GPs undertreat women with AF

French analysis of more than 15,000 patients showed that women were undertreated with antithrombotic medications compared to men regardless of their stroke risk and comorbidities

2013-08-31

(Press-News.org) Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Saturday 31 August 2013: General practitioners (GPs) undertreat women with atrial fibrillation (AF), according to research presented at ESC Congress 2013 today by Dr Pierre Sabouret from France. The analysis of more than 15,000 patients showed that women were undertreated with antithrombotic medications compared to men regardless of their stroke risk and comorbidities.

Dr Sabouret said: "Gender-related differences among outpatients with stable coronary artery disease are well known.1-6 Heart diseases are one of the most important causes of death among women worldwide.5 Therefore, it's crucial that women benefit from optimal treatments according to guidelines."

In France both the prevalence (600,000 to 1 million patients) and incidence (110,000 to 230,000 new cases per year) of AF are dramatically increasing.7 ESC AF guidelines recommend the CHA2DS2-VASc score to determine stroke risk and the need for anticoagulation to prevent stroke.8 Female gender is a specific risk and adds one point to the stroke risk score. However no antithrombotic treatment is required if the patient is female, 1.

After excluding women ineligible for anticoagulation (CHA2DS2-VASc score of 1 and age END

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