Untitled

Abstract

Mini review In women, 46% of deaths result from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and 50% of them refer to coronary heart disease. Women, more than men, have angina pectomy as the initial manifestation of the disease (65% vs. 35%, respectively). Men, on the other hand, have acute myocardial infarction (AMI) as an initial manifestation in a higher proportion than in women (29% vs. 43%, respectively). The varied initial manifestations of ischemic diseases result in different diagnostic approaches; thus, as women report milder symptoms, despite a more severe disease, they are less submitted to diagnostic procedures, even having a positive stress test and, when they are, they are already in a more advanced state of the disease. 1-11 Once coronary heart disease is diagnosed in women, the rate of fatal cases exceeds that of men. Although most recurrent AMI occurs in men at a rate of 80% (perhaps because women are more likely to die after their first episode), the rate of reinfarction in women is also high. During the first 3 to 4years after AMI, approximately 20% of women will have a repeat of the episode.