[Change in the patient profile in coronary heart disease at the time of initial evaluation with coronary angiography between 1975 and 1989].
METHODS
After the introduction of coronary angioplasty in the late 1970s, diagnostic coronary angiography has been performed for reasons other than to evaluate patients for bypass surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the change of the patient-profile at the time of the first angiographic evaluation of coronary artery disease. Therefore, 6456 patients in the period from 1975 to 1989 were included.


RESULTS
The observation period of 15 years was divided into three parts of 5 years each (group 1 1975-79, N = 1130); group 2 1980-84, N = 2412; and group 3 1984-89, N = 2914). The mean age (53.3 +/- 7.4 vs. 54.4 +/- 8.4 vs. 57.8 +/- 9.3; p < 0,0001) as well as the number of patients of age > 64 years (6.4% vs. 9.6% vs. 25.9%, p < 0.0001) increased significantly over the 15 years. Women were found twice as often in group 3 vs. group 1 (10% vs. 16% vs. 19%; p < 0.0001). In the observation period the left ventricular ejection fraction (51.1 +/- 15.9 vs. 53.8 +/- 14.4 vs. 55.4 +/- 16.2) and one-vessel disease (37.2% vs. 38.2% vs. 42.4%) increased significantly (p < 0.0001), whereas multi-vessel disease decreased (57.7% vs. 56.6% vs. 52.6%).


CONCLUSIONS
Between 1975 and 1989 significantly more women, more patients over 64 years of age, and more patients with lower degree of coronary disease were first evaluated with coronary angiography. The change of patient-profile may have been influenced by increased risk-factors among women and the possibility to offer patients an alternative therapy to bypass surgery.
Gottsauner-Wolf
M
M
Abteilung für Kardiologie, Universitätsklinik für Innere Medizin II, Wien, Osterreich.
Gwechenberger
M
M
Mörtl
D
D
Sochor
H
H
Stockenhuber
F
F
Probst
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology
Veränderung des Patientenprofils mit koronarer Herzkrankheit zum Zeitpunkt der Erstevaluierung mittels Koronarangiographie zwischen 1975 und 1989.