Objective We investigated whether coronary microvascular dysfunction predicts major adverse outcomes during follow-up among women with signs and symptoms of ischemia. Background Altered coronary reactivity occurs frequently in women evaluated for suspected ischemia and the endothelium-dependent component is linked with adverse outcomes. Possible links between endothelium-independent microvascular coronary reactivity and adverse outcomes remain uncertain. Methods As part of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute-sponsored Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE), we investigated relationships between major adverse outcomes and baseline coronary flow reserve (CFR) following intracoronary adenosine in 189 women referred to evaluate suspected ischemia. Results At 5.4 (mean) years, we observed significant associations between CFR and major adverse outcomes (death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure). An exploratory ROC analysis identified CFR <2.32 as the best discriminating threshold for adverse outcomes (event rate 26.7% and ≥2.32 event rate 12.2%; p = 0.01). Lower CFR was associated with increased risk for major adverse outcomes (HR 1.16, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.30; p = 0.009). This held true among the 152 women without obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) (HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.38; p = 0.008). CFR significantly improved prediction of adverse outcomes over angiographic CAD severity and other risk conditions. Conclusions Among women with suspected ischemia and atherosclerosis risk factors, coronary microvascular reactivity to adenosine significantly improves prediction of major adverse outcomes over angiographic CAD severity and CAD risk factors. These findings suggest coronary microvessels represent novel targets for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to predict and limit adverse outcomes in women.

Among postmenopausal women evaluated for suspected ischemia, clinical features of PCOS are associated with more angiographic CAD and worsening CV event-free survival. Identification of postmenopausal women with clinical features of PCOS may provide an opportunity for risk factor intervention for the prevention of CAD and CV events.

Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death and disability in the U.S., but recent advances have not led to declines in case fatality rates for women. The current review highlights gender-specific issues in ischemic heart disease (IHD) presentation, evaluation, and outcomes with a special focus on the results derived from the National Institutes of Health-National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-sponsored Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) study. In the second part of this review, we will assess new evidence on gender-based differences in vascular wall or metabolic alterations, atherosclerotic plaque deposition, and functional expression on worsening outcomes of women. Additionally, innovative cardiovascular imaging techniques will be discussed. Finally, we identify critical areas of further inquiry needed to advance this new gender-specific IHD understanding into improved outcomes for women.

Despite a dramatic decline in mortality over the past three decades, coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death and disability in the U.S. Importantly, recent advances in the field of cardiovascular medicine have not led to significant declines in case fatality rates for women when compared to the dramatic declines realized for men. The current review highlights gender-specific issues in ischemic heart disease presentation, evaluation, and outcomes with a special focus on the results published from the National Institutes of Health-National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-sponsored Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) study. We will present recent evidence on traditional and novel risk markers (e.g., high sensitivity C-reactive protein) as well as gender-specific differences in symptoms and diagnostic approaches. An overview of currently available diagnostic test evidence (including exercise electrocardiography and stress echocardiography and single-photon emission computed tomographic imaging) in symptomatic women will be presented as well as data using innovative imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance subendocardial perfusion, and spectroscopic imaging will also be discussed.

Among women undergoing coronary angiography for suspected myocardial ischaemia, PChP in women with no obstructive CAD predicted adverse CV outcomes. Such women might benefit from additional evaluation and aggressive risk factor modification therapy.

