Atrial Fibrillation

Ablation – Is the Outcome in Women Poorer?

Based on the analysis of 3,652 patients in the German Ablation Registry of Stiftung IHF scientists from all over Germany demonstrate that ablation outcomes are poorer in female patients versus males (Zylle et al.: Sex-related Outcome of Atrial Fibrillation Ablation – Insights from the German Ablation Registry. Heart Rhythm. 2016 Jun 8).

Atrial fibrillation is the most common form of abnormal heart rhythm in Germany and may be terminated using a catheter to remove or melt away the culprit electrical pathways by means of heat or cold. This so-called ablation has a long history as an established therapy in Germany.

The present investigation shows that compared to male patients female patients more frequently suffer from complications during and after the procedure (10.3% versus 7.6%) and that the recurrence rate of atrial fibrillation at one year post ablation is higher in women (50% versus 45%)