Self-reported health and adverse outcomes among women living with symptoms of angina or unspecific chest pain but no diagnosis of obstructive coronary artery disease—findings from the DenHeart study

The objectives were to describe differences in self-reported health at discharge between women diagnosed with angina or unspecific chest pain and investigate the association between self-reported health and adverse outcomes within 3 years.

Data from a national cohort study were used, including data from the DenHeart survey combined with 3 years of register-based follow-up. The population included two groups of women with symptoms of angina but no diagnosis of obstructive coronary artery disease at discharge (women with angina and women with unspecific chest pain). Self-reported health measured with validated instruments was combined with register-based follow-up on adverse outcomes (a composite of unplanned cardiac readmissions, revascularization, or all-cause mortality). Associations between self-reported health and time to first adverse outcomes were investigated with Cox proportional hazard models, reported as hazards ratios with 95% confidence intervals. In total, 1770 women completed the questionnaire (49%). Women with angina (n = 931) reported significantly worse self-reported health on several outcomes compared to women with unspecific chest pain (n = 839). Within the 3 years follow-up, women with angina were more often readmitted (29 vs. 23%, P = 0.011) and more underwent revascularization (10 vs. 1%, P < 0.001), whereas mortality rates were similar (4 vs. 4%, P = 0.750). Self-reported health (physical and mental) was associated with adverse outcomes between both groups (on most instruments).

Women with angina reported significantly worse self-reported health on most instruments compared to women with unspecific chest pain. Adverse outcomes varied between groups, with women diagnosed with angina experiencing more events.

ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01926145).