Role of gender in types and frequency of coronary artery aneurysm and ectasia

This study aimed to evaluate the role of gender in types and frequency of coronary artery aneurysm and ectasia. We assessed retrospectively the angiography records of 6100 patients. At first, we mainly reviewed angiographic movies for the presence of coronary ectasia and/or aneurysm. Consequently, based on the number of the coronary artery involvement, the coronary ectasia and aneurysm were graded as mild if 1 coronary artery was involved and severe if 2 or more coronary arteries were involved. The location of ectasia and aneurysm was analyzed with respect to their isolated or combined location on various coronary arteries. The patients included in the present study were divided into 2 groups based on their gender as male and female. Then, we evaluated the impact of gender on severity and the location of the ectasia and aneurysm. The incidence of the aneurysm and ectasia was 3.5%. Among the patients with aneurysm and ectasia, 6.9% were male and 4.5% were female. Aneurysm and ectasia were evaluated together; their frequency was significantly higher in the male than female patients (P < 0.01). However, when their incidence was evaluated separately, coronary artery ectasia was markedly greater in male patients with regard to female patients (P < 0.01). Incidence of CAE presence on the RCA was significantly greater in males than females (2.7% vs 1.9%, P < 0.05). This study showed that incidence of CAE is more common in males than females. Particularly, frequency for the involvement of CAE on RCA and concurrently on 3 vessels is greater in male patients than female patients.