Long-term outcomes for women versus men with unstable angina/non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction managed medically without revascularization: insights from the TaRgeted platelet Inhibition to cLarify the Optimal strateGy to medicallY manage Acute Coronary Syndromes trial

Pretreatment With P2Y12 Inhibitors in Contemporary Practice: Where Do We Stand?

The management of antiplatelet strategies among patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) continues to evolve. Earlier studies have shown ischemic benefit with P2Y12 pretreatment in the setting of ACS; however, large-scale contemporary randomized trials supporting this strategy are lacking. This issue assumes relevance among patients with high bleeding risk or those referred for urgent/emergent coronary artery bypass surgery following coronary angiography. The evolution in the technology of percutaneous coronary intervention since the advent of newer-generation stents with lower risk of stent thrombosis is offset with their delivery in patients with high thrombotic and ischemic risk as the demographics of ACS shift towards the older age group. Coinciding with this shift, research has lagged on timing of administration of P2Y12 inhibitors resulting in discordance in the American and European guidelines, with the latter issuing a class III recommendation (ie, harm) for routine pretreatment (defined as administration of P2Y12 receptor inhibitor among patients in whom coronary anatomy is not known and an early invasive management is planned). The heterogeneity in the presentation of patients with ACS, lack of models that can predict left main or severe three-vessel disease needing urgent coronary artery bypass surgery, and shortening in the timing to angiography prompted us to review the available literature on the benefits and risks of pretreatment. With this backdrop, in this review, we synthesize the rationale for pretreatment with P2Y12 inhibitors among patients presenting with ACS. For this review, articles published in English in PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library between 1980 and 2023 were reviewed. We searched for terms, P2Y12 inhibitors (including clopidogrel, ticagrelor, prasugrel), pretreatment, percutaneous coronary intervention, and coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Abstracts and unpublished data were not included.

Reporting Sex and Gender Differences in Cardiovascular Research

Incorporating sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression (SOGIE) data into cardiovascular research design is necessary to reduce cardiovascular healthcare disparities among sexual and gender minority (SGM) people. To achieve this, researchers should not only understand appropriate terminology, but also implement inclusive survey tools that respect privacy and cultural nuances, as the benefit of obtaining SOGIE information is critical to tailoring cardiovascular interventions and ensuring equitable healthcare outcomes. In order to address potential concerns related to disclosing SOGIE information, we must prioritize sensitivity training for healthcare professionals to foster an inclusive environment for data collection, ethical considerations, and confidentiality safeguards. This review aims to develop and inform critical thinking about sex and gender and to identify strategic mechanisms to include SOGIE data in cardiovascular research, thus improving cardiovascular health outcomes for SGM individuals. By embracing a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to data collection, cardiovascular research can contribute significantly to advancing personalized and inclusive healthcare practices and medical education, and ultimately promote better health outcomes for all SGM individuals.

Sex Differences and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Myocardial Infarction With Nonobstructive Coronary Arteries: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Although myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is more common in women, it is unknown whether sex is a risk factor for adverse outcomes in patients with MINOCA. We aimed to investigate the relationship between sex differences and outcomes of patients with MINOCA.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases from their inception until August 2023 for relevant studies. End points were pooled using the Hartung-Knapp-Sidik-Jonkman random-effects model as odds ratio (OR) with 95% CIs. Nine studies, involving 30 281 patients with MINOCA (comprising 18 079 women and 12 202 men), were included in the study. Women were older and had a higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and stroke compared with men. The median duration of follow-up was 3.5 years, with an interquartile range of 2.2 to 4.2 years. Pooled analysis revealed no statistically significant difference in the risk of all-cause mortality (OR, 1.03 [95% CI, 0.87-1.22]), major adverse cardiovascular events (OR, 1.18 [95% CI, 0.89-1.58]), heart failure (OR, 1.32 [95% CI, 0.57-3.03]), stroke (OR, 1.13 [95% CI, 0.56-2.26]), and myocardial infarction (OR, 1.04 [95% CI, 0.29-3.76]) between the 2 groups. Regarding short-term outcomes, women had a significantly higher risk of in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events compared with men (OR, 1.33 [95% CI, 1.16-1.53]) whereas there was no significant difference in the risk of in-hospital mortality (OR, 0.90 [95% CI, 0.64-1.28]) between the 2 patient groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the differences in demographics and comorbidity profiles, there was no significant difference in the long-term outcomes for patients with MINOCA between sexes. However, it is noteworthy that women experienced a higher risk of in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events compared with men.

