Results:

A total of 76,148 patients (46,196 presenting with NSTEMI and 28,890 presenting with unstable angina) were included from 11 phase III trials (conducted from 1994–2010). In this cohort, women represented 33.3% of the participants. Women were older by approximately 4-5 years compared to men, and were more likely to have diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and heart failure. Men were more likely to have a prior history of MI and revascularization compared to women. Women had higher median 6-month GRACE risk scores and had GRACE scores ≥140 more often than men. Compared with men, women less frequently had prior MI, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and bypass surgery. Women also had higher rates of bleeding and transfusion rates compared to men. Over the time period examined, the GRACE risk scores increased for both men and women as more patients who were older and had more comorbidities were included in trials. Over time, use of PCI and cardiac medications (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin II receptor blockers, beta-blockers, and lipid-lowering drugs) increased for both men and women. Over the 17-year time period examined, 6-month mortality declined from 7.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.5%-7.6%) to 4.5% (95% CI, 4.0%-5.0%) among women. A similar trend was observed in men (6.3% [95% CI, 6.0%-6.7%] to 3.1% [95% CI, 2.9%-3.4%]).