteriography and coronary artery bypass surgery less frequently than men. No evidence of differences existed in selecting patients for percutaneous intervention from those patients who underwent coronary arteriography. Men and women who underwent percutaneous intervention had similar baseline angiographic characteristics, yet men were more likely to receive a new device.