Gender differences of electrophysiologic characteristics in patients with accessory atrioventricular pathways.

BACKGROUND

Few epidemiologic data on the gender differences among patients with accessory atrioventricular pathways have been reported.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the explicit gender differences in electrophysiologic characteristics among patients with accessory atrioventricular pathways.

METHODS

A total of 1,821 consecutive patients with accessory atrioventricular pathways were referred to our institution for electrophysiologic study and radiofrequency catheter ablation. A detailed electrophysiologic study was performed in all patients.

RESULTS

Patient age at onset of atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia was 43 ± 17 years. There were 1,117 males (61.3%) with accessory atrioventricular pathways. Men had more manifest and left-sided but fewer multiple accessory pathways. Men had more antidromic atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia. Men had a shorter anterograde accessory pathway effective refractory period (ERP) and a higher prevalence of an anterograde accessory pathway ERP (<250 ms). Men with accessory atrioventricular pathways had a longer atrioventricular nodal ERP and atrial ERP and a shorter ventricular ERP.

CONCLUSION

Gender differences in the clinical and electrophysiologic characteristics of patients with accessory atrioventricular pathways could be closely linked and may imply a different pathogenesis.