Elsevier, American Journal of Medicine, 11(129), p. 1205-1212
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2016.05.031
Full text: Unavailable
Background: Epidemiological studies have shown a higher risk of cardiovascular mortality associated with early menopause, but the relation between menopausal age and extent of coronary artery disease after menopause is unknown. We assessed the relation between menopausal age and extent of coronary disease in postmenopausal women with an acute coronary syndrome. Methods: A prospective study was conducted in patients ≥55 years old undergoing coronary angiography for an acute coronary syndrome. Enrollment was stratified by sex (women/men ratio 2:1) and age (55-64, 65-74, 75-85, and >85 years). Women were administered menopause questionnaires during admission. An independent core lab quantified coronary artery disease extent using the Gensini Score, which classifies both significant (>50%) and nonsignificant lesions. Linear correlation was used to appraise the association between the Gensini score and menopausal age. Results: We enrolled 675 patients, 249 men and 426 women (mean age 74 years). The mean Gensini score was 60 ± 36 in men vs 50 ± 32 in women (P