Acute Myocardial Infarction Study

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the most acute presentation of ischemic heart disease and the leading cause of mortality in men and women worldwide, accounting for 17.9 million deaths globally per year. A recent study suggests that women had poorer health status outcomes than men before and after percutaneous coronary intervention. The study findings were published in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions on January 23, 2022.

Multiple contemporary studies have indicated suboptimal treatments and outcomes for women with heart disease compared with men. However, some observational studies have conflicting results. Moreover, greater insight into sex-based differences in health status can lay the foundation for more equitable health care. Therefore, Dr. Pranoti G. Hiremath and her team conducted a study to compare the difference in the health status of women and men in the CPORT-E trial (Cardiovascular Patient Outcomes Research Team Non-Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) undergoing nonprimary percutaneous coronary intervention.

The researchers included 6,851 women and 12,016 men undergoing nonprimary percutaneous coronary intervention in this study and compared the Seattle Angina Questionnaire scores at baseline, 6 weeks, and 9 months.

Key findings of the study:

• Upon analysis, the researchers found that the proportions of angina-free patients increased from:
  • 26.2% and 29.8% at baseline to
  • 71.6% and 78.7% at 6 weeks
  • 78.1% and 83.0% at 9 months in women and men.
• After adjusting for clinical and procedural characteristics as well as baseline angina, they found that the freedom from angina in women was 34% less likely at 6 weeks (odds ratio, 0.66) and 32% less likely at 9 months (odds ratio, 0.68) compared with men.

The authors concluded, "Although health status increased significantly after percutaneous coronary intervention in both women and men, women had poorer health status outcomes than men before and after percutaneous coronary intervention. Additional investigation into therapies that address the causes of poorer health status in women with coronary artery disease is needed."

In an accompanying editorial, Dr. Sonya N. Burgess wrote, "(This study) serves as a reminder of how much more needs to be done to close the gender gap for women with cardiovascular disease and is a call to action to keep working toward better evidence-based solutions and to more consistent and equitable management strategies."

For further information:

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCINTERVENTIONS.121.011308