Clinical findings in patients submitted to cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography at the Cardiovascular Center of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the demographic characteristics, cardiac risk factors, angiographic findings, and complications of patients undergoing coronary angiography.


BACKGROUND
There is growing evidence of coronary angiography safety, however, limited data is available concerning the value of this procedure in the Puerto Rican population.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 322 patients submitted to this procedure at the Cardiovascular Center of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean over a three-month period during 1995. Comparisons of means were based on Student's t-test; comparisons of proportions were based on Pearson's Chi-Square test.


RESULTS
Mean age was 60.4 +/- 10.6 years (Range: 20-86); 57.1% were males. Stable angina (p < 0.001) and atypical chest pain (p = 0.014) were more frequent in females. Smoking history (p < 0.0001), left ventricular dysfunction (p = 0.003), angina post-myocardial infarction (p < 0.001), and myocardial infarction (p < 0.025) were more frequent in males. The most frequent angiographic findings were two-vessel disease (24.2%), normal coronary angiogram (21.2%), and non-obstructive disease (16.9%). In patients with angiographic evidence of coronary artery disease, hypertension (69.8%), diabetes mellitus (41.3%), and hypercholesterolemia (37%) were the predominant risk factors. Thirty-four percent of patients had left ventricular dysfunction. The majority of patients (86%) met American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Class I or II indications for coronary angiography. The only major complication recorded was ventricular arrhythmia requiring defibrillation (0.6%).


CONCLUSIONS
Thirty-eight percent of patients submitted to this procedure did not have significant coronary artery stenosis, a slightly higher estimate than reported elsewhere. In addition, the frequency of major procedural-related complications as currently practiced in this institution was low.
Pérez-Cardona
C M
CM
Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Puerto Rico.
Guzmán-Serrano
M
M
Cox-Rosario
R A
RA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000009:adverse effects; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors