The effect of patient sex on recurrence of atrial fibrillation following successful direct current cardioversion.
BACKGROUND
The effect of patient sex on recurrence of atrial fibrillation after a successful direct current cardioversion is unknown.


METHODS
This prospective study included 773 patients (486 [63%] men and 287 [37%] women) undergoing successful direct current cardioversion of atrial fibrillation between May 2000 and July 2003. Patient characteristics at presentation were recorded. The primary end point was the time between cardioversion and the first documented recurrence of arrhythmia.


RESULTS
At presentation, women were older and had a higher prevalence of hypertension and valvular disease compared with men. In addition, women had worse mechanical left atrial appendage function. Arrhythmia recurrence was more prevalent in women (50.0% at 1 year compared with 43.4% in men, and 75.8% at 2 years compared with 67.0% in men; P = .03). On the basis of multivariate analysis, patient sex was a significant predictor of arrhythmia recurrence. There was no significant difference in overall mortality between men and women.


CONCLUSIONS
Women were more likely than men to have recurrence of atrial fibrillation after successful direct current cardioversion. Patient sex should be taken into account with other clinical factors when making the decision about cardioversion for atrial fibrillation.
Gurevitz
Osnat T
OT
Division of Electrophysiology and Pacing, Sheba Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
Varadachari
Chitra J
CJ
Ammash
Naser M
NM
Malouf
Joseph F
JF
Rosales
A Gabriela
AG
Herges
Regina M
RM
Bruce
Charles J
CJ
Somers
Virend K
VK
Hammill
Stephen C
SC
Gersh
Bernard J
BJ
Friedman
Paul A
PA
D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016279:Atrial Function, Left; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004554:Electric Countershock; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome