Table 1

Baseline characteristics of the PREFER in AF study participants by gender

Variables Women (n=2546) Men (n=3866) Women-to-men OR* 95% CI
Risk factors
Age, years (SD)74.1 (9.7)70.1 (10.7)
Body mass index, kg/m² (SD)27.6 (5.4)28.2 (4.7)
Systolic blood pressure, mm Hg (SD)132.7 (17.4)130.5 (16.1)
Ever smoking, n (%)452 (18.2)1958 (51.9)0.21(0.19 to 0.24)
Alcohol excess (=8 units/week), n (%)14 (0.6)149 (3.9)0.16(0.09 to 0.27)
Lack of guideline compliance in anticoagulant therapy, n (%)79 (3.1)83 (2.2)1.17(0.85 to 1.62)
EHRA score>2, n (%)1564 (62.1)1899 (49.6)1.68(1.51 to 1.87)
CHA2DS2−VASc ≥2†, n (%)2235 (95.2)2823 (78.9)5.55(4.26 to 7.22)
HAS-BLED ≥2, n (%)1483 (70.8)2072 (65.4)0.85(0.74 to 0.97)
Disease history
Diabetes mellitus, n (%)529 (21.0)893 (23.3)0.82(0.73 to 0.93)
Dyslipidaemia, n (%)1035 (41.6)1745 (46.2)0.80(0.72 to 0.88)
Chronic renal insufficiency, n (%)321 (12.9)521 (13.8)0.73(0.63 to 0.85)
Chronic hepatic disease, n (%)53 (2.1)72 (1.9)1.00(0.70 to 1.45)
Hyperthyroidism, n (%)130 (5.2)137 (3.6)1.50(1.17 to 1.93)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, n (%)252 (10.0)475 (12.4)0.68(0.57 to 0.80)
Major gastrointestinal/cerebrovascular/ other bleeding events, n (%)98 (3.9)168 (4.4)0.80(0.62 to 1.04)
Prevalent cardiovascular disease
(CHD, peripheral arterial disease, myocardial infarction), n (%)
467 (18.9)1194 (31.7)0.41(0.36 to 0.47)
Stent insertion, n (%)140 (5.6)527 (13.9)0.33(0.27 to 0.40)
Heart valve dysfunction, n (%)1106 (44.2)1375 (36.1)1.25(1.12 to 1.39)
Variables Women (n=2546) Men (n=3866) Women-to-men OR* 95% CI
Heart valve replacement, n (%)150 (6.0)201 (5.3)1.09(0.88 to 1.37)
Heart failure, n (%)653 (26.5)1150 (30.6)0.72(0.64 to 0.80)
Previous ischaemic stroke/TIA/other ischaemic thromboembolic event, n (%)406 (16.2)555 (14.5)1.04(0.90 to 1.20)
Sinus rhythm at baseline, n (%)823 (32.5)1134 (29.5)1.37(1.22 to 1.53)
Adequate heart rate control (60–100 bpm) at baseline, n (%)1077 (51.7)1605 (51.0)0.98(0.87 to 1.09)
Medication
Antiplatelet agents, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,‡ n (%)572 (22.6)978 (25.5)0.82(0.73 to 0.93)
Antiarrhythmic drugs, n (%)1594 (62.6)2257 (58.4)1.31(1.18 to 1.46)
  • Mean and SD and number and percentages are presented.

  • *Univariate ORs for gender were obtained by logistic regression adjusted for age and country.

  • †CHA2DS2–VASc score included the extra point for female gender.

  • ‡Medication as used in the HAS-BLED score. Lack of guideline compliance indicates lack of treatment with oral anticoagulant in the previous 12 months despite guideline indication without contraindication.

  • AF, atrial fibrillation; CHA2DS2–VASc, congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 years, diabetes mellitus, stroke, vascular disease, age 65–74 years, sex category; CHD, coronary heart disease; EHRA, European Heart Rhythm Association; HAS-BLED, hypertension, abnormal renal/liver function, stroke, bleeding history or predisposition, labile international normalised ratio, elderly, drugs/alcohol concomitantly; PREFER, PREvention oF thromboembolic events - European Registry; TIA, transient ischaemic attack.