AIMS: The risk of stroke is greater among women with atrial fibrillation (AF) than men. Warfarin protects against stroke, but treatment-related bleeding occurs more often in women than in men. METHODS AND RESULTS: SPORTIF III (open label, n=3410) and V (double-blind, n=3922) included 2257 women with AF and one or more stroke risk factors randomized towarfarin [target international normalized ratio (INR) 2.0-3.0] or ximelagatran (36 mg twice daily). Primary outcomes were all stroke (ischaemic/haemorrhagic) and systemic embolic event. Women were older, on average, than men, 73.4+/-8.0 vs. 69.8+/-9.0 years (P<0.0001). More women were >75-years old and women had more risk factors than men had (P<0.0001). The INR on warfarin (mean 2.5+/-0.7) was within target range for 67% of follow-up regardless of gender. Women more often developed primary events [2.08%/year, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.60-2.56%/year vs. 1.44%/year, 95% CI 1.18-1.71%/year in men; P=0.016). Major bleeding rates were similar (P=0.766) but women experienced more overall (major/minor) bleeding (P<0.001). Warfarin was associated with more overall bleeding in both genders and more major bleeding in women than in men (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: When compared with men with AF, women in these studies were older and had more stroke risk factors. Women were more prone to anticoagulant-related bleeding; the higher rate of thrombo-embolism among women was related to more frequent interruption of anticoagulant therapy.
RCT Entities:
AIMS: The risk of stroke is greater among women with atrial fibrillation (AF) than men. Warfarin protects against stroke, but treatment-related bleeding occurs more often in women than in men. METHODS AND RESULTS: SPORTIF III (open label, n=3410) and V (double-blind, n=3922) included 2257 women with AF and one or more stroke risk factors randomized to warfarin [target international normalized ratio (INR) 2.0-3.0] or ximelagatran (36 mg twice daily). Primary outcomes were all stroke (ischaemic/haemorrhagic) and systemic embolic event. Women were older, on average, than men, 73.4+/-8.0 vs. 69.8+/-9.0 years (P<0.0001). More women were >75-years old and women had more risk factors than men had (P<0.0001). The INR on warfarin (mean 2.5+/-0.7) was within target range for 67% of follow-up regardless of gender. Women more often developed primary events [2.08%/year, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.60-2.56%/year vs. 1.44%/year, 95% CI 1.18-1.71%/year in men; P=0.016). Major bleeding rates were similar (P=0.766) but women experienced more overall (major/minor) bleeding (P<0.001). Warfarin was associated with more overall bleeding in both genders and more major bleeding in women than in men (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: When compared with men with AF, women in these studies were older and had more stroke risk factors. Women were more prone to anticoagulant-related bleeding; the higher rate of thrombo-embolism among women was related to more frequent interruption of anticoagulant therapy.
Authors: Darae Ko; Faisal Rahman; Maria A P Martins; Elaine M Hylek; Patrick T Ellinor; Renate B Schnabel; Emelia J Benjamin; Ingrid E Christophersen Journal: Nat Rev Cardiol Date: 2016-10-27 Impact factor: 32.419
Authors: Angeles Blanco-Molina; Iolanda Enea; Telma Gadelha; Antonella Tufano; Alessandra Bura-Riviere; Pierpaolo Di Micco; Henri Bounameaux; José González; Jaume Villalta; Manuel Monreal Journal: Medicine (Baltimore) Date: 2014-10 Impact factor: 1.889
Authors: A John Camm; Gabriele Accetta; Wael Al Mahmeed; Giuseppe Ambrosio; Samuel Z Goldhaber; Sylvia Haas; Petr Jansky; Gloria Kayani; Frank Misselwitz; Seil Oh; Ali Oto; Pekka Raatikainen; Jan Steffel; Martin van Eickels; Ajay K Kakkar Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2017-03-06 Impact factor: 2.692