Persistent chest pain trends at 3 years in women with INOCA vs. obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD): results from the NHLBI-sponsored women’s ischemia syndrome evaluation (Women’s Ischaemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE))
Authors' conclusion
Women with INOCA experience a comparable burden of chest pain to those with obstructive CAD, yet lower rates of medical therapy at baseline and over time. Based on our findings, chest pain status at 3 years predicts angina hospitalizations but not MACE in women with or without obstructive CAD.
Study context
- Population
- Women with suspected ischaemia and no obstructive coronary arteries (INOCA) or with obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD)participants from WISE who met the inclusion criteria for this analysis (19% non-white, mean age = 58.0 years)
- Participants
- 624 women
- Comparison
- Compare patterns in chest pain persistence, cardiac medication use, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) among women with INOCA and those with obstructive CAD
- Outcome
- Chest pain status, overall
- Follow-up
- 3 years
Methodological detailsWISE
- WISE
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Persistent
26%
Intermediate
14%
Recurrent
27%
Resolved
34%
Further findings
Persistent chest pain (PChP) prevalence · 3 years · comparable
P = 0.06
MACE by 3-year chest pain status · 6 years
- MACE occurrence was not significantly associated with 3-year chest pain status in either the INOCA or obstructive CAD groups
Hospitalization for angina by chest pain status
- Hospitalization for angina was associated with chest pain status
- P < 0.001
Original publication
Persistent chest pain trends at 3 years in women with INOCA vs. obstructive CAD: results from the NHLBI-sponsored women’s ischemia syndrome evaluation (WISE). Eur Heart J Qual Care Clin Outcomes. Published 25 November 2025. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it