Risk factors for angiographically proven coronary artery disease in women in India.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a significant cause of mortality in women. Risk factors for CAD may vary in different populations. We assessed the risk factors for angiographically proven CAD in women in India in this case-control study. Women with normal coronary arteries served as controls. High prevalence of conventional CAD risk factors was seen in women with CAD, but significant association with CAD was not present for all risk factors. Oral contraceptive pill use and family history of CAD were important risk factors for CAD in premenopausal women, while reproductive span was an additional factor influencing premature CAD.