ORLANDO, FLA. — Early angiography is associated with improved survival in women presenting with acute coronary syndrome, Rasha N. Bazari, M.D., reported at an international conference on women, heart disease, and stroke.
Women who underwent coronary angiography within 2 days of presenting with ACS had a significantly lower 3-year mortality rates than did those who had later procedures (a difference of 7% vs. 20%), said Dr. Bazari of the Henry Ford Heart and Vascular Institute, Detroit.
Angiography beyond 48 hours after presentation was the most significant predictor of mortality, after adjustment for confounding variables (odds ratio 3.7).
Marginal predictors of mortality included older age and lower diastolic blood pressure, she said.
Dr. Bazari and associates reviewed the records of 836 patients (350 women and 486 men) admitted to the hospital during 1997–2000 who underwent angiography during their stay.
The study also showed that fewer women than men admitted during the study period underwent early coronary angiography (63% vs. 74%), she noted.
“Gender should not be a reason to delay early angiography” Dr. Bazari said.