Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Sex-specific outcomes after catheter ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation (AF)
Corrected 23 Oct 2026: Measure wording clarified; no values changed.
Authors' conclusion
Women undergoing CA for PsAF report more significant symptoms and poorer quality of life at baseline than men. Despite higher arrhythmia recurrence and repeat procedures in women, the AF burden was comparably low, resulting in significant improvements in quality of life and psychological well-being after CA in both sexes.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with persistent AF randomised to pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) or PVI with posterior wall isolation in the CAPLA trial
- Participants
- 338 patients
- Comparison
- Women vs men undergoing catheter ablation for persistent AF
- Womenn = 79
- Menn = 259reference
- Primary endpoint
- Arrhythmia recurrence
- Follow-up
- 12 months
Methodological detailsmulticentre
- Multicentre
Primary result
Arrhythmia-free survival
Hazard ratio
1.44
95% CI 1.02–2.04, event not clearly stated
P = 0.036
By group
As reported in the abstract
Further findings
Health care utilization
P = 0.241
Repeat procedure
P = 0.007
Median age · baseline
P < 0.001
| Outcome | Women | Men | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| AF burdenMedian | 0% (IQR 0.0%–2.2%) | 0% (IQR 0.0%–2.8%) | P = 0.804 |
| HADS anxiety score · baselineAverage | 7.5 (SD 4.9) | 6.3 (SD 4.3) | P = 0.035 |
| AFEQT score · baseline | 46.7 (SD 20.7) | 55.9 (SD 23.0) | P = 0.002 |
| Change in HADS anxiety score · 12 months | −3.8 (SD 4.6) | −3.0 (SD 4.5) | P = 0.152 |
| Change in HADS depression score · 12 months | −2.9 (SD 5.0) | −2.6 (SD 4.0) | P = 0.542 |
| Change in AFEQT score · 12 months | +45.9 (SD 23.1) | +39.2 (SD 24.8) | P = 0.048 |
Arrhythmia-free survival, PWI vs no PWI · 12 months
- PWI did not improve arrhythmia-free survival (HR 1.02; 95% CI 0.74-1.40)
- log-rank P = .711
Original publication
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →