Women, myocardial infarction, and coronary revascularization: concordant and discordant clinical trial and registry data

Abstract

Contemporary data define the persisting less favorable outcome for women than men after myocardial infarction. An important contributor is likely lesser application of beneficial therapies. Current outcomes of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty for women have improved, despite its use in older and sicker women, and are comparable with or better than those for men. Although most reports of coronary artery bypass graft surgery continue to document a doubled mortality for women compared with men, recent clinical trial data suggest that elective surgery with improved surgical and perioperative management may constitute determining factors for favorable outcomes.