Purpose: Women have been often underdiagnosed and undertreated when they have as high mortality as men of ischemic heart disease, such as angina. One of the reasons of women's under treatment is associated with either vague, non-traditional
symptoms or longer delay in seeking professional help when they experience ischemic heart disease. This study was conducted to investigate the characteristics of women's anginal pain induced by the treadmill test and to explore the potential
relationship(s) between anginal pain and other psycho-physiologic factors.
Methods: Of 22 female patients referred to treadmill test, 7 with positive finding participated in this study. Anginal pain in the past was analyzed by Rose questionnaire, whereas anginal pain induced by the treadmill test was identified by
McGill pain scale, visual analogue scale and present pain index.
Results: Women expressed more heaviness than sharp pain, and complained splitting more often than subjects in previous study that included both men and women. Pain intensity by VAS 3.64±3.94, Pain rating index was 5.14±7.29, present pain index
was 1.57±1.81, duration of pain was 5.14±4.8 min. Exercise intensity was 6.0±4.63 METs, exercise duration was 364.29±141.39 sec, ST change was -2.0㎜ and rate of perceived exertion was 16.29±2.06. The relationships between pain intensity and pain
duration, ST segment changes were significant. Correlation among pain measures was significant.
Conclusion: Generalization of these pilot findings may be inappropriate, and therefore, further larger study is needed.
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