Atrial fibrillation may be more closely linked to risk of heart disease and death among women than men, researchers warned today.
"A growing body of literature suggests that women and men experience risk factors for cardiovascular disease differently," explain Connor Emdin and his team at Oxford University, UK.
In the BMJ they write: "Previous analyses have shown that smoking and diabetes are associated with greater proportional risks of coronary heart disease in women than in men. It is currently unclear, however, whether such sex differences exist for atrial fibrillation.
So they carried out a meta-analysis of 30 cohort studies from 1966 to 2015, including 4,371,714 participants.
They report that atrial fibrillation was associated with a 12% higher risk of all cause mortality in women than men, and almost double the risk of stroke and cardiovascular mortality. The associated risk of cardiac events is 55% higher, and heart failure 16% higher than men.
Mr Emdin said: "The main finding of the study was that atrial fibrillation, a cardiac arrhythmia, was a stronger predictor of death and a wide variety of cardiovascular disease in women compared to men, including cardiovascular death, heart failure, stroke and cardiac events. It appears that women with atrial fibrillation are at greater risk of these complications than men.
"This study adds to a growing body of literature showing that women may experience cardiovascular diseases and risk factors differently than men and the importance of treating cardiovascular disease in women. “
He added: “This study highlights the importance of treating atrial fibrillation aggressively in women and preventing cardiovascular complications such as stroke."
However, the team adds that: "Further research would be needed to determine any causality."
Emdin, C. A. et al. Atrial fibrillation as risk factor for cardiovascular disease and death in women compared with men: systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. BMJ 20 January 2016 doi: 10.1136/bmj.h7013 [abstract]
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