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on behalf of the Euro Heart Survey Investigators Background-We sought to examine the impact of gender on the investigation and subsequent management of stable angina and to assess gender differences in clinical outcome at 1 year. Methods and Results-The Euro Heart Survey of Stable Angina enrolled patients with a clinical diagnosis of stable angina on initial assessment by a cardiologist. Baseline clinical details and cardiac investigations planned or performed within a 4-week period of the assessment were recorded, and follow-up data were collected at 1 year. A total of 3779 patients were included in the survey; 42% were female. Women were less likely to undergo an exercise ECG (odds ratio, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.69 to 0.95) and less likely to be referred for coronary angiography (odds ratio, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.48 to 0.72). Antiplatelet and statin therapies were used significantly less in women than in men, both at initial assessment and at 1 year, even in those in whom coronary disease had been confirmed. Women with confirmed coronary disease were less likely to be revascularized than their male counterparts and were twice as likely to suffer death or nonfatal myocardial infarction during the 1-year follow-up period (hazard ratio, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.13 to 3.85), even after multivariable adjustment for age, abnormal ventricular function, severity of coronary disease, and diabetes. Conclusions-Significant gender bias has been identified in the use of investigations and evidence-based medical therapy in stable angina. Women were also less likely to be revascularized. The observed bias is of particular concern in light of the adverse prognosis observed among women with stable angina and confirmed coronary disease.

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In RITA-2 an initial strategy of PTCA did not influence the risk of death or MI, but it improved angina and exercise tolerance. Patients considered suitable for PTCA or medical therapy can be safely managed with continued medical therapy, but percutaneous intervention is appropriate if symptoms are not controlled.

As part of a prospective study of the neurologic and neuropsychological complications of coronary artery bypass graft surgery, 312 patients were compared with a control group of 50 patients undergoing major surgery for peripheral vascular disease. The purpose of comparing the 2 groups was to determine to what extent neurologic complications after heart surgery can be attributed to cardiopulmonary bypass. The 2 groups were similar with respect to age, preoperative neurologic and intellectual status, anesthetic methods, duration of operation, perioperative complications, and time spent in the intensive therapy unit. Certain potential risk factors for cerebrovascular disease were more common in the control than the coronary bypass patients. The important difference between the 2 groups was that only the latter group underwent cardiopulmonary bypass. In this group 191 of 312 (61%) and 235 of 298 (79%), respectively, developed early neurologic and neuropsychological complications. By the time of hospital discharge 17% had neurologic disability and 38% had significant neuropsychological symptoms. In the control group 9 of 50 (18%) developed neurologic complications resulting largely from trauma to lower limb sensory nerves. Two patients developed primitive reflexes. Fifteen of 48 (31%) showed neuropsychological impairment on 1 or 2 subtest scores. Moderate or severe intellectual dysfunction was not seen in the control patients in contrast to the 24% thus affected in the coronary bypass group. The difference in frequency and severity of central nervous system complications between the 2 groups is likely to reflect cerebral injury resulting from cardiopulmonary bypass. (Stroke 1987;18:700-707)