OTTAWA, June 11, 2024 — A new Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS)/Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance (CWHHA) clinical practice update provides improved guidance to help Canadian clinicians make earlier diagnoses and offer better treatment options for individuals suffering a rare and dangerous form of heart attack that disproportionately affects women. The update is published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology.
Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is similar to a typical heart attack, only it can occur with less than 50% blockage in the arteries of the heart, say experts at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. The condition is often missed in examination rooms and can go untreated. Individuals diagnosed in a timely manner usually have a better prognosis than those of typical heart attacks.
Clinical outcomes are typically worse in women with MINOCA. Women are at greater risk of in-hospital death, are more likely to experience recurrent heart attacks, and are susceptible to proportionately higher mortality rates following a MINOCA event. Younger women are also more likely to be diagnosed with the condition than men.
The CCS/CWHHA clinical practice update provides Canadians with up-to-date guidelines on five key areas.
- What MINOCA is and how not to miss it.
- The importance of excluding diagnostic “mimickers.”
- Flexible diagnostic pathways that are focused on laboratory testing, as well as non-invasive and invasive imaging that can be adapted based on each institution’s availability and expertise.
- The importance of understanding the underlying pathophysiology causing the MINOCA event to optimize treatment.
- The added benefit of post-acute care resources, including referral to cardiac rehabilitation and centres of excellence.
“With the launch of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society’s MINOCA clinical practice update, developed in partnership with the Canadian Women's Heart Health Alliance, we're taking a significant stride toward advancing care for patients with MINOCA. This initiative underscores our shared commitment to enhancing clinical understanding and optimizing management strategies, ensuring better outcomes for individuals navigating this complex condition. Together, we're forging pathways toward more effective and personalized care for men and women with MINOCA.” – Dr. Thais Coutinho, and Dr. Christine Pacheco, co-chairs of the MINOCA clinical practice update.
For more information
- Read this Canadian Cardiovascular Society news release.
- Review the CCS/CWHHA clinical practice update in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology.
To schedule an interview with an expert from the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, please contact the media liaison below.
Media contact
Leigh B. Morris
Communications Officer
University of Ottawa Heart Institute
613-316-6409 (cell)
lmorris@ottawaheart.ca