Current trends in coronary artery disease in women

Terry Ann Chambers, Aisha Bagai, Natalia Ivascu

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: There are some striking sex differences regarding presentation, symptoms and sign, diagnosis, and treatment of coronary artery disease. Historically, healthcare delivery to women has been plagued with treatment bias favoring men. This review will present relevant cardiovascular physiologic sex differences, current treatment options for coronary artery disease both surgical and medical, and clinical outcomes of such treatments. RECENT FINDINGS: In the past, pharmacologic and interventional studies generally excluded women from their subjects. As a result, women have been traditionally treated based on the findings in their male counterparts. Recent studies examining sex differences in the treatment of coronary artery disease have given new insight into the hormonal and behavioral influences associated with coronary artery disease. Finally, these studies have drawn attention to possibly inadvertent discrepancies in the way men and women are treated for coronary artery disease. SUMMARY: Despite significant advances in medical and surgical approaches to treat coronary artery disease, it remains and will continue to be the most important healthcare challenge of the 21st century. Whereas efforts are underway to encourage inclusion of more women in therapeutic trials, the educational process, particularly in medical school, needs to broadly address sex specific pathophysiology and treatment, rather than relying on sub-subspecialty training for optimizing healthcare delivery in women.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)75-82
Number of pages8
JournalCurrent Opinion in Anaesthesiology
Volume20
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2007
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Coronary artery disease
  • Female
  • Gender differences

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

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