Women with irregular heartbeats at greater risk than men

The British Medical Journal has recently published a study that suggests women with irregular heartbeats may be at greater risk for cardiovascular disease and death than men with the same condition.

In a systematic review and meta analysis of cohort studies, examining data recorded between January 1966 and March 2015, researchers looked at ‘sex specific associations between atrial fibrillation (a condition that causes an irregular and often abnormally fast heartbeat) and all cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, stroke, cardiac events and heart failure.’

Data from the 30 studies revealed that atrial fibrillation was linked with a greater risk of ‘all cause mortality’ in women compared with men. The researchers invite further research to determine any causality.

Read the full study here

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