Risk factors and clinical angiographical characteristics of myocardial infarction in women.
BACKGROUND
Myocardial infarction has a higher incidence in men. However, in women, although less frequent, it has a worse prognosis.


OBJECTIVE
With the present work we aim to define the clinical and angiographical characteristics and evolution of myocardial infarction in women compared with men.


METHODS
We studied 235 sequential inpatients with acute myocardial infarction in the Intensive Care Unit who underwent post-infarction catheterization. We then compared female with male patients in terms of risk factors, location and type of infarction, coronary morphology and post-infarction complications.


RESULTS
About 22% of the patients hospitalized following myocardial infarction were female. The women were older than the men (65.9 +/- 11.2 vs. 60.3 +/- 11.9; p < 0.01), and had a higher prevalence of high blood pressure (71% vs. 54%, p < 0.05) and a lower prevalence of smoking (19% vs. 50%, p < 0.001). Post-infarction angina was more frequent in women (50% vs. 23%, p < 0.001). Neither Q-wave versus non-Q wave myocardial infarction nor its location were significantly different between the sexes. In terms of coronary morphology, myocardial infarction without significant lesions was more frequent in women (10% vs. 3%, p < 0.05) and there were no significant.
Duarte
Rita
R
Serviço de Cardiologia, Hospital de Pulido Valente, Lisboa.
Castela
Susana
S
dos Reis
Roberto Palma
RP
Longo
Susana
S
Cardim
Nuno
N
Cândido
António
A
Correia
Maria João
MJ
Pereira
Ana Paula
AP
Correia
J Martins
JM
D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors