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.

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.

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.

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.