Risk factors among medically indigent women < or = 45 years old with angiographically proven obstructive coronary arterial disease.

Background: Risk factors for angiographically proven coronary arterial disease (CAD) have not been assessed in a large cohort of young medically indigent women, who are known to have more CAD than better educated and more affluent women.

Methods: In a 2-year period, 165 medically indigent women < or = 45 years old underwent coronary arteriography for symptoms suggesting CAD. We compared the prevalence of risk factors in the 100 with obstructive CAD with the prevalence in the 65 with non-obstructive or no CAD.

Results: Both groups had high prevalences of all of the standard risk factors. Compared to the 65 without, the 100 with obstructive CAD more often smoked, had diabetes mellitus, had a family history of CAD, and more often had had a myocardial infarct.

Conclusion: CAD in medically indigent young women is not rare and is best predicted by symptoms, smoking, and diabetes mellitus.