Higher mortality reported for women undergoing PCI for STEMI

Recent data suggest that women undergoing PCI for STEMI experience higher short- and long-term mortality rates than men undergoing the same procedure.

Researchers of the analysis included 11,931 consecutive patients accrued between 2000 and 2009. Men comprised 72% (n=8,588) of the cohort. Patients underwent PCI for various indications.

The women in the cohort were older than the men, and were more likely to have a history of hypertension and diabetes. Higher rates of smoking were reported among men, along with a history of renal impairment, multivessel disease and a more extensive CV history, including previous MI, PCI and CABG.

Among patients with STEMI, 31-day mortality rates were 11.6% for women and 6.5% for men (P<.001). This trend persisted in an adjusted analysis (30-day adjusted HR=1.54; 95% CI, 1.22-1.96). Also in the STEMI group, higher 1-year (15.1% vs. 9.3%) and 4-year (21.6% vs. 15%) mortality rates were reported among women than men (adjusted HR=1.30; 95% CI, 1.10-1.53).

In the non-ST-segment elevation ACS group, no differences were reported between the genders in terms of 4-year mortality (adjusted HR=1.05; 95% CI, 0.85-1.28) or stable angina (adjusted HR=0.85; 95% CI 0.68-1.08).

“The excess mortality in women appeared in the first month after PCI and could only partially be explained by a difference in baseline characteristics,” the researchers concluded.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.