title: Atrial fibrillation in women: treatment.
abstract: Sex-specific differences in the epidemiology, pathophysiology, presentation, prognosis, and treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) are increasingly recognized. Women with AF generally experience worse symptoms, poorer quality of life, and have higher risk of stroke and death than men with AF. Effective treatment of the arrhythmia in women is critical to reduce the rate of adverse events. We review the current evidence on sex-specific differences in the utilization and outcomes of treatments for AF, including rate-control and rhythm-control strategies, and stroke-prevention therapy. In addition, we provide a critical evaluation of potential disparities and biases in health-care use that might be associated with differences in the outcomes between women and men. We underscore current knowledge gaps that need to be addressed in future studies to improve the management of AF in women. In particular, we suggest several strategies to produce high-quality evidence from randomized clinical trials for women with AF.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA.
authors: Darae
authors: D
authors: Ko
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA.
authors: Faisal
authors: F
authors: Rahman
authors: Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Pres. Antônio Carlos, 6627 - Pampulha, Belo Horizonte - MG, 31270-901, Brazil.|Boston University and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, 73 Mount Wayte Avenue, Framingham, Massachusetts 01702, USA.
authors: Maria A P
authors: MA
authors: Martins
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA.
authors: Elaine M
authors: EM
authors: Hylek
authors: Cardiac Arrhythmia Service and Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.
authors: Patrick T
authors: PT
authors: Ellinor
authors: 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, D/04 (1. floor), 13347 Berlin, Germany.
authors: Renate B
authors: RB
authors: Schnabel
authors: 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: Emelia J
authors: EJ
authors: Benjamin
authors: Cardiac Arrhythmia Service and Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.|Department of Medical Research, Bærum Hospital, Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, Sogneprest Munthe-Kaas vei 100, 1346 Gjettum, Norway.
authors: Ingrid E
authors: IE
authors: Christophersen
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010346:Patient Care Management / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D012737:Sex Factors