Gender differences in various types of idiopathic ventricular tachycardia

The aim of this study was to evaluate gender differences in the incidence and age distribution of various types of idiopathic ventricular tachycardia (VT).

We conducted a search of the medical literature on idiopathic VT. According to their site of origin, we divided the VTs into three types: right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT-VT), left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT-VT), and left ventricular (LV) septum (LV-VT). We reviewed 68 articles and a total of 748 patients. Among RVOT-VT patients, there were more females than males (311 vs 153, male/female ratio 0.49). In LV-VT, males prevailed over females (175 vs 52, male/female ratio 3.37), whereas LVOT-VT was distributed almost equally between males (n = 33) and females (n = 24). To determine the age distribution, we assessed 419 patients from 51 studies. In both males and females, the highest incidence of RVOT-VT occurred in the third to fifth decade of life (males, mean 43.5 +/- 18.7; females, mean 40.9 +/- 13.8 years). LV-VT occurred at a younger age in both males and females than did RVOT-VT (mean 33.0 +/- 13.9 and 25.7 +/- 12.0 years, respectively, P < 0.0001 vs RVOT-VT). LV-VT occurred at a younger age in females than males (P < 0.005).

Gender-specific differences exist in the incidence and age distribution of the various types of idiopathic VT. Studies on gender-specific differences in arrhythmia will lead to a better understanding of its mechanism(s) and provide valuable information for the development of optimal treatment strategies.