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. 2024 Jul 25:11:1419018.
doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1419018. eCollection 2024.

Gender differences in outcomes after left atrial appendage closure with Watchman FLX device: insights from the Italian-FLX registry

Affiliations

Gender differences in outcomes after left atrial appendage closure with Watchman FLX device: insights from the Italian-FLX registry

Michela Bonanni et al. Front Cardiovasc Med. .

Abstract

Introduction: Recent studies have shown gender differences in cardiovascular outcomes after left atrial appendage closure (LAAC), highlighting different complication rates and adverse events, particularly in short-term assessments. As a result, there remains a significant knowledge gap on how these differences directly impact the efficacy and safety of LAAC procedures. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the clinical outcomes of LAAC in women and men using the Watchman FLX device.

Methods: This retrospective, multicenter study analyzes gender-specific outcomes in 650 patients who underwent LAAC with the Watchman FLX device between March 2019 and May 2022, drawn from the ITALIAN-FLX registry.

Results: The results show comparable rates of all-cause mortality, stroke, transient ischemic attack and major bleeding in men and women 12 months after the procedure. Notably, no significant gender differences were found for periprocedural complications.

Conclusion: In conclusion, this study shows that LAAC with the Watchman FLX device has comparable clinical outcomes between genders at both short-term and long-term follow-up.

Keywords: Watchman FLX; atrial fibrillation; gender differences; left atrial appendage occlusion; short and long term outcome.

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Conflict of interest statement

SB has been a consultant for Abbot and Boston Scientific Inc. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study flow-chart.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Secondary endpoint.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Primary composite endpoint.

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