Outcomes and Procedural Considerations for Women Undergoing PCI

Women continue to be underrepresented in cardiovascular studies, while heart disease remains a major cause of mortality and morbidity in women as in men. In this review, we explore the differences in presentation, characteristics, and treatment of women presenting for coronary intervention for stable coronary disease or acute coronary syndromes. Recent, large meta-analyses of clinical trials have shown that the sex differences in outcomes after non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome are attenuated after thorough adjustment for baseline comorbidities, but worse outcomes and more complications are still seen in women after percutaneous coronary intervention. Young women presenting for coronary angiogram are particularly at risk. Biologic factors, differences in presentation, and care disparities all contribute to worse outcomes after MI and PCI in women compared to men; both health behaviors and healthcare system behaviors should and can be modified to improve morbidity and survival in women with heart disease.