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BACKGROUND
Although sex differences have been emphasized in stroke and congenital heart disease,
there has been limited investigation on their role in patent foramen ovale (PFO).
In fact, key guidelines on the management of PFO do not comment on sex or gender specific
considerations in characteristics or outcomes of patients. We aimed to explore differences
by sex in baseline profiles, procedural characteristics, and short-term outcomes of
patients undergoing transcatheter PFO closure.
METHODS AND RESULTS
Data of adult patients undergoing transcatheter PFO closure at the Toronto General
Hospital from 1997 to 2017 was retrospectively analyzed. Baseline information included
demographic characteristics, medical history, diagnostic and procedural information,
and periprocedural complications. Post-closure outcomes were captured at index hospitalization
and during the first follow-up visit. From 1,032 patients in the cohort sample, 80.7%
underwent closure for cryptogenic stroke and 44.8% (n=462) were females. We observed
significant sex-related differences at baseline; females were younger, less likely
to have a history of smoking, and less likely to have cardiovascular risk factors
such as dyslipidemia and coronary artery disease (p < 0.05). No differences were observed
in procedural and in-hospital outcomes between sexes. At the first follow-up, recurrent
cerebrovascular events were reported in 1.5% and 1.9% of patients in the ‘cryptogenic
stroke/TIA indications’ and ‘other indications’ groups respectively, with no significant
differences by sex. There were significant sex differences between some symptom presentation
both pre- and post-closure, with females more likely to present with migraine symptoms
at both timepoints (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
Although no differences in procedural and short-term outcomes between males and females
undergoing transcatheter PFO closure were observed, significant baseline differences
in characteristics may justify the need for sex-specific risk assessment and PFO closure
criteria. There is a critical need for long-term, systematic studies to understand
sex and gender differences in the PFO population.
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© 2021 Published by Elsevier Inc.