Sex Differences in Bleeding Risk Associated With Antithrombotic Therapy Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background: Antithrombotic therapy is crucial for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but women with CVD may face increased bleeding complications post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) under antithrombotic therapy. However, women are often underrepresented in clinical trials in this field, so evidence for sex-specific recommendations is lacking. Methods and Results: A search on PubMed was conducted for English-language articles addressing bleeding complications and antithrombotic therapy in women. Despite women potentially showing higher baseline platelet responsiveness than men, the clinical implications remain unclear. Concerning antiplatelet therapy post-PCI, although women have an elevated bleeding risk in the acute phase, no sex differences were observed in the chronic phase. However, women require specific considerations for factors such as age, renal function, and weight when determining the dose and duration of antiplatelet therapy. Regarding anticoagulation post-PCI, direct oral anticoagulants may pose a lower bleeding risk in women compared with warfarin. Concerning triple antithrombotic therapy (TAT) post-PCI for patients with atrial fibrillation, there is a lack of evidence on whether sex differences should be considered in the duration and regimen of TAT. Conclusions: Recent findings on sex differences in post-PCI bleeding complications did not provide enough evidence to recommend specific therapies for women. Further studies are needed to address this gap and recommend optimal antithrombotic therapy post-PCI for women.

Retrospective review of non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome presenting to the emergency department of a major tertiary center in Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) comprises a spectrum of diseases ranging from unstable angina (UA), non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (non-STEMI) and ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Treatment of ACS without STEMI (NSTEMI-ACS) can vary, depending on the severity of presentation and multiple other factors.

OBJECTIVE

Analyze the NSTEMI-ACS patients in our institution.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational.

SETTING

A tertiary care institution with accredited chest pain center.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The travel time from ED booking to the final disposition for patients presenting with chest pain was retrieved over a period of 6 months. The duration of each phase of management was measured with a view to identify the factors that influence their management and time from the ED to their final destination. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Travel time from ED to final destination.

SAMPLE SIZE

300 patients.

RESULTS

The majority of patients were males (64%) between 61 and 80 years of age (45%). The median disposition time (from ED booking to admission order by the cardiology team) was 5 hours and 19 minutes. Cardiology admissions took 10 hours and 20 minutes from ED booking to the inpatient bed. UA was diagnosed in 153 (51%) patients and non-STEMI in 52 (17%). Coronary catheterization was required in 79 (26%) patients, 24 (8%) had coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and 8 (3%) had both catheterization and CABG.

CONCLUSION

The time from ED booking to final destination for NSTEMI-ACS patients is delayed due to multiple factors, which caused significant delays in overall management. Additional interventional steps can help improve the travel times, diagnosis, management and disposition of these patients.

LIMITATIONS

Single center study done in a tertiary care center so the results from this study may not be extrapolated to other centers.

Sex-Based Differences in Bleeding Risk After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention and Implications for the Academic Research Consortium High Bleeding Risk Criteria

Background

Female sex was not included among the high bleeding risk (HBR) criteria by the Academic Research Consortium (ARC) as it remains unclear whether it constitutes an HBR condition after percutaneous coronary intervention. We investigated whether female sex associates with HBR and assessed the performance of ARC HBR criteria separately in women and men.

