THE IMPACT OF AGE AND SEX IN THE PATTERN OF CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

Abstract

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the primary cause of death in the world. Over the last threedecades, invasive procedures such as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneouscoronary interventions (PCI) have resulted in significant improvements in survival and quality oflife for patients. Besides traditional modifiable risk factors, it has been proved that some fixed, nonmodifiablefactors contribute in the behaviour of coronary involvement. To see whether the age andsex as a coronary risk factor contribute this differential coronary involvement, we conducted thisstudy.Objective: To determine the frequency of coronary artery disease (CAD) as it varies with age andgender.Methods: It is a descriptive study carried out at NICVD Karachi. All the subjects were adults withprevious history of ischemic heart disease and recommended coronary angiography based onhistory and non-invasive tests.Results: There were 79.6% male patients and the mean age was 52 years (ranged from 28 to 85year). In 80% of patient femoral artery access was used for performing the procedure. Rightcoronary artery was found dominant in 73% angiograms.Left anterior descending artery was the most frequently involved artery(73.6%) among majorcoronary arteries and obtuse marginal was most frequently involved (20.4%) branche artery.Ramus intermedius was found diseased in 4.2%.The frequency of involvement of Left Main arteryand distal segments of major coronary arteries was increased with advancing age but there was nosignificant association between age and sex and involvement of other coronary arteries.Conclusion: In conclusion males have a higher recorded rate of coronary angiography and singlevessel disease is the most common finding. Females and ages above 80 and below 40 had lowincidence of angiographic events.