Sex-Related Differences in Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Coronary Artery Disease: A Sub-Study of the MISOAC-AF Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: There is limited “real-world” data on the prognostic role of gender in comorbid atrial fibrillation (AF) and coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: In this post-hoc analysis of the MISOAC-AF randomized trial (NCT: 02941978), consecutive patients with AF and CAD who were discharged from the cardiology ward between 2015 and 2018 were included. Multivariable Cox-regression analysis was performed for all-cause mortality and cardiovascular (CV) mortality. Competing-risk analysis was performed for the outcomes of stroke or systemic embolism, major bleeding, AF- or heart failure (HF)-related hospitalization, adjusted for the competing risk of all-cause death. Results: Of 1098 patients with AF, 461 patients with comorbid CAD were analyzed. Women were older and more likely to have a history of diabetes mellitus and valvular heart disease, while men were more likely to have a history of smoking or myocardial infarction. Over a median follow-up of 31 months, 143 (43.4%) men and 71 (53.7%) women died. Women were at a higher risk for all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ration [aHR] 1.65; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14–2.38) and stroke or systemic embolism (aHR 3.52; 95% CI 1.46–8.49) compared to men. The risks of CV mortality, major bleeding, AF-related hospitalization, and HF-related hospitalization were similar between genders. Conclusions: In recently hospitalized patients with AF and comorbid CAD, the female gender was independently associated with increased all-cause mortality and thromboembolic events.