Methods and Results

Among all consecutive patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention between 2009 and 2018, bleeding occurrences up to 1 year were prospectively collected and centrally adjudicated. All but one of the originally defined ARC HBR criteria were assessed, and the ARC HBR score generated accordingly. Among 16 821 patients, 25.6% were women. Compared with men, women were older and had lower creatinine clearance and hemoglobin values. After adjustment, female sex was independently associated with access‐site (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.22–3.74; P=0.008) but not with overall or non–access‐site 1‐year Bleeding Academic Research Consortium 3 or 5 bleeding. This association remained consistent when the femoral but not the radial approach was chosen. The ARC HBR score discrimination, using the original criteria, was lower among women than men (c‐index 0.644 versus 0.688; P=0.048), whereas a revised ARC HBR score, in which age, creatinine clearance, and hemoglobin were modeled as continuous rather than dichotomized variables, performed similarly in both sexes.

Conclusions

Female sex is an independent predictor for access‐site bleeding but not for overall bleeding events at 1 year after percutaneous coronary intervention. The ARC HBR framework shows an overall good performance in both sexes, yet is lower in women than men, attributable to dichotomization of age, creatinine clearance, and hemoglobin values, which are differently distributed between sexes.

Registration

URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT02241291.

Higher 1-year mortality in women admitted to intensive care units after cardiac arrest: A nationwide overview from the Netherlands between 2010 and 2018

PURPOSE

We study sex differences in 1-year mortality of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

DATA

A retrospective cohort analysis of OHCA and IHCA patients registered in the NICE registry in the Netherlands. The primary and secondary outcomes were 1-year and hospital mortality, respectively.

RESULTS

We included 19,440 OHCA patients (5977 women, 30.7%) and 13,461 IHCA patients (4889 women, 36.3%). For OHCA, 1-year mortality was 63.9% in women and 52.6% in men (Hazard Ratio [HR] 1.28, 95% Confidence Interval [95% CI] 1.23-1.34). For IHCA, 1-year mortality was 60.0% in women and 57.0% in men (HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.04-1.14). In OHCA, hospital mortality was 57.4% in women and 46.5% in men (Odds Ratio [OR] 1.42, 95% CI 1.33-1.52). In IHCA, hospital mortality was 52.0% in women and 48.2% in men (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.03-1.20).

CONCLUSION

Women admitted to the ICU after cardiac arrest have a higher mortality rate than men. After left-truncation, we found that this sex difference persisted for OHCA. For IHCA we found that the effect of sex was mainly present in the initial phase after the cardiac arrest.

Sex and gender aspects in vascular pathophysiology

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of global mortality in men and women. The prevalence, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations and outcomes of CVD observed in these two populations is being increasingly recognized as distinct. In this editorial, we provide an overview of mechanisms related to differences in vascular pathophysiology between men and women and explore the contributions of both sex and gender.

Sex-related differences in long-term mortality and heart failure in a contemporary cohort of patients with NSTEACS. The cardiochus-HSUJ registry

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

There is insufficient data regarding sex-related prognostic differences in patients with a non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS). We performed a sex-specific analysis of cardiovascular outcomes after NSTEACS using a large contemporary cohort of patients from two tertiary hospitals.

METHODS

This work is a retrospective analysis from a prospective registry, that included 5,686 consecutive NSTEACS patients from two Spanish University hospitals between the years 2005 and 2017. We performed a propensity score matching to obtain a well-balanced subset of individuals with the same clinical characteristics, resulting in 3,120 patients. Cox regression models performed survival analyses once the proportional risk test was verified.

RESULTS

Among the study participants, 1,572 patients (27.6%) were women. The mean follow-up was 60.0 months (standard deviation of 32 months). Women had a higher risk of cardiovascular mortality compared with men (OR (Odds ratio) 1.27, CI (confidence interval) 95% 1.08-1.49), heart failure (HF) hospitalization (OR 1.39, CI 95% 1.18-1.63) and risk of all-cause mortality (OR 1.10, CI 95% 1.08-1.49). After a propensity score matching, female gender was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of total mortality (OR 0.77, CI 95% 0.65-0.90) with a similar risk of cardiovascular mortality (OR 0.86, CI 0.71-1.03) and HF hospitalization (OR 0.92, CI 95% 0.68-1.23). After baseline adjustment, the risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality was lower in women, whereas the risk of HF remained similar among sexes.

