Gender Disparity in Oral Anticoagulation Therapy in Hospitalised Patients with Atrial Fibrillation During the Ongoing Syrian Conflict: Unbalanced Treatment in Turbulent Times

Background: Disparities in the therapy and outcomes of males and females with atrial fibrillation (AF) are known in the developed world. Still, data regarding these disparities in the developing world are scarce. This study explores gender trends and outcomes in oral anticoagulation prescription during the Syrian conflict. Methods: We included adult patients with an index admission with AF to Latakia’s tertiary centre between September 2021 and February 2024. Data regarding treatments and comorbidities were taken from patients’ medical notes. The composite outcome was a readmission with a cerebrovascular event (CVA) or a bleeding event within 60 days of index discharge. A regression model was used to assess predictors of composite outcomes. Results: A total of 683 consecutive patients admitted and treated for AF satisfied the study criteria, of whom 347 (51%) were females. In patients with a guideline indication for anticoagulation (n = 553), males were prescribed more DOACs and fewer VKAs than females (93% versus 71%, p < 0.001 and 7% versus 29%, p = 0.01, respectively). Composite outcomes occurred significantly more in females than males (16% versus 6%, p = 0.03). Females on VKAs had significantly more composite outcomes than males (70% versus 53%, p < 0.001). Independent predictors of composite outcomes included females compared to males (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.3 and 6.2, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3–4.2 and 3.7–10.8, p = 0.001 and <0.001) and VKAs compared to direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) (HR: 8.4, 95%CI: 4.8–15.3, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Females at this Syrian centre had a higher use of VKAs and a lower use of DOACs compared to males, resulting in a higher rate of composite outcomes of CVA and bleeding events.<p></p>