High triglycerides (TG) and low high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) are important cardiovascular risk factors in women. The prognostic utility of the TG/HDL-C ratio, a marker for insulin resistance and small dense low density lipoprotein particles, is unknown among high risk women. Methods We studied 544 women without prior myocardial infarction or coronary revascularization, referred for clinically indicated coronary angiography and enrolled in the Women’s Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE). Fasting lipid profiles and detailed demographic and clinical data were obtained at baseline. Multi-variate Cox-proportional hazards models for all cause mortality and cardiovascular events (death, myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke) over a median follow-up of 6 years were constructed using log TG/HDL-C ratio as a predictor variable and accounting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Results Mean age was 57±11 years, 84% were white, 55% hypertensive, 20% diabetic, 50% current or prior smokers. TG/HDL-C ranged from 0.3 to 18.4 (median 2.2, first quartile 0.35 to <1.4, fourth quartile 3.66–18.4). Deaths (n=33) and CV events (n=83) increased across TG/HDL-C quartiles (both p<0.05 for trend). TG/HDL-C was a strong independent predictor of mortality in models adjusted for age, race, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and angiographic coronary disease severity (HR 1.95, 95% CI 1.05, 3.64, p=0.04). For cardiovascular events, the multivariate HR was 1.54 (95% CI 1.05, 2.22, p=0.03) when adjusted for demographic and clinical variables, but became non-significant when angiographic results were included. Conclusion Among women with suspected ischemia, the TG/HDL-C ratio is a powerful independent predictor of all cause mortality and cardiovascular events.

Background-Serum amyloid-␣ (SAA) is a sensitive marker of an acute inflammatory state. Like high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), SAA has been linked to atherosclerosis. However, prior studies have yielded inconsistent results, and the independent predictive value of SAA for coronary artery disease (CAD) severity and cardiovascular events remains unclear. Methods and Results-A total of 705 women referred for coronary angiography for suspected myocardial ischemia underwent plasma assays for SAA and hs-CRP, quantitative angiographic assessment, and follow-up evaluation. Cardiovascular events were death, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, stroke, and other vascular events. The women's mean age was 58 years (range 21 to 86 years), and 18% were nonwhite. SAA and hs-CRP were associated with a broad range of CAD risk factors. After adjustment for these risk factors, SAA levels were independently but moderately associated with angiographic CAD (Pϭ0.004 to 0.04) and highly predictive of 3-year cardiovascular events (PϽ0.0001). By comparison, hs-CRP was not associated with angiographic CAD (Pϭ0.08 to 0.35) but, like SAA, was strongly and independently predictive of adverse cardiovascular outcome (PϽ0.0001). Conclusions-Our results show a strong independent relationship between SAA and future cardiovascular events, similar to that found for hs-CRP. Although SAA was independently but moderately associated with angiographic CAD, this association was not found for hs-CRP. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that systemic inflammation, manifested by high SAA or hs-CRP levels, may promote atherosclerotic plaque destabilization, in addition to exerting a possible direct effect on atherogenesis.

Background Women with clinical findings suggestive of ischemia but without findings of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) on angiography represent a frequent clinical problem; predicting prognosis is challenging. Methods The Women’s Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) study examined symptomatic women referred for clinically indicated coronary angiography and followed up for a mean 5.2 years. The St James Women Take Heart (WTH) Project enrolled asymptomatic, community-based women with no history of heart disease who were followed up for 10 years. We compared cardiovascular events (ie, myocardial infarction, stroke, and hospitalization for heart failure) and death in 540 WISE women with suspected ischemia but no angiographic evidence of obstructive CAD with those from a cohort of 1000 age- and race-matched WTH women. Results Compared with the WISE women, asymptomatic WTH women had a lower prevalence of obesity, family history of CAD, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus (P<.001). Five-year annualized event rates for cardiovascular events were 16.0% in WISE women with nonobstructive CAD (stenosis in any coronary artery of 1%–49%), 7.9% in WISE women with normal coronary arteries (stenosis of 0% in all coronary arteries), and 2.4% in asymptomatic WTH women (P≤.002), after adjusting for baseline CAD risk factors. The cardiovascular events were most frequent in women with 4 or more cardiac risk factors, with the 5-year annualized cardiovascular event rate being 25.3% in women with nonobstructive CAD, 13.9% in WISE women with normal coronary arteries, and 6.5% in asymptomatic women (P=.003). Conclusion Women with symptoms and signs suggestive of ischemia but without obstructive CAD are at elevated risk for cardiovascular events compared with asymptomatic community-based women.