El ictus en las mujeres: perspectiva de género en el ictus cardioembólico secundario a fibrilación auricular

Abstract

Introduction: The morbidity and mortality of stroke is higher in the cardioembolic etiology, caused mainly atrial fibrillation (AF), arrhythmia characterized by the increase in the elderly population, which together with the greater longevity of women, ranks as ad hoc risk. The aim is to confirm and characterize the major gender differences in this subtype. Methods: Observational, descriptive. Study population: patients admitted with a diagnosis of secondary cardio embolic ictus (CEI) to AF at the University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca. Sample: 210 patients. Variables: sex, age, AF known/unknown, survival; disability and neurological deficit at high risk factors (RF). Source: Database of the Neurology. Statistical analysis: descriptive. Results: 210 patients (mean age, 77, 38± 58 years; 59% female) were included. The average age of women (78, 49± 68 years) was significantly higher (p>0, 05) than men (75, 78±1, 01 years). 36, 3% of women and 36,0% of men had unknown AF. One fame Mortality (11, 3%) was observed compared to men (7%); moderate physical disabilities and moderate neurological deficit at discharge, with no significant differences between men and women. The main RF was arterial hypertension (76, 7%) with a predominance between the women (79, 0% vs. 73, and 3% male). Conclusions: The CEI secondary to AF is more frequent and is the cause of a higher mortality amongst women relative to their higher age. The control of arrhythmia is deficient both in women and in men. There is a high risk of CEI for patients with AF in coexistence with arterial hypertension, this being higher in women.

Keywords

• sex differences
• ictus
• cardio embolic ictus
• atrial fibrillation
• epidemiology
• prevention