Stroke risk factors and outcomes among hospitalized women with atrial fibrillation

Observational cohort analyses suggest that women with atrial fibrillation (AF) endure a greater burden of stroke. We conducted an analysis of an observational cohort study completed at our tertiary care medical center to assess sex-related differences in cardiovascular risk factors, prescription of antithrombotic therapy, and 90-day outcomes. We analyzed 5000 hospitalized patients with AF: 1888 women and 3112 men. Clinical characteristics of AF, risk of stroke and bleeding, prescription of antithrombotic therapy, and 90-day clinical outcomes, including stroke and all-cause mortality, were compared. We observed a 50% higher relative frequency of stroke in hospitalized women with AF compared with men. While the frequencies of prescription of antithrombotic therapy at discharge were similar, anticoagulation was omitted in 40% of women with AF. The 90-day frequencies of major adverse events and mortality were increased in hospitalized women with AF not prescribed antithrombotic therapy at discharge. Prescription of anticoagulation in women with AF at hospital discharge was associated with a 60% and 40% relative reduction in the odds of mortality and major adverse events at 90 days. In conclusion, women hospitalized with AF have a higher risk of stroke at 90 days compared with men. Anticoagulation at hospital discharge was omitted in 40% of women with AF, but when prescribed, was associated with a reduction in mortality and major adverse events at 90 days, respectively. We analyzed 5000 hospitalized patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) (1888 women and 3112 men) in an observational cohort study completed at our tertiary care medical center to assess sex-related differences in cardiovascular risk factors, prescription of antithrombotic therapy, and 90-day outcomes. We observed a 50% higher relative frequency of stroke in hospitalized women with AF compared with men. The 90-day frequencies of major adverse events and mortality were increased in hospitalized women with AF not prescribed antithrombotic therapy at discharge. Prescription of anticoagulation in women with AF at hospital discharge was associated with a 60% and 40% relative reduction in the odds of mortality and major adverse events at 90 days.