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April 30, 2007

Cardiovascular Testing: Is All Fair Between the Sexes?

Women with coronary symptoms are less likely to receive cardiac catheterization or revascularization. Why? Perhaps there is a doctor bias or that women receive less testing and because of personal preference.

During a visit, women were less likely to receive a cardiac evaluation. With regard to test preference, women and men were equally likely to prefer a stress test, however, women were less likely to say they would accept the physician recommended test whether it was a stress test or catheterization.

Given their choice, women and men both preferred a noninvasive evaluation. However, women appeared less likely to follow the physician recommendation for any test or intervention. This might help explain why women received less cardiovascular testing.

Source: http://www.aemj.org/cgi/content/full/14/5_Supplement_1/S106-a