Gender-related risk factors and outcomes for non-Q wave myocardial infarction patients receiving in-hospital PTCA

Abstract

Background: We analyzed the risk factors and outcomes associated with non-Q wave myocardial infarction (MI) in females and males. We studied 376 consecutive patients N 275 males (73%) and 101 females (27%) N who presented with non-Q wave MI and had percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) prior to discharge during the period between January 1992 and February 1996.

Results: Females were significantly older (68 +/- 10 years vs. 61 +/- 11 years; p < 0.001) and had more hypertension (67% vs. 51%; p < 0.01). Males had a slightly lower ejection fraction (47 +/- 11%) compared to females (50 +/- 10%; p < 0.001). Angioplasty was equally successful for women and men (96% vs. 97%; p = NS) with a statistically significant smaller number of lesions dilated per patient in females (1.38 vs. 1.51; p < 0.04). There were no significant differences in unstable angina, prior coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, saphenous vein graft PTCA, single vessel versus multiple vessel disease or history of prior MI. In-hospital complications (i.e., the need for CABG or repeat PTCA, recurrent MI, and stroke) were not statistically significant for either females or males. There was a trend for a higher in-hospital death rate in females after a non-Q wave MI, but it was not statistically significant (4% vs. 1%; p = 0.058). However, at one-year follow-up females had a significantly worse survival rate than men (89% vs. 95%; p < 0.04), although event-free survival rate was similar (61% female, 66% male; p = NS). CABG was performed less commonly in women by the end of one year (p < 0.02) than in men, while the performance of PTCA was similar.

Conclusions: Although women with non-Q wave MI presented with more risk factors than men, in-hospital revascularization was equally successful with few complications and morbid events and similar event-free outcome at one year. However, one year mortality was worse for women, suggesting a need for more aggressive follow-up evaluation and treatment. For both women and men, this aggressive percutaneous revascularization strategy resulted in much better outcome than previously reported for medical treatment of non-Q wave MI.