No difference on angiographic features between women and men in patients with acute coronary syndrome: insights from the ADDICT-ICCU study

Abstract

Abstract Background Previous studies have observed poorer outcomes in women with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Angiographic features and angioplasty techniques to explain this difference between women and men have rarely been analyzed in recent studies. Purpose To analyze by a core laboratory angiographic finding, coronary artery disease (CAD) complexity and percutaneous intervention outcomes in women and men in patients with ACS. Methods From April 7 to 22, 2021, the Addiction in Intensive Cardiac Care Unit (ADDICT-ICCU) study included prospectively 1575 patients admitted to ICCUs with a systematic urine multidrug test in 39 ICCUs across France. This prespecified study focuses on patients admitted for ACS (n=379) with an independent angiographic core laboratory evaluation. The prevalence, location, and severity of CAD (lesion≥50%), the Syntax score, the residual Syntax score and the characteristics of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were compared between women and men. The primary endpoint was Major Adverse Cardiac Events (MACE) defined by death, resuscitated cardiac arrest, or cardiogenic shock. Results Among the 379 patients with ACS (mean age: 63±13 years), 23% were women (n= 86) and 77% were men (n=286). Cardiovascular risk factors and CAD history were well balanced between women and men except for active smoking with less smokers in women (59% vs 81%, p<0.001). Regarding location of CAD (stenosis ≥50%), there was no significant difference between women and men: left anterior descending artery (56% vs 57%; p=0.90), circumflex (28% vs 39%; p=0.12) and right coronary artery (50% vs 48%; p=0.81). No difference was found for baseline Syntax score (7.98 vs 9.64; p=0.13). Women and men have a similar rate of multivessels disease (44% vs 50%; p=0.46) and 3 vessels disease (16% vs 20%; p=0.57). Concerning PCI, Syntax score of the culprit lesion was significantly lower in women (4.5 vs 5.5, p=0.02). Women and men received a similar number of stents (2.3 vs 2.4; p=0.33). Stent length (28.9 vs. 30.3, p=0.43) or stent diameter (3.1 vs 3.2; p= 0.11) were not significantly different. Final TIMI 3 flow was found in 92.9% of women and 88.1% of men (p=0.23). The rate of procedural complications was low in both groups. At the end of the procedure, the residual Syntax score was similar in women and men (4.4 vs 5.4; p= 0.34). The rate of in-hospital MACE was not different between women and men (4.7% vs 4.4%; p=0.91). Conclusion In this study with an independent angiographic core laboratory analysis of ACS patients, no difference between women and men regarding CAD severity or PCI outcomes was observed. Other reasons should be considered if a difference in prognosis exists between women and men.Angiographic features in Women and menAngiographic analysis by Core Laboratory