Also see Abstract 2249 (9 a.m.) for a report finding that social factors living alone, alcohol abuse, economic burden of medical care, and health status predicted the development of depression in some outpatients with heart failure.
10:15 a.m. Abstract 1936 Women with non-ST elevation heart disease undergoing angioplasty are at higher risk than men. In a new study, women with a serious form of heart disease called non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTACS) who undergo angioplasty to reopen blocked heart arteries (percutaneous coronary intervention, or PCI) fare worse than men. Earlier research in NSTACS patients suggested otherwise, but not all of the women had received PCI. This major review of male and female patients getting PCI between 1997 and 2002 concluded: "Women undergoing PCI for NSTACS have a higher risk of adverse events over the ensuing year than men." Compared to men, women with the coronary syndrome tended to be older, and more often had complications, such as hypertension, diabetes or congestive heart failure. NSTACS confers a significantly higher risk of death and heart attack in women compared to stable angina, chest pain experienced upon exertion. Also see Abstract 2327 (9 a.m.) for a report saying a higher death rate among women than men having PCI for heart attack may be secondary to other, non-gender-related factors such as older age, higher hemodynamic instability and shock.
4 p.m. Abstract 2480
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Contact: Carole Bullock
carole.bullock@heart.org
214-706-1279
American Heart Association
8-Nov-2004