Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Women

The benefits of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) on the outcomes of patients with heart failure are unquestionable. Women are under-represented in all CRT studies. Most of the available data show that CRT produces a greater clinical benefit in women than men. In several studies, women have left bundle branch block more frequently than men. Women have a remarkably high (90%) CRT response over a wide range of QRS lengths (130-175 milliseconds). Use of a QRS duration of 150 milliseconds as the threshold for CRT prescription may deny a life-saving therapy to many women likely to benefit from CRT.