Sex differences in stroke and major adverse clinical events in patients with atrial fibrillation: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 993,600 patients

Female patients with AF are at increased risk of stroke compared to men. A significant relationship between increasing age and stroke risk in women compared to men was found, most evident at age > 65 years. Female sex may act as a stroke risk modifier, particularly in elderly and very elderly AF subjects, conferring a significant increase in stroke risk.