[Symptoms and diagnosis of coronary heart disease in women]

(Symptomer og diagnostikk av koronarsykdom hos kvinner.)

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: Coronary heart disease in women is different from that in men with respect to symptoms, clinical presentation, value of the diagnostic tests and response to treatment. The article presents a review of symptoms and diagnostics of coronary heart disease in women and discusses the diagnostic procedures that are available. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The review is based on literature identified through a non-systematic search of PubMed. RESULTS: In general, myocardial infarction hits women about ten years later than men, but women with risk factors loose their sex advantage. Women with coronary disease are less likely to experience chest pain than men and may have less specific symptoms. Traditional non-invasive diagnostic investigations are less accurate than in men. Women with angina or myocardial infarction also have a lower prevalence of significant stenoses in coronary angiography, and atherosclerosis seems to be more diffuse than in men. This renders the diagnostic approach more difficult. Coronary CT angiography is a promising diagnostic technique, but few women have been included in studies of the method's accuracy, and the radiation dose is still relatively high. INTERPRETATION: We recommend a strategy that emphasizes risk stratification of patients, and thereafter identification of patients in need of further invasive testing. New techniques are needed to identify coronary heart disease in women.

Author information

Author/s: Halvorsen, Sigrun (S); Risøe, Cecilie (C);

Affiliation: Hjertemedisinsk avdeling, Oslo universitetssykehus, Ullevål 0407 Oslo, Norway. sigrun.halvorsen(-atsign-)ulleval.no

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: English Abstract; Journal Article; Review

Journal: Tidsskrift for den Norske lægeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny række (Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen), published in Norway. (Language: nor)

Reference: 2009-Sep; vol 129 (issue 18) : pp 1853-7

Dates: Created 2009/10/21; Completed 2009/10/28;

PMID: 19844276, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/28/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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