Gender differences in the clinical and therapeutic profile of patients with atrial fibrillation
Abstract
Introduction: There are gender-specific differences in the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, treatment and outcome of atrial fibrillation. Their identification can have a major impact on the planning of screening campaigns and their treatment approaches.
Objective: To identify the gender differences in the clinical and therapeutic profile of patients with atrial fibrillation.
Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in a sample of 146 patients at the Department of Cardiology of the Hospital Universitario General Calixto García in Havana, Cuba, from January 2014 to December 2017.
Results: Female sex (65.1%), age group 70-79 years (43.1%), hypertension in both genders (women 76.8% and men 60.8%; p=0.814), obesity (64.2 vs. 33.3%; p=0.07) and diabetes mellitus (52.6 vs. 21.6%; p=0.02) predominated. Women were more symptomatic and had a faster ventricular rate. The main associated disease in them was heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (11.6 vs. 7.8%; p= 0.05) as unstable angina and infarction were more frequent in men. Women received less oral anticoagulation (58.9 vs. 68.6%; p=0.013).
Conclusions: Differences in the clinical profile between men and women with atrial fibrillation were observed, as well as suboptimal use of oral anticoagulation in general, with significant intersex difference.
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