ACUTE CORONARY INSUFFICIENCY IN WOMEN

Acute coronary insufficiency in women, above all myocardial infarction , is a daily cardiological problem. The incidence is lower in women th an men but tends to equalize with increasing age. Epidemiological data indicates a higher average age in women, similar risk factors which a re common, with smoking playing a preponderant role. The coronary anat omy, age, less aggressive and sometimes]ate treatment, explain the fre quently reported extramortality though this is not always found in mul tivariate analysis. Some rare aetiologies should be recalled as they i nvolve young women. Unstable and spastic angina, possible precursors o f infarction, do not have specific features in women. Treatment should be active, at]east equivalent to that prescribed for men, especially primary angioplasty in the acute phase of infarction. Primary preventi on is essential but requires further epidemiological research, in part icular with respect to the benefits of hormone replacement therapy and its modalities.