title: Atrial fibrillation in women: epidemiology, pathophysiology, presentation, and prognosis.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia in women and men worldwide. During the past century, a range of risk factors has been associated with AF, severe complications from the arrhythmia have been identified, and its prevalence has been increasing steadily. Whereas evidence has accumulated regarding sex-specific differences in coronary heart disease and stroke, the differences between women and men with AF has received less attention. We review the current literature on sex-specific differences in the epidemiology of AF, including incidence, prevalence, risk factors, and genetics, and in the pathophysiology and the clinical presentation and prognosis of patients with this arrhythmia. We highlight current knowledge gaps and areas that warrant future research, which might advance understanding of variation in the risk factors and complications of AF, and ultimately aid more-tailored management of the arrhythmia.
authors.affiliation: Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Darae
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Faisal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Interventional Cardiology, University Heart Center Hamburg, Martinistrasse 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.|DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Oudenarder Strasse 16, 13347 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Renate B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Schnabel
authors.affiliation: Boston University and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, 73 Mount Wayte Avenue Framingham, Massachusetts 01702, USA.|Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health.
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Boston University and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, 73 Mount Wayte Avenue Framingham, Massachusetts 01702, USA.|Sections of Cardiovascular Medicine and Preventive Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA.|Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Emelia J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Benjamin
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts, 02129, USA.|Department of Medical Research, Bærum Hospital, Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, Sogneprest Munthe-kaas vei 100, 1346 Gjettum, Norway.
authors.forename: Ingrid E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Christophersen
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors