P279Outcomes of rate-control treatment in patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure: a nationwide cohort study

Abstract Purpose Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) often coexist. The impact of rate-control regimens in AF and HF patients has not been well understood. Methods In this multicenter, prospective registry with one-year follow-up, 1359 persistent or permanent AF patients got enrolled. A 1:1 HF to non-HF propensity score matching was applied to adjust for confounding variables. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality while the secondary endpoint was defined as cardiovascular death and stroke. Multivariate Cox analysis was performed to evaluate the association between different rate-control treatment and incidence of adverse events. Results Before matching, HF patients were much younger and more likely to be female. They had a much higher prevalence of previous myocardial infarction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and valvular heart disease. Among 1359 participants, we identified 1016 matched patients. The number of drugs did not affect the risk of all-cause mortality in both cohorts. For non-HF patients, using calcium channel blockers (CCBs) plus digoxin had a significant higher risk of all-cause death (HR=5.703, 95% CI 1.334–24.604, p=0.019) and cardiovascular death (HR=9.558, 95% CI 2.127–42.935, p=0.003) compared with patients not receiving rate-control treatment. The use of beta-blockers, CCBs, digoxin alone, other dual or triple combinations was not related to risk of adverse events in both groups. Conclusions The combined use of CCBs and digoxin was related to increase all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in AF patients without HF but not for those with HF. However, the ideal rate-control regimen for AF and HF patients has not been established and well-designed clinical trials are needed. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None. Results of multivariate Cox analysis Kaplan-Meier curves by drug numbers

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Emerging role of ivabradine for rate control in atrial fibrillation

Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease ◽

10.1177/1753944716669658 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 348-352 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Sarah L. Turley ◽

Kerry E. Francis ◽

Denise K. Lowe ◽

William D. Cahoon

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Rate Control ◽

Beta Blockers ◽

Control Treatment ◽

Ventricular Rate ◽

Channel Blockers ◽

Target Heart Rate ◽

Heart Failure Patients

Control of ventricular rate is recommended for patients with paroxysmal, persistent, or permanent atrial fibrillation (AF). Existing rate-control options, including beta-blockers, nondihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, and digoxin, are limited by adverse hemodynamic effects and their ability to attain target heart rate (HR). Ivabradine, a novel HR-controlling agent, decreases HR through deceleration of conduction through If (‘funny’) channels, and is approved for HR reduction in heart failure patients with ejection fraction less than 35% and elevated HR, despite optimal pharmacological treatment. Because If channels were thought to be expressed solely in sinoatrial (SA) nodal tissue, ivabradine was not investigated in heart failure patients with concomitant AF. Subsequent identification of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated cation channel 4 (HCN4), the primary gene responsible for If current expression throughout the myocardium, stimulated interest in the potential role of ivabradine for ventricular rate control in AF. Preclinical studies of ivabradine in animal models with induced AF demonstrated a reduction in HR, with no significant worsening of QT interval or mean arterial pressure. Preliminary human data suggest that ivabradine provides HR reduction without associated hemodynamic complications in patients with AF. Questions remain regarding efficacy, safety, optimal dosing, and length of therapy in these patients. Prospective, randomized studies are needed to determine if ivabradine has a role as a rate-control treatment in patients with AF.

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Sex differences in treatment strategy and adverse outcomes among patients 75 and older with atrial fibrillation in the MarketScan database

BMC Cardiovascular Disorders ◽

10.1186/s12872-021-02419-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Vinita Subramanya ◽

J’Neka S. Claxton ◽

Pamela L. Lutsey ◽

Richard F. MacLehose ◽

Lin Y. Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Sex Differences ◽

Rate Control ◽

Treatment Strategy ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Rhythm Control ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Control Treatment ◽

To Receive

Abstract Background Women with atrial fibrillation (AF) experience greater symptomatology, worse quality of life, and have a higher risk of stroke as compared to men, but are less likely to receive rhythm control treatment. Whether these differences exist in elderly patients with AF, and whether sex modifies the effectiveness of rhythm versus rate control therapy has not been assessed. Methods We studied 135,850 men and 139,767 women aged ≥ 75 years diagnosed with AF in the MarketScan Medicare database between 2007 and 2015. Anticoagulant use was defined as use of warfarin or a direct oral anticoagulant. Rate control was defined as use of rate control medication or atrioventricular node ablation. Rhythm control was defined by use of anti-arrhythmic medication, catheter ablation or cardioversion. We used multivariable Poisson and Cox regression models to estimate the association of sex with treatment strategy and to determine whether the association of treatment strategy with adverse outcomes (bleeding, heart failure and stroke) differed by sex. Results At the time of AF, women were on average (SD) 83.8 (5.6) years old and men 82.5 (5.2) years, respectively. Compared to men, women were less likely to receive an anticoagulant or rhythm control treatment. Rhythm control (vs. rate) was associated with a greater risk for heart failure with a significantly stronger association in women (HR women = 1.41, 95% CI 1.34–1.49; HR men = 1.21, 95% CI 1.15–1.28, p < 0.0001 for interaction). No sex differences were observed for the association of treatment strategy with the risk of bleeding or stroke. Conclusion Sex differences exist in the treatment of AF among patients aged 75 years and older. Women are less likely to receive an anticoagulant and rhythm control treatment. Women were also at a greater risk of experiencing heart failure as compared to men, when treated with rhythm control strategies for AF. Efforts are needed to enhance use AF therapies among women. Future studies will need to delve into the mechanisms underlying these differences.

