Angiographic comparison of coronary artery disease in Arab women with and without type II diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE To compare angiographic features in women with and without type II diabetes mellitus. SUBJECTS AND METHODS One hundred and six consecutive women who underwent diagnostic coronary angiography in the Chest Diseases Hospital, Kuwait, were chosen for the study. Quantitative coronary angiography was performed and the angiographic features were assessed. RESULTS Eighty-two patients had coronary artery disease. Of these, 59 (72%) had type II diabetes mellitus and 23 (28%) were non-diabetics. Segmental disease involving the mid and distal left anterior descending artery was more common in diabetics than non-diabetics. Diabetics had a greater number of long lesions and more distal coronary artery disease. However, the caliber and suitability of the distal vessels for grafting was similar. CONCLUSION Angiographic severity of coronary artery disease in this selective group of mostly Arab women was more in those with type II diabetes mellitus than non-diabetics. However, the distal luminal diameter was similar in both groups.