Women with heart rhythm disorder experience faster cognitive decline compared to men

Women with atrial fibrillation progress more rapidly to cognitive impairment and dementia than men with the heart rhythm condition, according to research presented at the scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

The researchers analyzed the associations between 1) atrial fibrillation and baseline cognitive diagnosis; and 2) atrial fibrillation and time to progression in cognitive diagnosis. Men and women with atrial fibrillation were compared to those without the condition and differences by gender were examined.

Women with atrial fibrillation were three times more likely to have mild cognitive impairment or MCI and dementia at baseline compared to women without atrial fibrillation. During a median follow-up of four years, 30% of participants progressed to a worse stage of cognitive impairment and 21% developed dementia. Women with atrial fibrillation had a higher risk of progressing to a worse stage of cognitive impairment compared to women without atrial fibrillation. Regarding progression to each stage, compared to women without atrial fibrillation, women with the condition were more likely to transition from normal cognition to MCI and from MCI to vascular dementia. The associations between atrial fibrillation and more rapid cognition decline were not statistically significant in men.

Reference: Dr. Kathryn Wood et al, EUROPEAN SOCIETY OF CARDIOLOGY, JOURNAL Alzheimer & Dementia