Know the Risks: Atrial Fibrillation in Women

Atrial fibrillation is a common heart condition that causes the upper two chambers of the heart to beat irregularly. This irregularity can cause blood to pool in the chambers, putting the individual at risk for developing blood clots. If undiagnosed, atrial fibrillation significantly increases the risk for health problems such as heart failure and stroke.

Recent research has shown that women may be at higher risk for complications due to the condition than men. This fact has caused researchers and healthcare professionals to reassess how they treat atrial fibrillation in women in order to curb these troubling trends.

Atrial fibrillation in young women is less common than in older women

Although atrial fibrillation in young women and men is not unheard of, the condition typically affects older adults.

Women are at a higher risk for atrial fibrillation-related stroke

In a 2009 study, researchers at Rush University Medical Center noticed certain disparities between the sexes while examining cases of atrial fibrillation in women and men.

Key findings from the study included:

Women with atrial fibrillation have a higher incidence of stroke and mortality than men with the same condition.
Women with atrial fibrillation are not prescribed blood thinners, or anticoagulants, as often as men, which may result in a higher incidence of formation of blood clots (potentially leading to stroke).
Women have a greater risk of bleeding from anticoagulation therapy than men.

From these findings, the researchers suggested that protocols for anticoagulants should be further examined.

However, a more recent study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, showed that older women with atrial fibrillation are more likely to suffer from a stroke than men with the same condition regardless of the use of a common blood-thinning drug to prevent stroke.

For the study, researchers monitored the use of Warfarin, a common blood thinner, among atrial fibrillation patients. Stroke rates were significantly higher among women, especially those over the age of 75.

According to the researchers, these results suggest that current anticoagulant therapy to prevent stroke might not be sufficient for older women, and new strategies are needed to further reduce stroke risk among this demographic.

Women with atrial fibrillation are more susceptible to other health risks

In a 2011 study from the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers found that middle-aged women with new-onset atrial fibrillation were at higher risk for cardiovascular, non-cardiovascular and all-cause death.

For the study, researchers monitored the health of 34,722 women over the course of 15 years. Results showed that women who were initially at low risk of cardiovascular disease, but who had recently been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, had an increased risk of death and cardiovascular events.

According to the researchers, these findings suggest that this increased risk is partly mediated through the occurrence of nonfatal cardiovascular disease, particularly the development of congestive heart failure and stroke. More importantly, these findings emphasize the importance of diagnosing and treating atrial defibrillation, especially in women.

Health Ed Solutions

As a leading online provider of healthcare certification courses, Health Ed Solutions provides a convenient option for busy medical professionals. Course offerings include certification and recertification for advanced cardiac life support (ACLS). Learn more about online ACLS certification classes and ACLS online training details at HealthEdSolutions.com.

Sources:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090922123929.htm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110524162011.htm

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/older-women-atrial-fibrillation-higher-risk-strokes-men/story?id=16304271