Canadian scientists have discovered that females who are suffering from the most dangerous form of angina are three times as likely to have severe coronary artery disease (CAD) as males with the same condition.

Boffins analyzed the records of 23,771 sufferers referred for first diagnostic angiography over a six-year period.

They discovered that females aged over 60 with CCS Class IV angina (as defined by the Canadian Cardiovascular Society) confronted a 21% higher absolute risk of developing CAD as compared to males.

The trend was strong, even in younger women under 60, who faced an 11% higher absolute risk as compared to males in the same age group.

But, when the facts were adjusted for other variables commonly linked with CAD - diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and age - Class IV angina sugmented the chance by 82% in females and 28% in males.

That means that women with severe angina face a three times greater risk of developing severe CAD than men.

Lead author Catherine Kreatsoulas from the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at McMaster University, Canada said, "CAD is the leading cause of ill health and death in men and women in the western world, accounting for over a third of deaths."

The results of the study appear in the July issue of the Journal of Internal Medicine. (With Inputs from Agencies)