Occurrence and mortality of vasospastic angina pectoris hospitalised patients in Finland: a population-based registry cohort study

OBJECTIVES:

The occurrence and mortality of vasospastic angina pectoris (VAP) is largely unknown in western countries. Our objective was to clarify the occurrence, gender-distribution and mortality of VAP in Finland using a population-based hospital registry.

METHODS:

We studied consecutive patients aged ≥18 years hospitalized with VAP as the primary cause of admission in Finland during 2004-2014. The data were collected from obligatory nationwide registries. During the study period 1762 admissions were recorded.

RESULTS:

Majority of all VAP patients were male (59.7%) and mean age was 65.7±12.0 years. Annual admission rate for VAP was 2.29/100 000 person-years. Men were in higher risk for VAP than women (admission rate 3.00/100 000 vs 1.68/100 000; RR 1.70; p<0.0001). Gender difference was not modified by age. Likelihood of VAP was highest in population aged 70-84 years. Admission rate for VAP decreased notably during the study period. One-year all-cause mortality was 8.0% and 3-year mortality was 15.5% (cardiac mortality 11.1%). Mortality was associated with increasing age, comorbidity burden and lack of detected coronary artery obstruction, but was similar between genders and during the study period.

CONCLUSIONS:

Men have higher risk for vasospastic angina caused admissions. Likelihood of vasospastic angina admission was highest in aged population. The 3-year all-cause mortality was 15.5%. Mortality was associated with increasing age, comorbidities and non-obstructive VAP diagnosis but was similar between genders.