Sex differences in clinical and angiographic characteristics in spontaneous coronary artery dissection

• Published in: Future cardiology 2021-07, Vol.17 (4), p.669-675
• Main Authors: Zilio, Filippo, Muraglia, Simone, Morat, Fabiola, Borghesi, Marco, Todaro, Daniel, Menotti, Alberto, Dallago, Michele, Braito, Giuseppe, Bonmassari, Roberto
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acute coronary syndromes; gender differences; spontaneous coronary artery dissection
• ISSN: 1479-6678; 1744-8298
• DOI: 10.2217/fca-2020-0124

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an increasingly recognized cause of acute coronary syndrome, mostly in women; however, differences between the sexes should be investigated. Hundred consecutive patients affected by SCAD were identified; coronary lesions were classified according to the most recent classification and clinical and angiographic data of men and women were compared. Men were significantly younger than women, with more cardiovascular risk factors. Lesions were prevalently classified as type 2A, type 2B or type 1; an angiographic pattern compatible with the presence of an intimal tear (types 1 and 1/2) was more represented in males. Sex-related differences in clinical and angiographic characteristics could help in shedding light on mechanisms that contribute to SCAD. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a cause of heart attack, mostly in women. This study investigates differences in SCAD between men and women. Hundred patients affected by SCAD were identified and medical data of men and women were compared. In this study, men were significantly younger than women, with more cardiovascular risk factors. Moreover, angiographic appearance was different between men and women: in men the inner surface of coronary arteries often seemed to be torn. So, sex-related differences in certain cardiological characteristics could help in shedding light on mechanisms that contribute to SCAD.