Coronary disease & ACS

Gender-related risk of myocardial infarction and subclinical coronary atherosclerosis: a Danish population cohort study

Eur Heart JPublished Prospective population cohort study

Authors' conclusion

For the same degree of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis, women may have a lower risk of myocardial infarction than men.

Study context

Population
Asymptomatic women and men >40 years in a Danish general population cohort, undergoing coronary CT angiography
Participants
5,710 vs 4,293
Exposure
Obstructive vs no obstructive subclinical coronary atherosclerosis, in women and men
  • Womenn = 5,710
  • Menn = 4,293
Outcome
Myocardial infarction

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

MI, obstructive vs no obstructive subclinical coronary atherosclerosis · median follow-up 6.0 years (IQR 3.9-9.5)
Obstructive vs no obstructive
Adjusted hazard ratio (95% CI)
Women
4.1(1.5–11)
Men
12(4.6–34)

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Secondary outcomes

Prevalence of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis, women vs men · From 40 through to >80 years of age

Women had less subclinical coronary atherosclerosis than men, with and without CV risk factors
P for gender interaction <.0001

Death or MI combined, obstructive vs no obstructive subclinical coronary atherosclerosis · Median follow-up 6.0 years (IQR 3.9-9.5)

Women: HR
1.9 (1.3-2.9) (95% CI)
Men: HR
2.7 (1.9-3.9) (95% CI)
  • P for gender interaction = .30

Clinically driven coronary revascularization, obstructive vs no obstructive subclinical coronary atherosclerosis · Median follow-up 6.0 years (IQR 3.9-9.5)

Women: HR
23 (5.2-106) (95% CI)
Men: HR
34 (11-106) (95% CI)
  • P for gender interaction = .35

Original publication

Gender-related risk of myocardial infarction and subclinical coronary atherosclerosis: a Danish population cohort study. Eur Heart J. Published 12 August 2026. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehag612

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