Impact of gender and age on in vivo virtual histology-intravascular ultrasound imaging plaque characterization (from the global Virtual Histology Intravascular Ultrasound [VH-IVUS] registry).

Virtual histology intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS) analyses were performed in the first 990 patients enrolled in the 3,000+ patient global VH-IVUS Registry to assess the impact of gender and age on in vivo VH-IVUS plaque characterization. The 990 patients were divided into 3 age group terciles (<58, 58 to 68, and >68 years) and again divided according to gender. In conclusion, (1) both women and men had an increase in plaque with increasing age; (2) at any age, men had more plaque than women; (3) percentages of dense calcium and necrotic core increased with increasing patient age in both men and women; and (4) gender differences were lowest in the oldest tercile (>68 years).