Chest Pain Presentation Differs Between Women and Men

Among patients who presented with a chief complaint of chest pain and had low-to-moderate risk for acute coronary syndrome, women were less likely than men to have significant coronary artery disease.

In a prospective cohort study at a single Canadian emergency department, researchers assessed sex differences in presentation of chest pain in 970 hemodynamically stable adult patients (40% women; mean age, 60) with low-to-moderate risk for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and no history of cocaine use.

Women were significantly more likely than men to have low (<10%) pretest probability for ACS (85% vs. 76%) and were significantly less likely than men to have known coronary artery disease (21% vs. 34%), pain characteristics typical for ACS (37% vs. 46%), positive stress test results for cardiac ischemia (4% vs. 8%), and acute myocardial infarction within 30 days (5% vs. 8%). Although women were less likely than men to undergo angiography (9% vs…

Reviewing Author

Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP

Disclosures

Editorial boardsKoenig & Schultz's Disaster Medicine: Comprehensive Principles and Practices

Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP

Disclosures

Editorial boardsKoenig & Schultz's Disaster Medicine: Comprehensive Principles and Practices