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Introduction Women are frequently underrepresented in clinical trials for heart failure. Differences on cardiovascular background may imply differences on indications, device election and outcomes in patients receiving cardiac devices (CRT and ICD). We sought to compare sex-related differences in a real-life cohort. Methods We analyzed all subjects who underwent a cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) implantation (with or without ICD) between 2016 and 2019 in a single center, all of them followed by remote monitoring. Baseline characteristics and outcomes were compared according to gender. Response to resynchronization was defined as clinical improvement in NYHA class or an increase of > =10% in LVEF. Results A total of 430 devices (ICD or CRT) were implanted. 149 (35%) of them were CRTs: 116 (88%) CRT-D and 33 (22%) CRT-P. Of the whole cohort, 43 (29%) were women and the mean age was similar in both sex (70+/-9 years). Women had more likely non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (86% vs 49%, p < 0.01), higher proportion of NYHA class III-IV (26% vs 40%, p 0.04) and worse renal function (mean glomerular filtration 61ml/min vs 75ml/min, p 0.04), but tend to be less affected by atrial fibrillation (21% vs 40%, p 0.05). Left ventricular ejection fraction was similar at the moment of implantation among both sex (30+/-7%, p > 0.05) and no difference on optimal medical treatment was observed. Women trend to receive more frequently CRT-P than men (33% vs 18%, p 0.054). After a mean follow-up of 3 years, a four-fold higher response to CRT was observed in women (OR 4.0, 95% CI 2.0-10.7, p 0.002), after adjustment by the etiology of the myocardiopathy. No differences on all-cause mortality (6% in men vs 1% in women, p 0.2) or ventricular arrhythmias (10% in men vs 2% in women, p 0.3) were observed.  Conclusions in a real-life cohort, CRT implantation showed a sex-disparity: the proportion of women receiving a CRT was lower than in men, but a CRT without defibrillation was more frequently implanted in women, reflecting a higher prevalence of ischemic cardiomyopathy in men. The underlying myocardial substrate in women and a lower prevalence of AF may explain a more favorable response to CRT, despite more pronounced symptoms of heart failure at the moment of implantation.

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation with circumferential ablation around ipsilateral PVs is the standard strategy for atrial fibrillation ablation. The electrical connection between the left atrium (LA) and the pulmonary veins (PV) is determined by the heterogeneous arrangement of myocardial fibers along the PV-LA junction. Purpose We sought to assess which regions of the standard ablation circumference are the main contributors to the venoatrial electrical connection. Methods Forty-one patients underwent a specific atrial fibrillation ablation protocol in which the anterior and posterior segments of the standard circumference were ablated first. If PV isolation was not achieved, ablation was extended superiorly or inferiorly, based on the earliest atrial activation recorded during pacing from the PV. Complete PV isolation and the length of the areas non-requiring ablation (ANRA) at the time of electrical isolation were evaluated. Results Ablation of the anterior and posterior segments of the standard circumference led to isolation of 77% left-PV pairs and 51% right-PV pairs (p=0,015). A superior extension was required in 23% left-PV pairs and in 46% right-PV pairs, while an inferior extension was required only in 10% left-PV pairs and in 11% right-PV pairs. PV isolation was achieved before completing the standard ablation circumference in 97% left-PV pairs and in 94% right-PV pairs, with an ANRA of 35.8±9.0mm in left PVs (16.1±5.2 mm superior and 19.7±5.6 mm inferior, p<0,01), and 35.5±9.5 mm in right PVs (15.2±5.7 mm superior and 20.9±5.3mm inferior, p<0,01). Conclusion The myocardial fibers along the anterior and posterior regions of the standard ablation circumference are the main contributors to the electrical connection between the LA and the PVs. Ablation of these regions results in PV isolation in the majority of patients.