CONCLUSIONS

In a contemporary cohort of patients with NSTEACS, women are at similar risk of developing early and late HF admissions, and have better survival compared with men, with a lower risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality. The implementation of NSTEACS guideline recommendations in women, including early revascularization, seems to be accompanied by improved early and long-term prognosis.

Long-Term Bleeding Risk Prediction with Dual Antiplatelet Therapy After Acute Coronary Syndromes Treated Without Revascularization

BACKGROUND

Longitudinal bleeding risk scores have been validated in patients treated with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) following percutaneous coronary intervention. How these scores apply to the population of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) treated without revascularization remains unknown. The objective was to evaluate and compare the performances of the PRECISE-DAPT, PARIS, and DAPT (bleeding component) bleeding risk scores in the medically managed patients with ACS treated with DAPT.

METHODS AND RESULTS

TRILOGY ACS (Targeted Platelet Inhibition to Clarify the Optimal Strategy to Medically Manage Acute Coronary Syndromes) was a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial conducted from 2008 to 2012 over a median follow-up of 17.0 months in 966 sites (52 countries). High-risk patients with unstable angina or non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction who did not undergo revascularization were randomized to prasugrel or clopidogrel. The PRECISE-DAPT, PARIS, and DAPT (bleeding component) risk scores were applied in the TRILOGY ACS population to evaluate their performance to predict adjudicated non-coronary artery bypass grafting-related GUSTO (Global Use of Strategies to Open Occluded Coronary Arteries) severe/life-threatening/moderate and TIMI (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction) major/minor bleeding with time-dependent c-indices. Among the 9326 participants, median age was 66 years (interquartile range, 59-74 years), and 3650 were females (39.1%). A total of 158 (1.69%) GUSTO severe/life-threatening/moderate and 174 (1.87%) TIMI major/minor non-coronary artery bypass grafting bleeding events occurred. The c-indices (95% CI) of the PRECISE-DAPT, PARIS, and DAPT (bleeding component) scores through 12 months were 0.716 (0.677-0.758), 0.693 (0.658-0.733), and 0.674 (0.637-0.713), respectively, for GUSTO bleeding and 0.624 (0.582-0.666), 0.612 (0.578-0.651), and 0.608 (0.571-0.649), respectively, for TIMI bleeding. There was no significant difference in the c-indices of each score based upon pairwise comparisons.

CONCLUSIONS

Among medically managed patients with ACS treated with DAPT, the performances of the PRECISE-DAPT, PARIS, and DAPT (bleeding component) scores were reasonable and similar to their performances in the derivation percutaneous coronary intervention populations. Bleeding risk scores may be used to predict longitudinal bleeding risk in patients with ACS treated with DAPT without revascularization and help support shared decision making. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT00699998.

Sex-Based Differences in Presentation, Treatment, and Complications Among Older Adults Hospitalized for Acute Myocardial Infarction: The SILVER-AMI Study

