Myocardial infarction and unstable angina: gender differences in therapy and outcomes.

In the United States, coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death for women. Combined with hypertension, stroke, and other vascular conditions, one in every two women dies annually owing to a cardiovascular condition. During the past 20 years, overall death rate from CHD has declined, but the rate of decline has been lower for women compared with men. Trials and studies have demonstrated that CHD might be preventable; however, optimal treatment strategies for women are still in question. It is, therefore, essential that the medical profession continues its current efforts to focus on the development of clinical practice guidelines that critically evaluate both diagnostic and therapeutic treatment options for women with CHD.