Differences between male and female patients with regard to baseline demographics and clinical outcomes in the Asymptomatic Cardiac Ischemia Pilot (ACIP) Trial.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a common problem in men and women; however, men and women with similar clinical presentations of myocardial ischemia may receive different revascularization treatments.

Hypothesis: Using the data base of the Asymptomatic Cardiac Ischemia Pilot (ACIP) trial, this study was undertaken to compare by gender the baseline demographic data and the clinical outcome results in patients randomized to various treatments in the ACIP study.

Methods: This randomized trial compared three treatment regimens [pharmacologic management of angina, pharmacologic management of angina and ambulatory electrocardiographic (ECG) evidence of ischemia, and revascularization--that is, angioplasty and coronary artery bypass surgery], in patients with known CAD, positive stress ECG tests, and ECG evidence of ischemia during 48 h ambulatory monitoring.