BACKGROUND:
Sex-based outcome differences for women with ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) have not been adequately addressed, and the role played by differences in prescription of potent P2Y
12
inhibitors (P-P2Y
12
) is not well defined. This study explores the hypothesis that disparities in P-P2Y
12
(prasugrel or ticagrelor) use may play a role in outcome disparities for women with STEMI.
METHODS:
Data from British Cardiovascular Intervention Society national percutaneous coronary intervention database were analyzed, and 168 818 STEMI patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention from 2010 to 2020 were included.
RESULTS:
Among the included women (43 131; 25.54%) and men (125 687; 74.45%), P-P2Y
12
inhibitors were prescribed less often to women (51.71%) than men (55.18%;
P
<0.001). Women were more likely to die in hospital than men (adjusted odds ratio, 1.213 [95% CI, 1.141–1.290]). Unadjusted mortality was higher among women treated with clopidogrel (7.57%), than P-P2Y
12
-treated women (5.39%), men treated with clopidogrel (4.60%), and P-P2Y
12
-treated men (3.61%;
P
<0.001). The strongest independent predictor of P-P2Y
12
prescription was radial access (adjusted odds ratio, 2.368 [95% CI, 2.312–2.425]), used in 67.93% of women and 74.38% of men (
P
<0.001). Two risk adjustment models were used. Women were less likely to receive a P-P2Y
12
(adjusted odds ratio, 0.957 [95% CI, 0.935–0.979]) with risk adjustment for baseline characteristics alone, when procedural factors including radial access were included in the model differences were not significant (adjusted odds ratio, 1.015 [95% CI, 0.991–1.039]).
CONCLUSIONS:
Women were less likely to be prescribed prasugrel or ticagrelor, were less likely to have radial access, and had a higher mortality when being treated for STEMI. Improving rates of P-P2Y
12
use and radial access may decrease outcome disparities for women with STEMI.