Gender differences in clinical presentation and 1-year outcomes in atrial fibrillation

Objectives Our objective was to examine gender differences in clinical presentation, management and prognosis of atrial fibrillation (AF) in a contemporary cohort. Methods In 6412 patients, 39.7% women, of the PREvention oF thromboembolic events – European Registry in Atrial Fibrillation, we examined gender differences in symptoms, risk factors, therapies and 1-year incidence of adverse outcomes. Results Men with AF were on average younger than women (mean±SD: 70.1±10.7 vs 74.1±9.7 years, p<0.0001). Women more frequently had at least one AF-related symptom at least occasionally compared with men (95.4% in women, 89.8% in men, p<0.0001). Prescription of oral anticoagulation was similar, with an increase of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants from 5.9% to 12.6% in women and from 6.2% to 12.6% in men, p<0.0001 for both. Men were more frequently treated with electrical cardioversion and ablation (20.6% and 6.3%, respectively) than women (14.9% and 3.3%, respectively), p<0.0001. Women had 65% (OR: 0.35; 95% CI (0.22 to 0.56)) lower age-adjusted and country-adjusted odds of coronary revascularisation, 40% (OR: 0.60; (0.38 to 0.93)) lower odds of acute coronary syndrome and 20% (OR: 0.80; (0.68 to 0.96)) lower odds of heart failure at 1 year. There were no statistically significant gender differences in 1-year stroke/transient ischaemic attack/arterial thromboembolism and major bleeding events. Conclusion In a ‘real-world’ European AF registry, women were more symptomatic but less likely to receive invasive rhythm control therapy such as electrical cardioversion or ablation. Further study is needed to confirm that these differences do not disadvantage women with AF

Symptom Burden of Atrial Fibrillation and Its Relation to Interventions and Outcome in Europe.

BACKGROUND Little is known about the association of atrial fibrillation symptom burden with quality of life and outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS In the Prevention of Thromboembolic Events-European Registry in Atrial Fibrillation (n=6196 patients with atrial fibrillation; mean±SD age, 71.8±10.4 years; 39.7% women), we assessed European Heart Rhythm Association score symptoms and calculated correlations with the standardized health status questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L). Patients were followed up for atrial fibrillation therapies and outcomes (stroke/transient ischemic attack/arterial thromboembolism, coronary events, heart failure, and major bleeding) over 1 year. Most individuals (92%) experienced symptoms. Correlations with health status and quality of life were modest. In multivariable-adjusted regression models, the dichotomized European Heart Rhythm Association score (intermediate/frequent versus never/occasional symptoms) was associated with cardioversions (odds ratio [OR], 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.45) and catheter ablation (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.44-2.69), and inversely related with heart rate control (OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.70-0.92) and heart failure incidence (OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.16-2.34). Anxiety was inversely related with stroke/transient ischemic attack/arterial thromboembolism (OR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.32-0.93), whereas chest pain related positively with coronary events (OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.42-4.22). Fatigue (OR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.30-2.60), dyspnea (OR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.63-3.33), and anxiety (OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.16-2.55) were associated with heart failure incidence. Palpitations were positively associated with cardioversion (OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.08-1.61) and ablation therapy (OR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.48-2.76). CONCLUSIONS A higher symptom burden, in particular palpitations, predicted interventions to restore sinus rhythm. The score itself had limited predictive value, but its individual components were related to different and specific clinical events, and may thus be helpful to target patient management