Sex-related differences in peri- and post-ablation clinical data for patients with atrial flutter.
Sex-related differences were not reported for the atrial flutter (AF). The purpose of the study was to look for the influence of gender on indications, clinical data and long-term results of AFl ablation.


METHODS
985 patients, [227 females (23%)] were referred for radiofrequency AFl ablation. Clinical history, echocardiography were collected. Patients were followed from 3 months to 10 years.


RESULTS
Age of women and men was similar (65.5 ± 12 vs 64 ± 11.5 years). Underlying heart disease (HD) was as frequent in women as men (77.5 vs 77%), but women had more congenital HD (10 vs 2%;p<0.001), valvular HD (18 vs 10%;p<0.002), hypertensive HD (24 vs 18%;p<0.05), and less chronic lung disease (5 vs 10%;p<0.01), and ischemic HD (5 vs 20%;p<0.001). Atrial fibrillation (AF) history was more frequent in women (36 vs 27%;p<0.001). AFl-related tachycardiomyopathy (4.5 vs 8%;p<0.03) was more frequent, but 1/1 AFl (10 vs 6%;p=NS) as frequent. Failure of ablation (16 vs 10%;p<0.01), ablation-related major complications (3.5 vs 0.9%;p<0.005) were more frequent in women. After 3 ± 3 years, AFl recurrences were as frequent in women and men (10 vs 14%), AF occurrence more frequent in women (34 vs 19.5%; p<0.001). After excluding patients with previous AF, AF risk remained higher in women (19 vs 12%; p<0.004).


CONCLUSIONS
In patients admitted for ablation, AFL was less common in women than in men, despite similar age and similarly prevalent HD. More than men, women had frequent AF history, a higher risk of failure of ablation and AFl ablation-related major complications and a higher risk of AF after ablation.
Cardiology, CHU of Brabois, 54500 Vandoeuvre les Nancy, France. Electronic address: b.brembilla-perrot@chu-nancy.fr.
B
B
Brembilla-Perrot
O
O
Huttin
V
V
Manenti
M
M
Benichou
J M
JM
Sellal
P Y
PY
Zinzius
D
D
Beurrier
J
J
Schwartz
F
F
Laporte
C
C
de Chillou
M
M
Andronache
G
G
Cismaru
M
M
Pauriah
O
O
Selton
P
P
Louis
A
A
Terrier de la Chaise
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001282:Atrial Flutter / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D057234:Preoperative Period; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
Ablation; Atrial fibrillation; Atrial flutter; Complication; Gender