Electrocardiographic correlates of cardiac magnetic resonance findings in women with myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries.

Background: Myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) occurs in 6-15 % of MI patients. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging identifies MINOCA etiologies, but access may be limited.

Methods: We assessed associations between the index electrocardiogram (ECG) and CMR in MINOCA.

Cardiovascular risk and subclinical atherosclerosis in first-degree relatives of patients with premature cardiovascular disease.

Background: Screening first-degree relatives (FDRs) of patients with premature coronary artery disease (CAD) is recommended but not routinely performed.

Objectives: To assess the diagnostic yield and impact on clinical management of a clinical and imaging-based screening program of FDRs delivered in the setting of routine clinical care.

Methods: We recruited FDRs of patients with premature CAD with no personal history of CAD and prospectively assessed for: 1) cardiovascular risk and presence of significant subclinical atherosclerosis (SA) defined as plaque on carotid ultrasound, stenosis >50% or extensive atherosclerosis on coronary computed tomography angiography, or coronary artery calcium scores >100 Agatston units or >75% percentile for age and sex; 2) utilization of preventive medications and lipid levels prior enrolment and after completion of the assessment.

Canadian Cardiovascular Society/Canadian Women's Heart Health Alliance Clinical Practice Update on Myocardial Infarction With No Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease (MINOCA).

Myocardial infarction with no obstructive coronary artery disease (MINOCA) represents 6%-15% of all acute coronary syndromes, and women are disproportionately represented. MINOCA is an encompassing preliminary diagnosis, and emerging evidence supports a more expansive comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic clinical approach. The current clinical practice update summarizes the latest evidence regarding the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and diagnostic evaluation of MINOCA.

The Importance of Nontraditional and Sex-Specific Risk Factors in Young Women With Vasomotor Nonobstructive vs Obstructive Coronary Syndromes.

Background: Heart disease is the leading cause of premature death for women in Canada. Ischemic heart disease is categorized as myocardial infarction (MI) with no obstructive coronary artery disease (MINOCA), ischemia with no obstructive coronary arteries (INOCA), and atherosclerotic obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) with MI (MI-CAD) or without MI (non-MI-CAD). This study aims to study the prevalence of traditional and nontraditional ischemic heart disease risk factors and their relationships with (M)INOCA, compared to MI-CAD and non-MI-CAD in young women.

Sex, Gender, and Women's Heart Health: How Women's Heart Programs Address the Knowledge Gap.

This article aims to bridge existing knowledge gaps that impact clinical cardiovascular care and outcomes for women in Canada. The authors discuss various aspects of women's heart health, emphasizing the efficacy of multidisciplinary care in promoting women's well-being. The article also identifies the impact of national women's heart health campaigns and the value of peer support in improving outcomes.

Female Risk Factors for Post-Infarction Depression and Anxiety: Trial Design.

Introduction: Female patients are at elevated risk for adverse mental health outcomes following hospital admission for ischemic heart disease. These psychosocial characteristics are correlated with unacceptably higher rates of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. Guidelines to address mental health following acute coronary syndrome (ACS) can only be developed with the aid of studies elucidating which subgroups of female patients are at the highest risk.

Differences in Demographics and Outcomes Between Men and Women With Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection.

Background: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an increasingly recognized cause of myocardial infarction (MI) that most frequently affects women. The characteristics of men with SCAD are less well described.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of men with SCAD.

One-Year Prospective Follow-up of Women With INOCA and MINOCA at a Canadian Women's Heart Centre.

Background: Many women with cardiac chest pain and ischemia or myocardial infarction have no obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA or MINOCA). Studies suggest that these patients have a decreased quality of life and are at increased risk of cardiovascular events. Our study reports 1-year quality of life, frequency of angina, and outcomes following entry into a multidisciplinary Women's Heart Centre (WHC).

Sex and Gender Bias as a Mechanistic Determinant of Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes.

Defined as a prejudice either for or against something, biases at the provider, patient, and societal level all contribute to differences in cardiovascular disease recognition and treatment, resulting in outcome disparities between sexes and genders. Provider bias in the under-recognition of female-predominant cardiovascular disease and risks might result in underscreened and undertreated patients. Furthermore, therapies for female-predominant phenotypes including nonobstructive coronary artery disease and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction are less well researched, contributing to undertreated female patients.

A Practical Approach to Invasive Testing in Ischemia With No Obstructive Coronary Arteries (INOCA).

Up to 65% of women and approximately 30% of men have ischemia with no obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD; commonly known as INOCA) on invasive coronary angiography performed for stable angina. INOCA can be due to coronary microvascular dysfunction or coronary vasospasm. Despite the absence of obstructive CAD, those with INOCA have an increased risk of all-cause mortality and adverse outcomes, including recurrent angina and cardiovascular events.

A case report of pericardial constriction with coexisting severe left main coronary artery disease.

