IJCS | Volume 31, Nº6, November / December 2018

565 Table 1 - Comparison of clinical characteristics of the radial and femoral access groups Variables Radial (n = 223) Femoral (n = 124) p-value Female sex 85 (38%) 38 (31%) 0.62 † Age 61 ± 13 66 ± 14 0.001* Weight 78 ± 13 76 ± 18 0.27* Height 1.67 ± 0.1 1.65 ± 0.9 0.12* Body mass index (kg/m 2 ) 27.9 ± 4.5 27.6 ± 5.9 0.57* Body surface (m 2 ) 1.89 ± 0.2 1.86 ± 0.2 0.25* Black/pardo race 132 (63%) 72 (62%) 0.88 † ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction 63 (29%) 32 (26%) 0.62 † Positive troponin 171 (77%) 95 (77%) 0.98 † Ischemic electrocardiography 88 (40%) 50 (40%) 0.87 † Three-vessel disease or left coronary trunk 42 (19%) 28 (23%) 0.1 † Signs of left ventricular failure 18 (8%) 23 (19%) 0.003 † Heart rate (bpm) 79 ± 16 82 ± 19 0.13* Systolic arterial pressure (mmHg) 153 ± 30 154 ± 34 0.7* Creatinine 1.0 ± 0.3 1.2 ± 1.1 0.001* GRACE score 113.9 ± 33.5 128.1 ± 41 0.001* Hemoglobin 14.0 ± 1.8 13.8 ± 1.9 0.29* Diabetes mellitus 76 (34%) 48 (39%) 0.34 † Peripheral arterial occlusive disease 9 (4%) 11 (9%) 0.1 † Previous coronary disease 53 (24%) 57 (46%) 0.001 † Previous revascularization 1 (0.5%) 24 (19.5%) 0.001 † Stroke 7 (3%) 11 (9%) 0.021 † Smoking 23 (10%) 8 (6.5%) 0.23 † Previous heart failure 7 (3%) 7 (6%) 0.25 † Previous bleeding 2 (5%) 1 (8%) 0.65 † *Student’s t-test; † chi-square test. Lacerda et al. Paradoxical choice for radial access in ACS Int J Cardiovasc Sci. 2018;31(6)562-568 Original Article body mass index and body surface were not different between the groups (Table 1). Regarding ACS presentation, compared with patients treated with femoral approach, patients with radial access had a lower mean GRACE score (114 ± 34 versus 128 ± 41; p < 0,001), better renal function according to creatinine levels (1.0 ± 0.3 versus 1.2 ± 1.1; p < 0.001) and lower prevalence of signs of left ventricular failure (Killip > 1: 8% versus 19%; p < 0.003). The type of ACS, heart rate, systolic arterial pressure, positive troponin, electrocardiographic ischemia, three-vessel disease, coronary angiography showing involvement of the trunk and hemoglobin levels at admission were not different between the groups (Table 1). Regarding comorbidities, therewas a lower prevalence of previous coronary disease in patients treated with radial access (24% versus 46%, p < 0.001). Previous history of stroke (3% versus 9%; p < 0.021) and myocardial