Gender-related differences in the management of non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome patients.

Objectives. To compare management and outcome of female and male non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. Design. FINACS Studies are prospective registries of non-ST-elevation ACS patients conducted in 2001, 2003, and 2005 in nine hospitals. Results. The studies enrolled 1 399 patients from which 39% were women. During hospitalisation women were treated less often than men with aspirin (odds ratio [OR]) for women 0.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.41 to 0.88, p=0.03). Women underwent less often in-hospital coronary angiography than men (adjusted OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.93, p=0.01). Also in the subgroup of younger (<75 years) high-risk patients, female sex was independent predictor for not performing in-hospital angiography (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.97, p=0.04). Age-adjusted mortality at 6 months was similar between men and women. Conclusions. Compared to men women received less often aspirin. Women were referred less often to in-hospital coronary angiography. Under-use of in-hospital angiography was evident also in patients with high-risk features when guidelines recommend early invasive treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]