Gender, Coronary Artery Disease, and Coronary Bypass Surgery

Abstract

Editorials15 April 1990Gender, Coronary Artery Disease, and Coronary Bypass SurgeryNanette K. Wenger, MDNanette K. Wenger, MDSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-112-8-557 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptThe Framingham Heart Study (1) provided 30 years of observational data that emphasize striking differences in the clinical presentation of and prognosis for coronary heart disease according to gender. Coronary artery disease occurred consistently at a later age among women than men; the mean age at initial clinical manifestation was 10 years older for women than for men, and that for myocardial infarction 20 years older. The reasons for this phenomenon remain largely unexplained.Angina pectoris was highlighted as the predominant initial clinical presentation of coronary heart disease among women, occurring in 56% of women compared with 43% of men....