Women hospitalized with atrial fibrillation: gender differences, trends and outcome from a 20-year registry in a Middle Eastern country (1991-2010).

Background: Most of the published research on atrial fibrillation (AF) is limited to studies in the developed world and included mainly Caucasian patients. Data about women with AF among other ethnicities is very limited.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics, treatment and outcome of women to men hospitalized with AF in a middle-eastern country.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of prospective registry of all patients hospitalized with AF in Qatar from 1991 through 2010 was made. Clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of AF patients were compared according to gender.

Results: During the 20-years period; 1417 women and 2432 men were hospitalized for AF. Women were 5 years older and more likely to have diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and chronic renal impairment and were also less likely to be current smokers and to have ischemic heart disease and impaired left ventricular function when compared to men. There was no gender preference in the use of anticoagulation. The prevalence of concomitant ischemic heart disease and hypertension increased, while the prevalence of valvular heart disease and heart failure decreased among patients hospitalized with AF over the study period. In-hospital mortality and stroke rates were comparable between the two groups.

Conclusions: Women hospitalized with atrial fibrillation were older in age and had higher prevalence of co-morbid cardiovascular risk factors compared to men whereas, mortality and stroke rates were comparable.