RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To study clinical profile, risk factors and pattern of coronary artery involvement in females. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Female patients undergoing coronary angiography at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai during 1996-1998 for angina were analysed for risk factors. RESULTS: Out of 5997 angiograms, 660 (11%) were females of which 574 (88%) post-menopausal. 48% had atypical chest pain, 11% had unstable angina, 1% had acute myocardial infarction (MI). Past history of MI was present in 48%. Risks factors were hypertension in 60%, diabetes in 52%, obesity in 41%, dyslipidemia in 32%, family history in 36%. 71% patients used oral contraceptive. None of the patients were smoker, 34.8% pre-menopausal and 72.2% post-menopausal had coronary artery disease. Single vessel disease 33% vs 22.1% two vessel disease 43.3 vs 31.2%. Triple vessel 22.3 vs 46.6% and diffuse disease 10% vs 38.7% was seen in pre-menopausal vs post-menopausal females, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Family history was the predominant risk factor in pre-menopausal and diabetes mellitus and hypertension in post-menopausal females. Diffuse and triple vessel disease were significantly common in post-menopausal females.