Men and Women and Heart Disease

Women undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), also known as coronary angioplasty with stenting, tend to have less complex coronary lesions than men but face higher risks due to older age and more comorbidities. Despite cardiovascular disease being a leading cause of death globally, women receiving PCI often have poorer outcomes compared to men. A 2023 European study led by Antonia Sambola highlights sex-based differences in PCI outcomes, with potential factors including anatomical differences in blood vessels, delayed symptom recognition, and atypical symptom presentation in women. These disparities suggest a need for heightened awareness and earlier referral to cardiologists for women, aiming to improve cardiovascular care and outcomes. Sambola, A, et al. European Heart Journal, 2024, vol 4, issue 2