Impaired coronary vascular reactivity and functional capacity in women: results from the NHLBI Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) Study.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the relationship between coronary vascular reactivity and functional capacity as assessed from the Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) in a cohort of women evaluated for suspected ischemia.


BACKGROUND
Reduced functional capacity and impaired vascular reactivity are associated with poor prognosis, but an association between vascular reactivity and functional capacity is unknown.


METHODS
A total of 190 women enrolled in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)-sponsored Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) study had baseline clinical assessment and coronary artery flow velocity response to adenosine (CFVR(ado)). We compared these results with self-reported DASI metabolic equivalents (METs).


RESULTS
Mean age was 55 +/- 11 years (range 21 to 83 years), and only 18% had coronary stenosis > or =50%. Women with a CFVR(ado) <2.5 (n = 98) had mean DASI of 15.1 +/- 13.6, compared to women (n = 92) with CFVR(ado) > or =2.5, whose mean DASI was 21.0 +/- 15.2 (p = 0.004). This relationship was maintained after adjusting for age and presence of coronary artery disease. CFVR(ado) of > or =2.5 was associated with a DASI of >20 (odds ratio 3.03, 95% confidence interval 1.56 to 5.90, p = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Women with reduced CFVR(ado) were significantly more likely to have reduced functional capacity. Impairment in coronary vascular function and reduced levels of activity may both play a role in the poorer prognosis observed in the WISE study women; however, the relationship between the two is still unclear.
Handberg
Eileen
E
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida 32610-0277, USA. handbem@medicine.ufl.edu
Johnson
B Delia
BD
Arant
Christopher B
CB
Wessel
Timothy R
TR
Kerensky
Richard A
RA
von Mering
Gregory
G
Olson
Marian B
MB
Reis
Steven E
SE
Shaw
Leslee
L
Bairey Merz
C Noel
CN
Sharaf
Barry L
BL
Sopko
George
G
Pepine
Carl J
CJ
D000241:Adenosine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000241:Adenosine