Sex associations and computed tomography coronary angiography-guided management in patients with stable chest pain

Kenneth Mangion, Philip D. Adamson, Michelle C. Williams, Amanda Hunter, Tania Pawade, Anoop S. V. Shah, Stephanie Lewis, Nicholas A. Boon, Marcus Flather, John Forbes, Scott McLean, Giles Roditi, Edwin J. R. van Beek, Adam D. Timmis, David E. Newby, David A. McAllister, Colin Berry

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Abstract

Aims: The relative benefits of computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA)-guided management in women and men with suspected angina due to coronary heart disease (CHD) are uncertain. Methods and results: In this post hoc analysis of an open-label parallel-group multicentre trial, we recruited 4146 patients referred for assessment of suspected angina from 12 cardiology clinics across the UK. We randomly assigned (1:1) participants to standard care alone or standard care plus CTCA. Fewer women had typical chest pain symptoms (n = 582, 32.0%) when compared with men (n = 880, 37.9%; P < 0.001). Amongst the CTCA-guided group, more women had normal coronary arteries [386 (49.6%) vs. 263 (26.2%)] and less obstructive CHD [105 (11.5%) vs. 347 (29.8%)]. A CTCA-guided strategy resulted in more women than men being reclassified as not having CHD {19.2% vs. 13.1%; absolute risk difference, 5.7 [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.7-8.7, P < 0.001]} or having angina due to CHD [15.0% vs. 9.0%; absolute risk difference, 5.6 (2.3-8.9, P = 0.001)]. After a median of 4.8 years follow-up, CTCA-guided management was associated with similar reductions in the risk of CHD death or non-fatal myocardial infarction in women [hazard ratio (HR) 0.50, 95% CI 0.24-1.04], and men (HR 0.63, 95% CI 0.42-0.95; P interaction = 0.572). Conclusion: Following the addition of CTCA, women were more likely to be found to have normal coronary arteries than men. This led to more women being reclassified as not having CHD, resulting in more downstream tests and treatments being cancelled. There were similar prognostic benefits of CTCA for women and men.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1337–1345
Number of pages9
JournalEuropean Heart Journal
Volume41
Issue number13
Early online date28 Dec 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2020

Keywords

  • Angina
  • CT coronary angiography
  • CTCA
  • Coronary heart disease
  • Gender

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