Sex disparities for patients with atrial fibrillation in the direct oral anticoagulant era.

This article discusses the disparities in the use of oral anticoagulants (OAC) for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), particularly focusing on sex disparities. The article highlights that although female patients with AF have higher thromboembolic risks than men, they are often under-treated with OAC compared to men. However, the introduction of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) has helped mitigate the disparities in OAC use between men and women. The study suggests that the sex disparity in OAC prescribing for stroke prevention in AF is improving over time, especially in the NOAC era, although under-prescription to female patients still persists. The article acknowledges the limitations of the study and emphasizes the need for further research to assess long-term outcomes and address disparities in other therapeutic strategies. [Extracted from the article]