Sex-Based Disparities in Health Care Access and Utilization Among Patients With Atrial Fibrillation - Summary - MDSpire
Coming Soon: Introducing MDSpire News. Learn more
Conexiant’s news site is now MDSpire News. Learn more

Gender Differences in Access to Health Care and Utilization Among Individuals with Atrial Fibrillation

  • By

  • Ji Mei May Wong

  • Peter R. Kowey

  • June 25, 2026

Share

Objective:

To determine whether sex-based disparities in health care access and utilization (HCAU) exist among individuals with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Approach:
  • Study Design: A retrospective analysis using data from the All of Us Research Program to evaluate HCAU barriers in patients with AF.
  • Data Source: Data was sourced from the All of Us Research Program Registered Tier dataset, which includes electronic health records and health surveys.
  • Participant Criteria: Participants were aged 18 years or older, diagnosed with AF, and completed the Health Care Access and Utilization Survey.
  • Analysis Method: Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the study population and analyze responses to survey questions regarding barriers to care.
Key Findings:
  • Females with AF experience a higher risk of adverse outcomes compared to males.
  • Barriers to optimal cardiovascular care disproportionately affect females, who are less likely to receive timely evaluations and treatments.
  • Sex-based disparities exist in the management of AF, with females receiving fewer rhythm-control therapies and anticoagulation.
Interpretation:

The study presents findings on sex-based differences in HCAU and their potential contribution to disparities in AF outcomes.

Limitations:
  • The study did not include participants with unknown or nonbinary sex.
  • Responses were self-reported, which may introduce bias.
Conclusion:

The findings indicate the presence of sex-based disparities in health care access and utilization among individuals with atrial fibrillation.

Sources:

Original Source(s)

Sex-Based Disparities in Health Care Access and Utilization Among Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

  • by Ji Mei May Wong, Peter R. Kowey

  • June 25, 2026

Related Content

Top 10 States With Rising Demand for Physicians

These 10 states report physician shortages, projected physician supply gaps, or physician-to-population ratios below national benchmarks.

How Does Social Media Influence Health Decisions?

National survey findings suggest many US adults report making health decisions based on social media despite widespread concerns about the accuracy of health information shared to the platforms.

Preexisting Risk Drove Poststorm Events

Analysis of nearly 1.6 million veterans showed preexisting community health inequities largely explained poststorm cardiovascular and respiratory outcomes.