TABLE 7.

Critical knowledge gaps and recommendations for future research

1	Increased prevalence and incidence over time for both sexes may be due to more people living longer. However, it may be possible to decrease incidence by decreasing the risk factors for AF such as obesity, hypertension, and heart failure. Studies are needed to ascertain if improved blood pressure control in older women decreases AF incidence
2	Unclear why there is a higher lifetime risk of AF in Whites versus individuals of other races/ethnicities. Studies to evaluate whether genetic versus environmental versus structural factors contribute to this risk
3	Studies to understand why women are not receiving anticoagulation when appropriate may decrease this disparity in treatment
4	Studies to understand the higher risk of death from AF in women are needed to decrease mortality from AF
5	Studies to better understand symptoms and what treatments are more effective in ameliorating them to improve quality of life of AF patients
6	Efforts needed to better educate healthcare professionals to avoid unnecessary or inappropriate use of cardiac glycosides may decrease risk of breast cancer and mortality from cardiac glycosides
7	Studies are needed to determine what measures can decrease risk from antiarrhythmic drugs
8	More efforts are needed to prevent vascular and bleeding risks in women may help decrease the risk of adverse events with catheter ablation

Abbreviation: AF, atrial fibrillation.