Women undergoing first-ever persistent atrial fibrillation ablation had similar 1-year rates of atrial arrhythmia recurrence compared to men (53% vs 54%; P=1.0).
Cohort (n=235)
Does female gender affect 1-year freedom from atrial arrhythmia and complication rates in patients undergoing first-ever persistent AF catheter ablation?
Women undergoing first-ever persistent AF ablation have similar 1-year freedom from atrial arrhythmia and complication rates compared to men, despite being older and having shorter procedural times.
Absolute Event Rate: 53% vs 54%
p-value: p=1.0
INTRODUCTION: Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation is less frequently performed in women when compared to men. There are conflicting data on the safety and efficacy of AF ablation in women. The objective of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes in a contemporary cohort of men and women undergoing persistent AF ablation procedures. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 182 men and 53 women undergoing a first-ever persistent AF catheter ablation procedure in The Modified Ablation Guided by Ibutilide Use in Chronic Atrial Fibrillation (MAGIC-AF) trial were evaluated. Clinical and procedural characteristics were compared between each gender. The primary efficacy endpoint was the 1-year single procedure freedom from atrial arrhythmia off anti-arrhythmic drugs. Women undergoing catheter ablation procedures were older than men (P < 0.001). The duration of AF and associated co-morbidities were similar between both genders. Single procedure drug-free atrial arrhythmia recurrence occurred in 53% of the cohort with no difference based on gender (men = 54%, women = 53%; P = 1.0). Procedural (P = 0.04), fluoroscopic (P = 0.02), and ablation times (P = 0.003) were shorter in women compared to men. Periprocedural complications and postablation improvement in quality of life were similar between men and women. CONCLUSION: Women undergoing a first-ever persistent AF ablation procedure were older but had similar clinical outcomes and complications when compared with men.
Singh et al. (Wed,) conducted a cohort in Persistent atrial fibrillation (n=235). Catheter ablation in women vs. Catheter ablation in men was evaluated on 1-year single procedure drug-free atrial arrhythmia recurrence (p=1.0). Women undergoing first-ever persistent atrial fibrillation ablation had similar 1-year rates of atrial arrhythmia recurrence compared to men (53% vs 54%; P=1.0).