Gender differences related to the presence of atrial fibrillation in older hypertensive patients

Table 2 Epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic differences between genders (mean ± SD) n (%)

	Females	Males	P value
	(n = 542)	(n = 486)
Mean age, yr	72.7 ± 5.8	72.8 ± 5.8	NS
Abdominal circumference, cm	96.6 ± 11.8	100.4 ± 11.0	< 0.001
Weight, kg	71.4 ± 11.5	79.5 ± 11.5	< 0.001
Mean height, cm	155.2 ± 6.7	166.7 ± 6.7	< 0.001
BMI	29.6 ± 4.5	28.6 ± 3.6	< 0.001
Obesity	224 (41.4)	160 (32.9)	0.005
Years from the onset of HT	11.0 ± 8.2	10.8 ± 8.1	NS
Diabetes mellitus	134 (24.7)	150 (30.9)	0.03
Dyslipidaemia	267 (49.3)	230 (47.3)	NS
Smokers	17 (3.1)	76 (15.6)	< 0.001
Sedentariness	352 (70.5)	274 (56.4)	< 0.001
Regular alcohol intake	5 (0.9)	33 (6.8)	< 0.001
History of stroke	32 (6.0)	32 (6.7)	NS
History of IHD	55 (10.1)	124 (25.5)	< 0.001
History of HF	35 (6.5)	39 (8.1)	NS
History of renal insufficiency	24 (4.5)	38 (7.9)	0.025
Peripheral arterial disease	15 (2.7)	37 (7.7)	0.001
Carotid disease	2 (0.4)	13 (2.8)	0.003
Atrial fibrillation	50 (9.2)	56 (11.5)	NS
CHADS ≥ 2	275 (50.7)	272 (56.0)	NS
LVH by ECG	111 (20.5)	66 (13.6)	0.004
LVH_Sokolow	6 (1.1)	9 (1.9)	NS
LVH_Cornell	91 (16.8)	12 (2.5)	< 0.001
Mean HR, bpm	75.4 (10.7)	72.1(10.7)	< 0.001
Mean number of anti-HT	1.7 ± 0.87	1.8 ± 1.0	NS
Diuretics	304 (56.1)	226 (46.5)	0.002
Beta-blockers	105 (19.4)	98 (20.2)	NS
Calcium antagonists	93 (17.2)	80 (16.5)	NS
ACEI	118 (21.8)	128 (26.3)	NS
ARB	318 (58.7)	294 (60.5)	NS
Antiplatelet agents	90 (16.6)	112 (23.0)	0.012
VKA	33 (6.1)	32 (6.6)	NS

BMI: Body mass index; IHD: Ischaemic heart disease; HF: Heart failure; LVH: Left ventricle hypertrophy; HR: Heart rate; HT: Hypertension; ACEI: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors; ARB: Angiotensin receptor blocker; VKA: Vitamin K antagonist. NS: No significant.