Coronary disease & ACSCohort study
Women with angina and no obstructive coronary artery disease: IL-6 identifies a cardiometabolic high-risk phenotype and predicts cardiovascular events
- Prospective cohort study
- prespecified subgroup analyses
Authors' conclusion
IL-6 identifies an inflammation-driven cardiometabolic high-risk phenotype in women with ANOCA and independently predicts MACE. The prognostic value of IL-6 does not depend on CMD, underscoring IL-6 as a clinically relevant marker of long-term cardiovascular risk.
Study context
- Population
- Women with stable angina and <50% coronary stenosis at coronary angiography (ANOCA), iPOWER cohort1,636 with IL-6 measured
- Participants
- 1,853 women
- Exposure
- Higher vs lower plasma IL-6
- Outcome
- Composite of:
- CV death
- MI
- Revascularization
- Ischaemic stroke
- HF
- Follow-up
- Median 10.8 years
Main finding
MACE
Hazard ratio
1.23
95% CI 1.07–1.41
Higher vs lower plasma IL-6
HR 1.23 (95% CI 1.07–1.41)
As reported in the abstract
- Women experiencing major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE)
- 250 (15.3%)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
MACE, by coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) status (subgroup)
- Association did not vary by CMD status
- HR 1.25 vs. 1.16
Phenotype associated with higher IL-6
- Higher IL-6 associated with adiposity, DM, high TG–low HDL-C lipid profile and reduced coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR)
Original publication
Women with angina and no obstructive coronary artery disease: IL-6 identifies a cardiometabolic high-risk phenotype and predicts cardiovascular events. Eur J Prev Cardiol. Published 30 August 2026. doi:10.1093/eurjpc/zwag398
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it