Clustering of traditional risk factors and precocity of coronary disease in women

Background: Women usually develop coronary artery disease (CAD) 10 years later than men do. CAD in women is associated with menopausal status and the number and intensity of risk factors. But, when the age gap between men and women narrows, less is known about the influence of risk factors on CAD. Methods: We assessed the prevalence of traditional risk factors in 850 men and 468 women with stable CAD who had mean age, 58.3±8.6 and 58.8±10.3 years (P=NS), respectively. Results: Univariate analysis of risk factors showed that body mass index (BMI), hypertension (all three stages), diabetes, triglycerides (≥2.8 mmol/l), cholesterol (≥6.2 mmol/l) and family history were more prevalent in women. Smoking and previous myocardial infarction (MI) were more prevalent in men. Multivariable analysis disclosed hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and family history as independent risk factors for women with stable CAD and smoking and previous MI as independent risk factors for men. Conclusion: Clustering of traditional risk factors may explain the precocity of CAD in women who are near in age to men.