Women Undergo Fewer Atrial Fibrillation Ablations

A Northwell Health study of 165,000 patients found women receive the heart-rhythm procedure far less often than men.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Heart Disease

Women Undergo Fewer Atrial Fibrillation Ablations

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Do you believe women receive the same heart care as men?

A Northwell Health study found that women with atrial fibrillation undergo catheter ablation far less often than men, based on records of 165,000 patients followed over several years. Researchers say the findings will shape how the condition is studied and treated for women across the United States and at Northwell.

Why it matters

Atrial fibrillation, the most common type of irregular heartbeat, significantly raises the risk of stroke and dementia, so unequal access to treatment carries real health consequences. Because most established medical studies have been based on men, researchers say the imbalance may stem from how the condition has been studied and understood.

The players

Northwell Health

A New York-based health system whose researchers conducted the study of atrial fibrillation treatment patterns.

Lenox Hill Hospital

A Northwell Health hospital in New York City where Deirdre Cowan underwent her catheter ablation procedure.

The details

Catheter ablation is a procedure that insulates the areas of the heart generating the abnormal electrical signal that drives atrial fibrillation. Women may present atrial fibrillation symptoms differently than men, and they are less likely to self-report symptoms to their cardiologist because they are used to caring for others. Many women are diagnosed around perimenopause, a period that may further complicate recognition of the condition.

Three years before the article, Deirdre Cowan had a stroke and later learned she had atrial fibrillation.
Three weeks before the article, Cowan underwent catheter ablation at Lenox Hill Hospital.

Health Landscape

Catheter ablation is an established option for atrial fibrillation, but the study suggests women are not receiving it at the same rate as men. The findings point to a population-level gap in how the condition has been studied and treated across the country.

If you are a woman with a history of irregular heartbeat, stroke, or unexplained symptoms, it is worth raising atrial fibrillation with your cardiologist and asking whether ablation is an option. Symptoms may present differently in women, so describing them fully to your doctor can help.

The takeaway

The study highlights that women with atrial fibrillation may be under-referred for ablation, a gap that matters because the condition raises stroke and dementia risk. Discuss any heart-rhythm symptoms with your physician, especially if you have a history of stroke or are approaching perimenopause.