Seventeen-Year Mortality following the Acute Coronary Syndrome: Gender-Specific Baseline Variables and Impact on Outcome

Sex differences in the management and outcome of acute coronary syndrome-Still an issue of equal treatment?

Significant sex-specific differences were described in the presentation, management and outcome of acute coronary syndrom (ACS) patients. Female ACS patients more often presented with noncardiac symptoms, which lead to significant time delays between symptom onset and treatment. Furthermore, multiple studies from various countries described that women with ACS were less likely to receive the medical or reperfusion therapy recommended by the respective guidelines, resulting in higher in-hospital mortality rates.The treating physicians and the patients need to be more aware of the described differences to ensure the best possible medical care for ACS patients, irrespective of sex.

Sex-Related Differences in Platelet Aggregation: A Literature Review Supplemented with Local Data from a Group of Generally Healthy Individuals

The process of platelet aggregation is often influenced by several factors including sex and age. A literature review confirmed the existence of sex-related differences in platelet aggregation. Although 68 out of 78 papers found such differences, there are still some controversies regarding these differences, which can be due to multiple factors (age, trigger, concomitant disease, sample handling, etc.). These outcomes are discussed in line with novel results obtained from a local study, in which blood samples from a total of 53 overall healthy women and men with ages ranging from 20 to 66 years were collected. Aggregation was induced with seven different triggers (ristocetin, thrombin receptor activating peptide 6 [TRAP-6], arachidonic acid [AA], platelet-activating factor 16 [PAF-16], ADP, collagen, or thromboxane A₂ analog U-46619) ex vivo. In addition, three FDA-approved antiplatelet drugs (vorapaxar, ticagrelor, or acetylsalicylic acid [ASA]) were also tested. In general, women had higher aggregation responses to some agonists (ADP, TRAP), as well as lower benefit from inhibitors (ASA, vorapaxar). The aggregatory responses to AA and TRAP decreased with age in both sexes, while responses to ADP, U-46619, and PAF were affected by age only in women. In conclusion, more studies are needed to decipher the biological importance of sex-related differences in platelet aggregation in part to enable personalized antiplatelet treatment.

Impact of sex on the functional assessment of intermediate coronary lesions by instantaneous wave-free ratio

Sex differences in coronary physiology and in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD) have been previously described. Contrasting data have been reported, so far, about the impact of sex on the assessment of the functional significance of intermediate coronary stenoses by fractional flow reserve (FFR) or instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR). The present study aimed at assessing the sex differences in the results of iFR in a cohort of patients undergoing coronary angiography.

METHODS

We included patients undergoing coronary angiography and the functional assessment of intermediate (40 to 70%) coronary lesions in 2 centers. iFR measurement was performed by pressure-recording guidewire and automatically calculated at the core laboratory using the manufacturers' dedicated software. Quantitative parameters of the coronary lesions were calculated by an automatic edge-detection system. Minimal luminal diameter (MLD), reference diameter (RD), percent diameter stenosis, and length of the lesion were measured. Positive iFR was considered for values < 0.90.

RESULTS

We included 325 patients undergoing coronary angiography and iFR evaluation of 371 intermediate coronary stenoses, including 20.6% of women. Females were older, displayed lower body weight and hemoglobin, lower rate of active smoking (p < 0.001) and previous PCI (p = 0.04), lower platelet count (p = 0.001) and creatinine (p = 0.02). Systolic blood pressure and heart rate at admission were more elevated in women (p = 0.001 and p = 0.05, respectively). At angiography, multivessel coronary artery disease was more uncommon (p = 0.001) and proximal lesions were more frequently assessed by iFR (p = 0.04). Mean values of iFR did not differ with sex and neither the percentage of positive iFR (19.1% vs 18.8%, p = 0.99, adjusted OR[95%CI] = 0.51[0.18-1.48], p = 0.22).

CONCLUSION

Among patients undergoing functional assessment of intermediate coronary lesions by instantaneous wave-free ratio, no impact of sex was observed on the absolute values or the rate of positivity of iFR.