BACKGROUND

Studies of sex-based differences in older adults with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have yielded mixed results. We, therefore, sought to evaluate sex-based differences in presentation characteristics, treatments, functional impairments, and in-hospital complications in a large, well-characterized population of older adults (≥75 years) hospitalized with AMI.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We analyzed data from participants enrolled in SILVER-AMI (Comprehensive Evaluation of Risk Factors in Older Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction)-a prospective observational study consisting of 3041 older patients (44% women) hospitalized for AMI. Participants were stratified by AMI subtype (ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI] and non-STEMI [NSTEMI]) and subsequently evaluated for sex-based differences in clinical presentation, functional impairments, management, and in-hospital complications. Among the study sample, women were slightly older than men (NSTEMI: 82.1 versus 81.3, P<0.001; STEMI: 82.2 versus 80.6, P<0.001) and had lower rates of prior coronary disease. Women in the NSTEMI subgroup presented less frequently with chest pain as their primary symptom. Age-associated functional impairments at baseline were more common in women in both AMI subgroups (cognitive impairment, NSTEMI: 20.6% versus 14.3%, P<0.001; STEMI: 20.6% versus 12.4%, P=0.001; activities of daily living disability, NSTEMI: 19.7% versus 11.4%, P<0.001; STEMI: 14.8% versus 6.4%, P<0.001; impaired functional mobility, NSTEMI: 44.5% versus 30.7%, P<0.001; STEMI: 39.4% versus 22.0%, P<0.001). Women with AMI had lower rates of obstructive coronary disease (NSTEMI: P<0.001; STEMI: P=0.02), driven by lower rates of 3-vessel or left main disease than men (STEMI: 38.8% versus 58.7%; STEMI: 24.3% versus 32.1%), and underwent revascularization less commonly (NSTEMI: 55.6% versus 63.6%, P<0.001; STEMI: 87.3% versus 93.3%, P=0.01). Rates of bleeding were higher among women with STEMI (26.2% versus 15.6%, P<0.001) but not NSTEMI (17.8% versus 15.7%, P=0.21). Women had a higher frequency of bleeding following percutaneous coronary intervention with both NSTEMI (11.0% versus 7.8%, P=0.04) and STEMI (22.6% versus 14.8%, P=0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Among older adults hospitalized with AMI, women had a higher prevalence of age-related functional impairments and, among the STEMI subgroup, a higher incidence of overall bleeding events, which was driven by higher rates of nonmajor bleeding events and bleeding following percutaneous coronary intervention. These differences may have important implications for in-hospital and posthospitalization needs.

Impact of gender on short-term and long-term all-cause mortality in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes: a meta-analysis

A meta-analysis to determine the impact of gender on mortality in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS): PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library, was systematically searched. Two investigators independently reviewed retrieved articles and assessed eligibility. Unadjusted mortality rates or adjusted effect estimates regarding gender-specific short-term and long-term all-cause mortality were identified. A total of 30 studies involving 358,827 patients with NSTE-ACS (129, 632 women and 229,195 men) were identified. In the unadjusted analysis, women had significantly higher risk of short-term all-cause mortality (RR 1.37; 95% CI 1.26-1.49; P < 0.00001) and long-term all-cause mortality (RR 1.18; 95% CI 1.07-1.31; P = 0.001) compared with men. However, when a meta-analysis was performed using adjusted effect estimates, the association between women and higher risk of short-term mortality (RR 0.99; 95% CI 0.91-1.07; P = 0.74) and long-term all-cause mortality (RR 0.84; 95% CI 0.68-1.03; P = 0.09) was markedly attenuated. Adjusted short-term and long-term all-cause mortality appeared similar in women and men. In conclusion, women with NSTE-ACS have higher short-term and long-term mortality compared with men. However, gender differences do not differ following adjustment for baseline cardiovascular risk factors and clinical differences.

Sex-specific differences in risk factors for in-hospital mortality and complications in patients with acute coronary syndromes : An observational cohort study

BACKGROUND

The goal of this observational cohort study was to examine gender-specific differences in the incidence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), in-hospital complications and mortality.

METHODS

A cohort of 1550 patients with the primary diagnosis of ACS were enrolled in the study over a period of 4 years. The in-hospital mortality and complications were analyzed as the main outcome measures.

RESULTS

Women were significantly older compared to men (71 ± 11 years vs. 64 ± 12 years, p < 0.001) and had higher in-hospital mortality and complications due to this age difference. The prevalence of smoking was lower while hypertension and history of angina pectoris was more frequent in women, independent of age. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) with or without stenting as well as coronary catheterization significantly reduced in-hospital mortality and complications while thrombolytic therapy was associated with a 3.3 times increased mortality odds ratio (OR, p = 0.01). Other significant predictors of in-hospital mortality were in-hospital complications (OR 25, p < 0.001) and ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI, OR 4.5, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Women differed from men in terms of ACS clinical characteristics, treatment, invasive procedures and survival outcome and some of these effects were age-related. The future emphasis should be based on the prevention of modifiable risk factors and identification of subgroups of female patients that could benefit from more aggressive therapeutic strategies.

