Gender and the Symptom Experience before an Atrial Fibrillation Diagnosis.
Ryan E Wilson, Kathy L Rush, R Colin Reid and 1 others
PMID 33709830WHAT IT FOUND
Women with atrial fibrillation symptoms waited longer for diagnosis than men, often because they minimized their own risk and relied on self-treatment.
Men were more likely to have spouses urge them to seek care. Clinicians should note women may present with non-cardiac symptoms like fatigue.
Key findings
01Women experienced longer pre-diagnosis periods and required more attempts to get a diagnosis than men.
02Women reported more severe symptoms but viewed themselves as low risk, leading to self-management rather than immediate care-seeking.
03Men were more likely to disclose symptoms to spouses who urged medical evaluation, while women's partners often minimized their symptoms.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Small sample size (n=26) limits generalizability. All participants were Caucasian, with limited rural representation. Retrospective recall of symptoms occurring weeks to years prior may introduce bias. Participants were recruited from hospital-based clinics, potentially excluding those who never sought care or were diagnosed in other settings.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest and received no financial support.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the finding that women had more severe symptoms but waited longer for diagnosis as evidence that women are less compliant or that their symptoms are less urgent. The delay was associated with systemic dismissal of symptoms and internalized minimization of risk, not a lack of need for care.