Silent cerebral ischemia in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation — A case-control study

Abstract Background The association between anxiety and atrial fibrillation (AF) remains unclear. Moreover, this association has rarely been studied in Chinese individuals aged 60 years or older. This study investigated the association between anxiety and AF in a community-based case-control study of older adult residents in urban China. Methods The cases and controls were from a community-based study conducted in the Jingansi community in Shanghai, China, between January 2010 and December 2012. A total of 3622 residents aged 60 years or older without severe vision, hearing, or speaking impairments were eligible to participate in the physical examinations and questionnaire survey. AF was assessed based on a previous physician’s diagnosis, electrocardiogram, ambulatory electrocardiogram, or echocardiogram. Anxiety was evaluated using the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (ZSAS). Using the AF group as a reference, the control group consisted of randomly selected age- and sex-matched individuals in a 1:5 ratio (case:control = 1:5). The association between anxiety and AF in the AF group and the multifactor-matched control group was explored using logistic regression. Results In the AF and control groups, after adjusting for a history of coronary heart disease, valvular heart disease, hypertension, stroke, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes, as well as depression score, ZSAS scores (odds ratio 1.07; 95% confidence interval 1.02–1.12; p = 0.003), and anxiety symptoms (odds ratio 3.94; 95% confidence interval 1.06–14.70; p = 0.041) were associated with AF. Conclusions Anxiety symptoms were associated with AF in a Chinese older population. This suggests that older adults who have anxiety symptoms may need psychological intervention or treatment in daily life and care.

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Does Parkinson's Disease Increase the Risk of Atrial Fibrillation? Insights From Electrocardiogram and Risk Scores From a Case-Control Study

Frontiers in Neurology ◽

10.3389/fneur.2021.633900 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Mariana Alves ◽

Ana Mafalda Abrantes ◽

Gonçalo Portugal ◽

M. Manuela Cruz ◽

Sofia Reimão ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Case Control ◽

P Wave ◽

Risk Scores ◽

Wave Duration ◽

P Wave Duration ◽

Increased Risk ◽

The Mean ◽

Control Study

Background: Previous studies suggested that Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients could have an increased risk of atrial fibrillation. However, data supporting this association is not robust. We aimed to compare the potential risk of atrial fibrillation associated with PD in an age and gender matched case-control study, comparing the p-wave indexes from electrocardiograms and clinical risk scores among groups.Methods: A cross-sectional case-control study was performed. All subjects included in the analysis were clinically evaluated and subjected to a 12-lead electrocardiogram. Two blinded independent raters measured the p-wave duration. Subjects were classified as having normal P-wave duration (<120 ms), partial IAB (P-wave duration ≥ 120 ms, positive in inferior leads), and advanced IAB (p-wave duration ≥ 120 ms with biphasic morphology in inferior leads). Atrial fibrillation risk scores (CHARGE-AF, HATCH, and HAVOC) were calculated.Results: From 194 potential participants, three were excluded from the control group due to a previous diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. Comparing the PD patients (n = 97) with controls (n = 95), there were no statistically significant differences regarding the mean p-wave duration (121 ms vs. 122 ms, p = 0.64) and proportion of advanced interatrial block (OR = 1.4, 95%CI = 0.37–5.80, p = 0.58). All patients had a low or medium risk of developing atrial fibrillation based on the clinical scores. There were no differences between the PD patients and controls regarding the mean values of CHARGE-AF, HATCH, and HAVOC.Conclusions: Our results do not support the hypothesis that PD patients have an increased risk of atrial fibrillation based on the p-wave predictors and atrial fibrillation clinical scores.

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Serum Uric Acid Levels in Relation to Atrial Fibrillation: A Case-Control Study

Medical Science Monitor ◽

10.12659/msm.934007 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 28 ◽

Author(s):

Xia Zhong ◽

Huachen Jiao ◽

Dongsheng Zhao ◽

Jing Teng

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Uric Acid ◽

Serum Uric Acid ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Case Control ◽

Control Study

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Diagnostic value of N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation in acute ischemic stroke patients: A retrospective multicenter case-control study

Journal of the Neurological Sciences ◽

10.1016/j.jns.2020.116822 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 414 ◽

pp. 116822

Author(s):

Jingjing Zhao ◽

Yi Zhang ◽

Fang Yuan ◽

Changgeng Song ◽

Yongli Jiang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽

Natriuretic Peptide ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Diagnostic Value ◽

Case Control ◽

Stroke Patients ◽

Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Control Study

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Magnetic resonance-guided re-ablation for atrial fibrillation is associated with a lower recurrence rate: a case–control study

EP Europace ◽

10.1093/europace/euaa252 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (12) ◽

pp. 1805-1811

Author(s):

Levio Quinto ◽

Jenniffer Cozzari ◽

Eva Benito ◽

Francisco Alarcón ◽

Felipe Bisbal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Case Control ◽

Conventional Group ◽

3D Navigation ◽

Control Study

Abstract Aims Our aim was to analyse whether using delayed enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (DE-CMR) to localize veno-atrial gaps in atrial fibrillation (AF) redo ablation procedures improves outcomes during follow-up. Methods and results We conducted a case–control study with 35 consecutive patients undergoing a DE-CMR-guided Repeat-pulmonary vein isolation (Re-PVI) procedure. Those with more extensive ablations (e.g. roof lines, box) were excluded. Patients were matched for age, sex, AF pattern, and left atrial dimension with 35 patients who had undergone a conventional Re-PVI procedure guided with a three dimensional (3D)-navigation system. Procedural characteristics were recorded, and patients were followed for 24 months in a specialized outpatient clinic. The primary endpoint was freedom from recurrent AF, atrial tachycardia, or flutter. The duration of CMR-guided procedures was shorter compared to the conventional group (161 ± 52 vs. 195 ± 72 min, respectively, P = 0.049), with no significant differences in fluoroscopy or total radiofrequency time. At the 2-year follow-up, more patients in the DE-CMR-guided group remained free from recurrences compared with the conventional group (70% vs. 39%, respectively, P = 0.007). In univariate Cox-regression analyses, AF pattern [persistent AF, hazard ratio (HR) 2.66 (1.27–5.46), P = 0.006] and the use of DE-CMR [HR 0.36 (0.17–0.79), P = 0.009] predicted recurrences during follow-up; both factors remained independent predictors in multivariate analyses. Conclusion The substrate characterization provided by DE-CMR facilitates the identification of anatomical veno-atrial gaps and associates with shorter procedures and better clinical outcomes in repeated AF ablation procedures.

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