[Gender related characteristics of clinical status and pharmacotherapy of patients with paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation]

Abstract

Aim of the study was to elucidate gender related characteristics of clinical status and treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) hospitalized in a department of urgent cardiology of multiprofile clinical hospital. In a retrospective pharmacoepidemiological study we analyzed case histories of 114 men and 79 women hospitalized because of detected and electrocardiografically confirmed paroxysmal or persistent AF. Compared to men women were significantly older, among them there were significantly more individuals older than 75 years (<0.05), and AF developed in women at older age (<0.05). However duration of arrhythmic anamnesis was similar in women and men. Among women we noted greater prevalence of ischemic heart disease; they had higher risk of thromboembolic complications and higher rate of these complications in anamnesis. Rates of obesity and diabetes mellitus were also higher among women. Men more often had isolated arterial hypertension and lung diseases. There were more smokers among men. Women significantly less often received adequate antithrombotic therapy; they were less often subjected to electrical cardioversion. Rate control strategy was more often selected for women.