Sex Differences in the Management of Coronary Artery Disease

Abstract

Physicians pursue a less aggressive management approach to coronary disease in women than in men, despite greater cardiac disability in women.

Gender differences in pain characteristics of chronic stable angina and perceived physical limitation in patients with coronary artery disease

“…Consistent with previous research (Steingart et al, 1991;Kimble and Kunik, 2000;Pinsky et al, 1990), women reported greater physical limitation secondary to angina symptoms than men. Gender differences in physical function related to chronic anginal symptoms are likely a complex response to interrelated physiologic, cognitive-perceptual, and psychosocial factors.…”

“…To date, studies of gender differences in chest pain have primarily focused on symptoms experienced by patients prior to a confirmed diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) (Bairey Merz et al, 1999) or acute chest pain associated with acute myocardial infarction (Zucker et al, 1997;Meischke et al, 1998;Goldberg et al, 1998Goldberg et al, , 2000. The limited research on gender differences in chronic stable angina suggests that angina may be experienced differently in women (Wenger, 1997) and that women report greater functional disability related to angina symptoms (Steingart et al, 1991;Pinsky et al, 1990). No studies have examined gender differences in chronic stable angina from a multidimensional pain perspective or have included reliable and valid measures of pain that would facilitate comparing chronic angina patients with other chronic pain populations.…”

Differences in patient-reported processes and outcomes between men and women with myocardial infarction

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] Women hospitalized with myocardial infarctions are less likely to be treated with thrombolytics or revascularization. [1][2][3][4][5][6] Women also have a higher mortality rate following myocardial infarction, which may be partially explained by higher ages and increased comorbidity.…”

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] Women hospitalized with myocardial infarctions are less likely to be treated with thrombolytics or revascularization. [1][2][3][4][5][6] Women also have a higher mortality rate following myocardial infarction, which may be partially explained by higher ages and increased comorbidity. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] Despite this extensive literature comparing procedures and mortality in men and women with myocardial infarction, there is little information about patients' perceptions of processes and outcomes.…”

Implicit Gender Bias and the Use of Cardiovascular Tests Among Cardiologists

“…Gender differences in the use of cardiac tests in patients with suspected or confirmed coronary artery disease (CAD) have been known for decades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. After an abnormal cardiac stress test, women are less likely to undergo any subsequent diagnostic testing, including secondary stress testing or angiography 6, 7, 8.…”