title: Impact of old age on clinical and angiographic characteristics of coronary artery spasm as assessed by acetylcholine provocation test.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Smoking and other risk factors have been well known as important factors of variant angina or coronary artery spasm (CAS). However, clinical features related to age on coronary artery spasm have been rarely evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 3155 consecutive patients with insignificant coronary artery lesion. Patients underwent Acetylcholine (Ach) provocation test for induction of CAS. CAS was defined as > 70% luminal narrowing of coronary arteries during Ach provocation test. The results of Ach provocation test were compared among age groups; < 45 years (Group 1), 45-54 years (Group 2), 55-64 years (Group 3), and ≥ 65 years (Group 4).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Older patients had higher incidence of hypertension, diabetes, but lower incidence rate of current smoking, male sex compared with younger patients. Positive Ach provocation test finding was frequently showed with aging (47.36%vs. 58.3%vs. 62.6%vs. 61.5%;P< 0.001). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that age, male, and myocardial bridge were independent predictors of CAS induced by Ach provocation test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our present study showed that old age was independent predictor for Ach-induced significant coronary artery spasm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kunkuk University, Chungbuk, South Korea.
authors.forename: Woong Gil
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kunkuk University, Chungbuk, South Korea.
authors.forename: Soo Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Center, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Woon
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Rha
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Kang-Yin
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Nankai Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Jian
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Center, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Byoung Geol
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Center, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Se Yeon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Center, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Center, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Eung Ju
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Center, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Gyu
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Center, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hong Seog
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Center, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Joo
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Oh
keywords: Acetylcholine; Age factor; Coronary vasospasm