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Comparative Effectiveness of Early Rhythm Control Versus Rate Control for Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Journal of the American Heart Association ◽

10.1161/jaha.121.023055 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Daehoon Kim ◽

Pil‐Sung Yang ◽

Seng Chan You ◽

Eunsun Jang ◽

Hee Tae Yu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Myocardial Infarction ◽

Heart Failure ◽

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Rate Control ◽

Cardiovascular Death ◽

Population Based ◽

Cardiovascular Outcomes ◽

Rhythm Control ◽

Control Treatment ◽

Control Rhythm

Background Rhythm control is associated with better cardiovascular outcomes than usual care among patients with recently diagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF). This study investigated the effects of rhythm control compared with rate control on the incidence of stroke, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and cardiovascular death stratified by timing of treatment initiation. Methods and Results We conducted a retrospective population‐based cohort study including 22 635 patients with AF newly treated with rhythm control (antiarrhythmic drugs or ablation) or rate control in 2011 to 2015 from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. Propensity overlap weighting was used. Compared with rate control, rhythm control initiated within 1 year of AF diagnosis decreased the risk of stroke. The point estimates for rhythm control initiated at selected time points after AF diagnosis are as follows: 6 months (hazard ratio [HR], 0.76; 95% CI, 0.66–0.87), 1 year (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.66–0.93), and 5 years (HR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.45–2.24). The initiation of rhythm control within 6 months of AF diagnosis reduced the risk of hospitalization for heart failure: 6 months (HR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.74–0.95), 1 year (HR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.82–1.13), and 5 years (HR, 2.88; 95% CI, 1.34–6.17). The risks of myocardial infarction and cardiovascular death did not differ between rhythm and rate control regardless of treatment timing. Conclusions Early initiation of rhythm control was associated with a lower risk of stroke and heart failure–related admission than rate control in patients with recently diagnosed AF. The effects were attenuated as initiating the rhythm control treatment later.

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Sex Differences in Treatment Strategy and Adverse Outcomes Among Patients 75 and Older With Atrial Fibrillation in the MarketScan Database

10.21203/rs.3.rs-852138/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Vinita Subramanya ◽

J’Neka S. Claxton ◽

Pamela L. Lutsey ◽

Richard F. MacLehose ◽

Lin Y. Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Sex Differences ◽

Rate Control ◽

Treatment Strategy ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Rhythm Control ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Control Treatment ◽

To Receive

Abstract Background: Women with atrial fibrillation (AF) experience greater symptomatology, worse quality of life, and have a higher risk of stroke as compared to men, but are less likely to receive rhythm control treatment. Whether these differences exist in elderly patients with AF, and whether sex modifies the effectiveness of rhythm versus rate control therapy has not been assessed.Methods: We studied 135,850 men and 139,767 women aged ≥75 years diagnosed with AF in the MarketScan Medicare database between 2007-2015. Anticoagulant use was defined as use of warfarin or a direct oral anticoagulant. Rate control was defined as use of rate control medication or atrioventricular node ablation. Rhythm control was defined by use of anti-arrhythmic medication, catheter ablation or cardioversion. We used multivariable Poisson and Cox regression models to estimate the association of sex with treatment strategy and to determine whether the association of treatment strategy with adverse outcomes (bleeding, heart failure and stroke) differed by sex. Results: At the time of AF, women were on average (SD) 83.8 (5.6) years old and men 82.5 (5.2) years, respectively. Compared to men, women were less likely to receive an anticoagulant or rhythm control treatment. Rhythm control (vs. rate) was associated with a greater risk for heart failure with a significantly stronger association in women (HR women = 1.41, 95%CI 1.34-1.49; HR men= 1.21, 95%CI 1.15-1.28, p <0.0001 for interaction). No sex differences were observed for the association of treatment strategy with the risk of bleeding or stroke. Conclusion: Sex differences exist in the treatment of AF among patients aged 75 years and older. Women are less likely to receive an anticoagulant and rhythm control treatment. Women were also at a greater risk of experiencing heart failure as compared to men, when treated with rhythm control strategies for AF. Efforts are needed to enhance use AF therapies among women. Future studies will need to delve into the mechanisms underlying these differences.

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Atrial Fibrillation in Heart Failure Patients

European Cardiology Review ◽

10.15420/ecr.2009.5.1.41 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 41

Author(s):

Michalis Efremidis ◽

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Rate Control ◽

Clinical Trial Data ◽

Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy ◽

Controlled Clinical Trial ◽

Cardiac Resynchronisation ◽

Resynchronisation Therapy ◽

Randomised Controlled ◽

Near Future

There is a sinister synergism between atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF). These common cardiovascular conditions often co-exist and result in significant morbidity and mortality. Despite the extensive amount of research and literature about each of these disorders separately, randomised controlled clinical trial data concerning the management of AF in patients with HF are lacking. The recently published Atrial Fibrillation and Congestive Heart Failure (AF-CHF) trial elucidated the matter of rhythm versus rate control. In addition, non-pharmacological treatment approaches such as catheter ablation of AF and cardiac resynchronisation therapy are rapidly growing and are likely to alter AF management in HF patients in the near future.

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