Sex differences in characteristics of atrial fibrillation recurrence post surgical pulmonary vein isolation

Sex differences in characteristics of atrial fibrillation recurrence post surgical pulmonary vein isolation

Veen, Danny (Erasmus MC; Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis)
Verbeek, Eva C. (Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis)
Kavousi, Maryam (Erasmus MC)
Huigen, Jos (Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis)
Mijnen-Schra, Annet (Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis)
Cocchieri, Riccardo (Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis)
Khan, Muchtiar (Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis)
de Groot, N.M.S. (TU Delft Biomechanical Engineering; TU Delft Signal Processing Systems; Erasmus MC)

Biomechanical Engineering

2023

Background: Prior studies demonstrated that female sex is associated with arrhythmia recurrence after endovascular pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). However, it is unknown if the sexes differ in outcome after video assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) PVI. The aim of this study was therefore to compare characteristics of recurrent AF episodes in a matched male and female population, using implantable loop recorders for continuous rhythm monitoring. Methods: 40 matched (based on propensity score) males (age: 60.0 ± 7.71 (45–75)) and females (age: 62.0 ± 7.0 (37–74)) were retrieved from an existing database from a prior conducted study by the cardiothoracic department of the OLVG hospital (1) containing patients who received an implantable looprecorder and underwent a VATS PVI between 2012 and 2017. Patients were continuously monitored for a period of 12 months after VATS PVI and AF characteristics were compared. Results: An equal number of males and females had AF episodes during all periods (P > 0.05). The number of AF episodes was higher in females, during the first 6 months (P = 0.01, P = 0.034). During the entire follow up, the total AF duration was longer in females (P = 0.01, for all periods) with shorter inter - episode intervals (P = 0.001, P = 0001, P = 0.04) and a higher AF burden (P = 0.003, P = 0001, P = 0.006). After 3 months, AF recurrences during the night were more frequently observed in female patients (P = 0.001, P = 0.001). Conclusions: AF episodes occur frequently in both sexes after VATS PVI and warrant frequent rhythm monitoring. The observed sex differences in AF burden after VATS PVI, calls for intensive rhythm monitoring and aggressive treatment of recurrent AF epsiodes in females.

AF recurrences
Atrial fibrillation
Sex differences
VATS PVI

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:1f610c78-6000-42c7-9319-264a3e2e41b7

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcha.2023.101262

2352-9067

IJC Heart and Vasculature, 48

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2023 Danny Veen, Eva C. Verbeek, Maryam Kavousi, Jos Huigen, Annet Mijnen-Schra, Riccardo Cocchieri, Muchtiar Khan, N.M.S. de Groot