Switch to direct anticoagulants and improved endothelial function in patients with chronic heart failure and atrial fibrillation

Background: The concept of ventricular-arterial coupling implies that LV-function is determined by the three factors left ventricular diastolic, left ventricular systolic and arterial elastance. We have previously documented an improvement in endothelial function and systolic LV-function in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) after 6 months of exercise training (ET). It remains, however, unclear, how shorter ET periods may affect endothelial, systolic and diastolic ventricular function as echocardiographic parameters related to ventricular arterial coupling in patients with CHF. METHODS: In this ongoing study we randomised 43 patients with stable CHF (age 60.3 ± 2.9 years, EF 27.4 ± 1.7%, VO 2 max 14.7 ± 4.3ml/kg*min) to a training or a control group (C). Patients in the training group exercised 4 times daily at 70% of the individual heart rate reserve for 4 weeks under supervision. At baseline and after 4 weeks the E/A ratio and septal/lateral E’/A’ velocities were determined by echocardiography with tissue Doppler. Exercise capacity was measured by ergospirometry and flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) was assessed by high-resolution radial ultrasound. RESULTS: After only 4 weeks of ET oxygen uptake at peak exercise increased from 14.9 ± 3.3 to 18.1 ± 4.7 ml/min/kg, (p<0.01 vs. C) in training subjects. Left ventricular ejection fraction improved from 26.8 ± 4.6 to 33.1 ± 5.5% (p<0.05 vs. C) in patients of the training group while it remained unchanged in the control group. E/A-ratio mended from 0.63 ± 0.12 to 0.81 ± 0.22 (p<0.01 vs. C) in training patients. Septal E’ velocities increased from 5.5 ± 0.5 to 7.8 ± 1.4 cm/s in training patients (p<0.05 vs. C). FMD of the radial artery improved from 8.2 ± 2.1 to 15.2 ± 3.8% (p<0.01 vs. C) as a result of ET. CONCLUSIONS: Only 4 weeks of endurance training are highly effective with significantly improved FMD accompanied by an emended systolic and diastolic LV-function. We hypothesise that the improvement in LV-EF in training patients may be caused by a corrected ventricular-arterial coupling: ventricular diastolic relaxation and effective endothelial function are ameliorated resulting in an augmentation of stroke volume.

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Predictive value of atrial fibrillation catheter ablation on cognitive functions in patients with chronic heart failure

Problems of Uninterrupted Medical Training and Science ◽

10.31071/promedosvity2021.02.075 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 42 (2) ◽

pp. 75-81

Author(s):

T. V. Zolotarova ◽

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Catheter Ablation ◽

Chronic Heart Failure ◽

Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽

Cognitive Functions ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Left Ventricular Ejection ◽

Ventricular Ejection Fraction

Atrial fibrillation (AF) directly leads to a cognitive function decline regardless of the cerebrovascular fatal events, but it is unclear whether the sinus rhythm restoration and reducing the AF burden can reduce the rate of this decreasement. Data on the effect of radiofrequency ablation on patients’ cognitive functions are conflicting and need to be studied. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prognostic value of atrial fibrillation radiofrequency catheter ablation on cognitive functions in patients with chronic heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. The impact of AF radiofrequency catheter ablation on cognitive function in 136 patients (mean age 59.7 ± 8.6 years) with chronic heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction and compared with 58 patients in the control group (58.2 ± 8.1 years), which did not perform ablation and continued the tactics of drug antiarrhythmic therapy was investigated. Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Test (MoCA) at the enrollment stage and 2 years follow-up. Decreased cognitive function was defined as a MoCA test score < 26 points, cognitive impairment < 23 points. Two years after the intervention, there was a positive dynamics (baseline MoCA test — 25,1 ± 2,48, 2-year follow-up — 26,51 ± 2,33, p < 0,001) in the ablation group and negative in the control group (25,47 ± 2,85 and 24,57 ± 3,61, respectively, p < 0,001). Pre-ablation cognitive impairment was significantly associated with improved cognitive function 2 years after AF ablation according to polynomial regression analysis. The obtained data suggest a probable positive effect of AF radiofrequency ablation on cognitive functions in patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction.

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