- The researchers say that, in general, men are more likely to develop atrial fibrillation (AFib) than women.
- However, they point out that when women’s shorter stature is taken into account, women actually have a higher risk of atrial fibrillation than men.
- They say the medical community needs to change its approach to determining why women are at this increased risk.
Traditional thinking is that men are at higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) than women.
However, researchers now report that women may be at higher risk after taking height into account.
Research completed in Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars Sinai and published in JAMA Cardiology states that women may have a 50% higher risk of developing AFib than men.
The researchers examined the medical records of 25,119 people without a prior diagnosis of heart disease.
After a median follow-up of 5.3 years, there were 900 confirmed atrial fibrillation events, 495 in men and 405 in women.
When the scientists adjusted the data for age and treatment assignment, men had a higher risk than women. Adjusting for race and ethnicity, smoking, alcohol use, high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid disease, exercise, and body mass index (BMI), men still had a higher risk.
However, women were at higher risk when the researchers considered height or body size.
The researchers reported that the taller a person is, the more likely they are to develop AFib. Since women are typically shorter, their level of risk was reported to be lower. However, if a man and a woman are the same height, the researchers said the woman would be at higher risk of developing AFib.
But why would height increase the risk of AFib?
“In general, it is known that the more heart tissue, the larger the organism and the more likely it is that atrial fibrillation will develop. For example, it is difficult to have atrial fibrillation in mice, but it is very common to see it in horses,” he explained. Dr Shephal Doshicardiac electrophysiologist and director of cardiac electrophysiology and pacing at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.
“The findings of this study help shed light on the gender disparity related to atrial fibrillation risk, specifically considering a person’s height,” he said. Dr Salvatore Savonaelectrophysiologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
“Previously, women were thought to have a lower risk of developing AFib. However, considering these results and the fact that women often experience higher rates of heart failure and stroke than men, more attention should be paid to early identification and prevention of atrial fibrillation,” he said. Savona to Healthline.
Previously, the medical community sought to answer the question of why women seemed to be protected from atrial fibrillation.
Now, the researchers say the question should be: why are women at higher risk of developing AFib?
“Atrial fibrillation is the more common heart rhythm disorder, with increasing incidence rates,” says Dr Nikhil Guerrerocardiac electrophysiologist and medical director of electrophysiology at MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in California.
“In AFib, the atria, or upper chambers of the heart, beat in an extremely disorganized way (sometimes up to 300 to 600 beats per minute). This leads to an increased risk of stroke and congestive heart failure,” Warrier explained to Healthline.
Symptoms can range from non-existent to severe.
“While some people may be completely asymptomatic due to atrial fibrillation, common symptoms include palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, and fatigue,” he says. Dr. Nadia J. Currancardiologist at Torrance Memorial Medical Center in California, a Cedars Sinai affiliate.
“You should seek medical attention if any of the above symptoms occur or are persistent,” Curran told Healthline.
More than 454,000 people are hospitalized with AFib annually in the United States. Researchers estimate that more than 12 million people in the United States will have AFib by 2030.
There are numerous treatment options for atrial fibrillation
They include:
- Medications: Different medications may be used to slow your heart rate or blood thinners may help prevent a blood clot.
- Cardioversion: Electroshock treatment is used to try to restore the heart’s normal rhythm.
- Catheter ablation: Also called cardiac ablation, this involves the use of a catheter to destroy the tissue around the heart that is causing atrial fibrillation.
- Surgical ablation: a minimally invasive surgery to destroy the tissue responsible for atrial fibrillation
Not all cases of AFib can be prevented. However, leading a healthy lifestyle can help.
Experts say lifestyle factors include:
- Give up smoking
- Follow a heart-healthy Mediterranean diet rich in plant-based foods and low in saturated fat
- be physically active
- keep a healthy weight
Experts say it’s crucial to see your doctor regularly.
It also helps to keep track of your symptoms and bring the log to your doctor’s appointments.
Some people find that some triggers cause an abnormal heart rate, such as caffeine, stress, and some exercise. Avoiding triggers can help, experts say.
