Risk factors for impaired health status differ in women and men treated with percutaneous coronary intervention in the drug-eluting stent era

Objectives In patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the drug-eluting stent era, we compared women's and men's health status 6 and 12 months post-PCI and investigated whether predictors of poor health status at 12 months are similar for women and men. Methods Consecutive patients (n=692; 28% women) treated with PCI completed the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) 6 and 12 months post-PCI. Results There was a significant improvement in health status over time (P<.001), but women experienced a significantly poorer health status compared with men (P<.001) at 6 and 12 months, adjusting for differences in baseline characteristics and health status at 6 months. Predictors of impaired health status were generally different for women and men. In women, the predominant predictors were previous coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, renal impairment, and older age; in contrast, in men, older age was associated with better functioning. In women, previous CABG was associated with a 4-15 fold increased risk of impaired health status. Health status at 6 months was a predictor of all SF-36 domains at 12 months in both women and men. Conclusions Women reported poorer health status compared with men 6 and 12 months post-PCI, and predictors of impaired health status generally differed for women and men. Further studies examining risk factors for adverse outcomes for women and men separately, which will lead to better risk stratification in research and clinical practice, are warranted.