Sex Differences in Evaluation and Outcome of Unstable Angina

CONTEXT The existence of sex bias in the delivery of cardiac care is controversial, and little is known about the association between sex and delivery of care and outcomes at an early point in the diagnostic sequence, such as when patients present for the evaluation of chest pain. OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that female sex is negatively associated with care delivered to and outcomes of persons diagnosed as having unstable angina. DESIGN Inception population-based cohort study with an average of 6 years of follow-up. SETTING Emergency departments (EDs) in Olmsted County, Minnesota. PATIENTS A total of 2271 Olmsted County residents (1306 men and 965 women) who presented to the ED for the first time with symptoms meeting criteria for unstable angina between 1985 and 1992. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Use of cardiac procedures within 90 days of ED visit, overall mortality, and cardiac events (cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal cardiac arrest, and congestive heart failure), compared by sex and Agency for Health Care Policy and Research cardiovascular risk category (low, intermediate, or high). RESULTS Women were older (P