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The increasing risk for AFib and stroke with increasing age is well known and understood in clinical practice; perhaps less well-known and understood, however, is the differential risk profile between the genders. The Figure shows the annual thromboembolism rate for men and women, overall and with the same <75 and ≥75 years cutpoint, for men versus women with AFib who are not on anticoagulation therapy with warfarin.[127] Overall just under 3 in 10 women, but 2 in 10 men, with AFib will have an embolic event when not receiving anticoagulation therapy. These overall rates, however, obscure a large difference between the much lower rates in patients age <75 years and those aged ≥75; more importantly, there is a statistically significant difference between men and women above and below age 75 years. So while age is important, it is also important to remember that women are also at risk, and both genders have to be managed similarly in terms of antithrombin therapy.
French WJ. Am J Med 2013; 126: 00-00.
[127] Fang MC, Singer DE, Chang Y, et al. Gender differences in the risk of ischemic stroke and peripheral embolism in atrial fibrillation: the AnTicoagulation and Risk factors In Atrial fibrillation (ATRIA) study. Circulation. 2005;112:1687-1691.