Objective: To determine gender differences in baseline characteristics and intervention treatment in relation to prognosis in patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS).
Methods: A total of 814 patients (545 men and 269 women) with NSTEACS were randomized to early intervention (coronary angiography < 24 hours after randomization) or delayed intervention (coronary angiography > 36 hours after randomization). The primary outcome was a composite of death, myocardial infarction, or stroke at 6 months.
Results: Women were older and more frequently had hypertension, diabetes, and history of coronary artery disease (CAD) or chronic angina (P < 0.05 for all). Women less were smokers and had elevations in cardiac marker (P < 0.05 for both). Women who underwent angiography had no significant lesions more often, but the left main stem and/or three-vessel diseases were similar with men. In adjusted multiple logistic regression analysis, the previous myocardial infarction and severe coronary artery disease were independently associated with the risk of primary endpoint in women. On multivariate analysis for men, severe coronary artery disease delayed intervention strategy and at least 3 risk factors for CAD were independently associated with the risk of primary endpoint.
Conclusions: In NSTEACS patients, different gender had the different prognostic predictor. Severe coronary diseases were as an independent predictor for both male and female patients. An early intervention strategy resulted in a beneficial effect in men which was not seen in women.