Sex bias in the management of coronary artery disease in Quebec.

Abstract

This study tests the hypothesis that, given the absence of financial barriers to major coronary procedures in Quebec, women are as likely as men to undergo such procedures. The use of coronary procedures in 33,940 patients with ischemic heart disease, admitted during 1 year to 78 Quebec hospitals, was analyzed. The male-to-female age- and severity-adjusted odds ratios for the use of these procedures were 1.47 for diagnostic procedures, 1.38 for therapeutic procedures, and 1.26 for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. These results suggest that differences in the use of coronary procedures by sex are influenced by factors other than financial accessibility.