Gender differences in stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation in general practice: using the GRASP-AF audit tool

Women represent a large proportion of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and tend to have higher risk of stroke.

This study examines gender differences in the utilisation of oral anticoagulation (OAC) and prognosis (i.e. stroke and death) in AF patients in UK general practice.

Retrospective observational study.

The Guidance on Risk Assessment and Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation (GRASP-AF) tool was employed to identify AF patients from 11 general practices in Darlington, England.

Two thousand two hundred and fifty-nine AF patients (mean±SD age 76 ± 12 years; 46% female) were identified. Based on CHA2 DS2 -VASc score 95% of women and 90% of men were at moderate-high risk of stroke. Women with moderate-high risk of stroke were treated with OAC less frequently than men (47% vs. 52%, p = 0.006). Overall rates of stroke and all-cause mortality were higher among women than men (p = 0.02 and p < 0.001). However, there was no significant gender difference in these outcomes in patients receiving OAC (p = 0.52 for stroke, p = 0.18 for death). Among people not receiving OAC where indicated, female gender was associated with an increased risk of stroke before (p = 0.01), and after (p = 0.04), adjustment for stroke risk factors. Women not receiving OAC had a higher risk of death on univariate regression analysis (p = 0.002), but not after adjustment for stroke risk factors (p = 0.53).

Women with AF are at higher risk of stroke than men without OAC. The gender-related differences in risk of stroke disappear if OAC is used. Despite this, women are more likely not to receive OAC.