Women Exhibit Less Atherosclerotic Plaque, But the Same Risk of Heart Attack
A study of more than 4,200 adults with stable chest pain used coronary CT angiography to compare coronary plaque burden by sex. Women had lower plaque prevalence (55% vs. 75%) and median plaque volume (78 mm³ vs. 156 mm³) but experienced similar rates of death, nonfatal heart attack, or hospitalization over ~2 years. Women's risk rose at a lower plaque burden (from 20% versus 28% in men), suggesting smaller coronary arteries make moderate plaque more hazardous and that standard high-risk definitions may underestimate female risk.
Why it mattersCoronary CT angiography found women's risk rises at 20% plaque burden; adjust risk thresholds and screening.