Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Estimating Bilateral Atrial Function by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: July 20, 2022
Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation in Females: Understanding gender diferences
Gabriel Odozynski1,2, Alexander Romeno Janner Dal Forno2, Andrei Lewandowski2
1Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina - Florianópolis, SC - Brazil.
Background:
The catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is performed less frequently in women. In addition, there is divergent information in the literature regarding the effectiveness and safety for the ablative procedure to females.
Objectives:
The objective of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes in men and women undergoing paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) ablation.
Methods:
Cohort study of patients undergoing first-ever PAF catheter ablation procedure refractory to antiarrhythmic drugs. The information was taken from patients' records by means of a digital collection instrument and indexed to an online database (Syscardio®). Clinical characteristics and procedures were compared between each gender (M x F), adopting a level of statistical significance of 5%. The primary endpoint associated with efficacy was freedom from atrial arrhythmia over the follow-up time.
Results:
225 patients were included in the study, 64 (29%) women and 161 (71%) men. Women presented more symptoms due to AF according to the CCS-SAF score (1.8 ± 0.8M x 2.3 ± 0.8F p = 0.02) and higher CHADS2 score compared to men (0.9 ± 0.8M x 1.2 ± 1F). Post-ablation recurrence occurred in 20% of the patients, with no difference based on gender (21% M x 20% F p = 0.52). The rate of complications was less than 3% for both groups (p = 0.98).
Conclusion:
Women undergoing the first-ever PAF catheter ablation procedure present similar complication rate and clinical outcome compared to men. These findings suggest that the current underutilization of AF catheter ablation in women may represent a discrepancy in care.
Related Concept Videos
Amyloid Fibrils
Amyloid deposits were observed as early as 1639 in the liver and the spleen. In 1854, Rudolph Virchow performed iodine staining,...
Amyloid Fibrils
Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development
Understanding the Self
Fibril-associated Collagen
For example, the type II collagen fibrils in cartilage have covalently bound type IX fibril-associated collagens at regular intervals. Other types of fibril-associated collagens are...
Infertility in Females
Endometriosis, a condition characterized by abnormal growth of...

