BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES This study aimed to assess clinical factors that predict long-term clinical outcomes in women who underwent invasive coronary angiography (ICA).

METHODS A total of 741 Korean women (mean age 63.9±9.3 years) who underwent ICA for suspected angina were selected from a nationwide registry database. The three-year incidence of composite major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) including cardiac death, acute coronary syndrome, stroke, and heart failure requiring hospitalization was assessed.

RESULTS Within 3 years of clinical follow-up, there were 42 MACEs (5.7%). Multiple Cox regression analysis identified tachycardia (heart rate ≥100 beats per minute: hazard ratio [HR], 4.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19-13.71; p=0.025), multi-vessel disease (HR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.04-4.19; p=0.038), left ventricular hypertrophy (left ventricular mass index >95 g/m²: HR, 2.79; 95% CI, 1.37-5.65; p=0.004), and the use of diuretics (HR, 2.51; 95% CI, 1.10-5.76; p=0.029) as significant predictors of 3-year MACEs. For subjects with three of 4 these clinical factors, the risk of MACE increased by 11.79 times compared to subjects with 0-2 clinical factors (95% CI, 4.55-30.56; p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS In Korean women undergoing elective ICA, tachycardia, multi-vessel disease, left ventricular hypertrophy and the use of diuretics were associated with 3-year MACEs. These indicators should be considered in managing women with suspected angina.