Effect of gender on in-hospital and one-year outcomes after contemporary coronary artery stenting

Despite the similar extent of epicardial coronary artery disease and procedural success, women have been noted to have a twofold higher incidence of in-hospital mortality and vascular complications than men undergoing coronary artery stenting. This analysis of 1,908 women from a pooled data set of 6,186 patients is the largest reported series of prospectively collected data from the contemporary stent era. This study demonstrates that stenting can be-performed in women with excellent acute results with no age-independent increase in short- or long-term mortality compared with men, although with a significantly higher risk of vascular complications. (C)2005 by Excerpta Medica. Inc.