Women Get Ablation Less Often Than Men
A Northwell Health study finds women with atrial fibrillation undergo catheter ablation procedures far less frequently than men.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Heart Disease
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Researchers at Northwell Health found that women with atrial fibrillation undergo catheter ablation far less often than men, based on records from 165,000 patients followed over several years. The study's findings are prompting researchers to change how the condition is studied and treated.
Why it matters
Atrial fibrillation is the most common irregular heartbeat and significantly raises the risk of stroke and dementia, so unequal access to treatment carries serious consequences. Women may present symptoms differently than men and are less likely to self-report to their cardiologists, which may contribute to the gap.
The Northwell Health study analyzed records of 165,000 patients over several years, finding that women are ablated at a rate of about two for every three men in the EP laboratory. The study does not specify the full causes of the gap, which remain under examination.
The players
Northwell Health
A large New York-based health system whose researchers conducted the study analyzing 165,000 patient records.
Lenox Hill Hospital
A Northwell Health hospital in Manhattan where patient Deirdre Cowan underwent her catheter ablation procedure.
The details
Catheter ablation insulates the areas of the heart that generate abnormal electrical signals in atrial fibrillation. Most current medical studies on established care are based on studying men, which researchers say contributes to the imbalance, and many women are diagnosed around perimenopause.
Timeline
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
The findings add to a body of evidence that clinical research has long been built on male subjects, a gap the Northwell team now says it will address in how atrial fibrillation is studied. The study places a sex disparity in treatment access at the center of how the condition is managed nationwide.
Women with atrial fibrillation may be less likely to receive ablation, so symptoms such as palpitations or fatigue are worth describing fully to a cardiologist. Patients can ask directly whether ablation is an option given their diagnosis.
The takeaway
Women with atrial fibrillation should describe all symptoms clearly to their cardiologist and ask whether catheter ablation is a suitable option. Awareness of the reported treatment gap can help patients advocate for their own care.
Further reading
Explore more on Heart Disease for context on how atrial fibrillation affects stroke risk and treatment.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBS News.
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