Gender Differences in Non-Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease.

Subjects affected by ischemic heart disease with non-obstructive coronary arteries constitute a population that has received increasing attention over the past two decades. Since the first studies with coronary angiography, female patients have been reported to have non-obstructive coronary artery disease more frequently than their male counterparts, both in stable and acute clinical settings. Although traditionally considered a relatively infrequent and low-risk form of myocardial ischemia, its impact on clinical practice is undeniable, especially when it comes to infarction, where the prognosis is not as benign as previously assumed.

Prognostic implications of peripheral artery disease in coronary artery disease.

Prevalence of peripheral arterial disease in patients with coronary artery disease is considerably higher than in the general population. A graded increase in the risk of major cardiovascular events in a variety of clinical settings is associated with the number of arterial beds affected by peripheral arterial disease. This is not surprising, considering that both coronary artery disease and peripheral arterial disease are linked to a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and a greater incidence of atherosclerotic burden.