Risk of bleeding and repeated bleeding events in prasugrel-treated patients: a review of data from the Japanese PRASFIT studies

Prasugrel is a third-generation thienopyridine that achieves potent platelet inhibition with less pharmacological variability than other thienopyridines. However, clinical experience suggests that prasugrel may be associated with a higher risk of de novo and recurrent bleeding events compared with clopidogrel in Japanese patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In this review, we evaluate the risk of bleeding in Japanese patients treated with prasugrel at the doses (loading/maintenance doses: 20/3.75 mg) adjusted for Japanese patients, evaluate the risk factors for bleeding in Japanese patients, and examine whether patients with a bleeding event are at increased risk of recurrent bleeding. This review covers published data and new analyses of the PRASFIT (PRASugrel compared with clopidogrel For Japanese patIenTs) trials of patients undergoing PCI for acute coronary syndrome or elective reasons. The bleeding risk with prasugrel was similar to that observed with the standard dose of clopidogrel (300/75 mg), including when bleeding events were re-classified using the Bleeding Academic Research Consortium criteria. The pharmacodynamics of prasugrel was not associated with the risk of bleeding events. The main risk factors for bleeding events were female sex, low body weight, advanced age, and presence of diabetes mellitus. Use of a radial puncture site was associated with a lower risk of bleeding during PCI than a femoral puncture site. Finally, the frequency and severity of recurrent bleeding events during continued treatment were similar between prasugrel and clopidogrel. In summary, this review provides important insights into the risk and types of bleeding events in prasugrel-treated patients.Trial registration numbers: JapicCTI-101339 and JapicCTI-111550.

Gender Differences in Associations Between Intraprocedural Thrombotic Events During Percutaneous Coronary Intervention and Adverse Outcomes

Women are frequently reported to have increased morbidity after presentation with acute coronary syndromes and myocardial infarction; however, whether a greater thrombotic tendency contributes to gender differences in clinical outcomes of urgent percutaneous coronary intervention is unknown. Intraprocedural Thrombotic Events (IPTEs) are defined as new or increasing thrombus, abrupt vessel closure, no reflow or slow reflow, or distal embolization at any time during percutaneous coronary intervention. IPTEs were evaluated in this pooled analysis of 6,591 patients with stent implantation and blinded quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) analysis, from the ACUITY and HORIZONS-AMI trials. We compared major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at in-hospital, 30-day, and 1-year follow-up and major bleeding at 30 days according to gender and the presence or absence of IPTE. IPTE was identified in 507 patients (7.7%), with 119 of 1,744 (6.8%) occurring in women and 388 of 4,847 (8.0%) in men (p = 0.12). IPTE, but not gender, was independently associated with MACE at in-hospital and 30-day follow-up. At 1-year follow-up, the adjusted hazard of MACE was higher in women and in patients with IPTE; however, the risk of MACE associated with IPTE was similar among women and men. There was no significant interaction between IPTE and gender for 1-year MACE or 30-day bleeding. IPTE predicted major bleeding only in women. In conclusion, in acute coronary syndromes, women have increased risk of adverse outcome at 1 year. IPTEs are common, occur at similar frequency, and are associated with similar degree of increased MACE in both genders at short- and long-term follow-up. Higher thrombotic propensity does not offer a mechanistic explanation for the worse outcomes noted in women.

Indications, algorithms, and outcomes for coronary artery bypass surgery in patients with acute coronary syndromes

For patients with a non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS), guideline recommendations and treatment pathways focus on revascularization for definitive treatment if the patient is an appropriate candidate. Despite the widespread use of revascularization for NSTE-ACS, most patients undergo a percutaneous coronary intervention, whereas a minority of patients undergo coronary artery bypass grafting. Focusing specifically on the USA, the contemporary utilization, preoperative and perioperative considerations, and outcomes of NSTE-ACS patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting have not been comprehensively reviewed.