Introduction:
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia encountered in
clinical practice. The lifetime risk of developing AF in a 55-year-old
person is as high as 40%.[1] Thromboembolism-associated stroke is
the most feared complication of AF.[2] In AF patients, the risk of
stroke increases by 4-fold in men and 5.7-fold in women.[3]
Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (pLAAC) is a novel technique
for stroke prevention in patients with AF who are not suitable
candidates for long-term anticoagulation.[4]
Multiple prior studies have reported significant gender differences in
risk of AF and antecedent stroke risk, with women at a considerably
higher risk of stroke and hospital admissions.[5, 6] Initial
European experience with pLAAC showed women were at higher risk of
cardiac tamponade/pericardial effusion.[7] The pivotal trials
leading to the approval of pLAAC were not powered to compare
gender-specific differences rigorously. [8, 9]
The National Cardiovascular LAAO
Registry reported increased rates of major complications in women at the
time of implantation; however, short-term risk thereafter remains
unknown.[10] Therefore, we aim
to study gender differences in peri-procedural and readmissions outcomes
in patients undergoing pLAAC.