Background: Constrictive pericarditis (CP) is a rare condition in which the pericardium becomes progressively fibrotic and non-compliant leading to impaired ventricular filling and overt heart failure. While CP shares many clinical and haemodynamic similarities with restrictive cardiomyopathy, differentiation of these diseases is crucial as CP is potentially curative through pericardiectomy. Here, we present a case of proven pericardial constriction with atypical haemodynamics in a patient presenting with heart failure and severe left main coronary artery disease (CAD).

The Canadian Women's Heart Health Alliance Atlas on the Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Management of Cardiovascular Disease in Women - Chapter 5: Sex- and Gender-Unique Manifestations of Cardiovascular Disease.

This Atlas chapter summarizes sex- and some gender-associated, and unique aspects and manifestations of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women. CVD is the primary cause of premature death in women in Canada and numerous sex-specific differences related to symptoms and pathophysiology exist. A review of the literature was done to identify sex-specific differences in symptoms, pathophysiology, and unique manifestations of CVD in women.

Sex Disparity Among Canadian Cardiologists in Academic Medicine: Differences in Scholarly Productivity and Academic Rank.

Background Women remain relatively underrepresented in all subspecialties of academic medicine. While sex disparity is prevalent in a number of specialties, the association between academic productivity and sex in academic cardiology has not been assessed in the Canadian context. Methods Academic faculty of accredited Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) programs were included from cardiology division websites across 17 universities.

Impact of regionalizing ST-elevation myocardial infarction care on sex differences in reperfusion times and clinical outcomes.

Background: Women with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention historically experience worse in-hospital outcomes compared to men.

Hypothesis: Implementation of a regional STEMI system will reduce care gaps in reperfusion times and in-hospital outcomes between women and men.

Methods: 1928 patients (413 women, 21.

Contemporary use of guideline-based higher potency P2Y12 receptor inhibitor therapy in patients with moderate-to-high risk non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: Results from the Canadian ACS reflective II cross-sectional study.

Background: After myocardial infarction, guidelines recommend higher-potency P2Y12 receptor inhibitors, namely ticagrelor and prasugrel, over clopidogrel.

Hypothesis: We aimed to determine the contemporary use of higher-potency antiplatelet therapy in Canadian patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI).

Methods: A total of 684 moderate-to-high risk NSTEMI patients were enrolled in the prospective Canadian ACS Reflective II registry at 12 Canadian hospitals and three clinics in five provinces between July 2016 and May 2018.

Use of Preventive Medications in Patients With Nonobstructive Coronary Artery Disease: Analysis of the PROMISE Trial.

Background: Nonobstructive coronary artery disease (NOCAD) is commonly found on coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) during evaluation for coronary artery disease (CAD). There are no guidelines for the medical management of NOCAD, and practice is variable. We aimed to compare patterns of preventive medication use and continuation after identifying NOCAD vs normal coronaries or obstructive CAD on CCTA.

Coronary Optical Coherence Tomography and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Determine Underlying Causes of Myocardial Infarction With Nonobstructive Coronary Arteries in Women.

Background: Myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) occurs in 6% to 15% of myocardial infarctions (MIs) and disproportionately affects women. Scientific statements recommend multimodality imaging in MINOCA to define the underlying cause. We performed coronary optical coherence tomography (OCT) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging to assess mechanisms of MINOCA.

Impact of Female Sex on Clinical Presentation and Ablation Outcomes in the CIRCA-DOSE Study.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate sex-specific differences in atrial fibrillation (AF) presentation and catheter ablation outcomes in the prospective, multicenter, randomized CIRCA-DOSE (Cryoballoon vs. Irrigated Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation: Double Short vs. Standard Exposure Duration) study.

Coronary Flow Reserve in Patients With Prior Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection and Recurrent Angina.

Background A significant proportion of patients with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) have ongoing chronic chest pain despite healing of their dissection. We sought to determine whether coronary microvascular dysfunction contributes to post-SCAD chronic chest pain by performing coronary reactivity testing in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Methods and Results Eighteen patients consented to coronary reactivity testing at least 3 months post-SCAD.

Predicted Versus Observed Major Adverse Cardiac Event Risk in Women With Evidence of Ischemia and No Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease: A Report From WISE (Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation).

Background Primary prevention risk scores are commonly used to predict cardiovascular (CVD) outcomes. The applicability of these scores in patients with evidence of myocardial ischemia but no obstructive coronary artery disease is unclear. Methods and Results Among 935 women with signs and symptoms of ischemia enrolled in WISE (Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation), 567 had no obstructive coronary artery disease on angiography.

Sex differences in non-obstructive coronary artery disease.

Ischaemic heart disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in both women and men. Compared with men, symptomatic women who are suspected of having myocardial ischaemia are more likely to have no obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) on coronary angiography. Coronary vasomotor disorders and coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) have been increasingly recognized as important contributors to angina and adverse outcomes in patients with no obstructive CAD.

Link between Endometriosis, Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease, and the Health of Women Midlife.

Endometriosis and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) are both essentially diseases of inflammation. It is well established that inflammation is the leading mechanism in the initiation and maintenance of vascular injury and in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. Thus, if women with endometriosis do indeed have increased general inflammation, they are at increased risk of developing microvascular dysfunction and atherosclerosis.