Table 3

Symptoms in association with the onset of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation by gender

Symptoms

Total n = 100

Males n = 72

Female n = 28

p-value

Pre-symptoms

32

20 (28%)

12 (43%)

0.159

Pains in the chest

25

14 (19%)

11 (39%)

0.070

Dizziness

52

33 (46%)

19 (68%)

0.074

Syncope

7

4 (6%)

3 (11%)

0.396

Breathlessness when resting

41

32 (44%)

9 (32%)

0.365

Breathlessness when working

70

53 (74%)

17 (61%)

0.230

Swollen ankles

10

4 (6%)

6 (21%)

0.027

Palpitation at rest

86

62 (86%)

24 (86%)

>0.999

Palpitation at exercise

88

59 (82%)

23 (82%)

>0.999

Nausea

19

9 (13%)

10 (36%)

0.012

Vomiting

2

1 (1%)

1 (4%)

0.484

Abdominal pain

5

2 (3%)

3 (11%)

0.312

Loss of appetite

31

20 (28%)

11 (39%)

0.336

Anxiety

59

37 (51%)

22 (79%)

0.014

Reduced physical capacity

87

62 (86%)

25 (89%)

>0.999

Polyuria*

40/75

25/52 (48%)

15/23 (65%)

0.213

*this question was put to only 75 patients.

Hansson et al. BMC Cardiovascular Disorders 2004 4:13   doi:10.1186/1471-2261-4-13