Sex-related differences in the presentation, treatment and outcomes among patients with acute coronary syndromes. The Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events

TLDR: Women with ACS were more likely to have cardiovascular disease risk factors and atypical symptoms such as nausea compared with men, but were morelikely to have normal/mild angiographic coronary artery disease.

Abstract: Objective: To assess whether sex differences exist in the angiographic severity, management and outcomes of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Methods: The study comprised 7638 women and 19 117 men with ACS who underwent coronary angiography and were included in GRACE (Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events) from 1999–2006. Normal vessels/mild disease was defined as Results: Women were older than men and had higher rates of cardiovascular risk factors. Men and women presented equally with chest pain; however, jaw pain and nausea were more frequent among women. Women were more likely to have normal/mild disease (12% vs 6%, p Conclusions: Women with ACS were more likely to have cardiovascular disease risk factors and atypical symptoms such as nausea compared with men, but were more likely to have normal/mild angiographic coronary artery disease. Further study regarding sex differences related to disease severity is warranted.