TRENDS IN SUCCESS RATE AFTER PERCUTANEOUS TRANSLUMINAL CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY IN MEN AND WOMEN WITH CORONARY-ARTERY DISEASE

Women with coronary artery disease are less likely to undergo percutan eous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) because of the potential referral bias in favor of men with coronary artery disease in the use of invasive diagnostic procedures and interventions. This difference may represent a sex bias in the delivery of medical care. The apparent sex difference in short-term success of PTCA seen in the early 1980s has not persisted in subsequent studies. The higher in-hospital mortal ity rate, if any, in women compared with men after PTCA is related mor e to the severity of their underlying disease rather than sex alone. I n addition, women have a better long-term PTCA success rate, PTCA shou ld not be withheld in women who are considered appropriate anatomic ca ndidates for fear of reduced success or increased major complications.