CVD risk higher for women with any plaque or with more extensive lesions than for men
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 30 (HealthDay News) -- The risk of cardiovascular disease predicted by the presence, extent, and composition of atherosclerotic plaque on cardiac computed tomography angiography (CTA) differs significantly between men and women, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, held from Nov. 27 to Dec. 2 in Chicago.
John W. Nance Jr., M.D., from Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, and colleagues assessed the gender differences in the predictive value of cardiac CTA findings for occurrence of cardiovascular events in 480 men and women (mean age, 55 years) presenting with acute chest pain without acute coronary syndrome. The presence, extent, severity, and composition of atherosclerotic lesions were evaluated. Patients were followed for an average 12.8 months to assess major adverse cardiac events (MACE [myocardial infarction, unstable angina, revascularization, cardiac death]).
The investigators identified 87 MACE events in 70 individuals during follow-up. Participants with and without MACE had significant gender differences for the presence of plaque, its extent, and stenosis. Compared to individuals without plaque, women had a significantly higher risk associated with any plaque and with more than four coronary segments of any plaque than men (hazard ratios [HRs], 49.3 versus 39.1 and 113.9 versus 66.9, respectively). Compared to women, men had a higher risk for each segment containing non-calcified plaque (HR, 1.55 versus 2.2).
"The risk for cardiovascular events associated with the presence, extent, and composition of atherosclerotic plaque as measured by CTA differs between women and men," the authors write.
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