Reasons for hospitalization and risk of mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation treated with dabigatran or warfarin in the Randomized Evaluation of Long-term Anticoagulation Therapy (RE-LY) trial

EP Europace ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 1023-1030 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aiman Alak ◽  
Stefan H Hohnloser ◽  
Mandy Fräßdorf ◽  
Paul Reilly ◽  
Michael Ezekowitz ◽  
...  

Aims Hospitalizations are common among patients with atrial fibrillation. This article aimed to analyse the causes and consequences of hospitalizations occurring during the Randomized Evaluation of Long-term Anticoagulation Therapy (RE-LY) trial. Methods and results The RE-LY database was used to evaluate predictors of hospitalization using multivariate regression modelling. The relationship between hospitalization and subsequent major adverse cardiac events was evaluated in a time dependent Cox proportional-hazard modelling. Of the 18 113 patients in RE-LY, 7200 (39.8%) were hospitalized at least once during a mean follow-up of 2 years. First hospitalization rates were 2312 (39.5%) for dabigatran etexilate (DE) 110, 2430 (41.6%) for DE 150, and 42.6% (N = 2458) for warfarin. Hospitalization was associated with post-discharge death [absolute event rate 9.1% vs. 2.2%; adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 3.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.2–4.0, P < 0.0001], vascular death (adjusted HR 2.9, 95% CI 2.5–3.3, P < 0.0001), and sudden cardiac death (adjusted HR 2.3; 95% CI 1.8–2.9, P < 0.0001). Cardiovascular hospitalization was also associated with an increased risk of post-discharge death (adjusted HR 2.8, 95% CI 2.5–3.2, P < 0.0001), vascular death (adjusted HR 2.8, 95% CI 2.4–3.2, P < 0.0001), and sudden cardiac death (adjusted HR 2.1, 95% CI 1.6–2.7, P < 0.0001) compared with patients not hospitalized for any cardiovascular reason. Conclusion Hospitalizations are associated an increased risk of with death and cardiovascular death in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Circulation ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 118 (suppl_18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mengjun Wang ◽  
Valerio Zaca ◽  
Alice Jiang ◽  
Itamar Ilsar ◽  
Matthew Ebinger ◽  
...  

Heart failure (HF) is associated with a high incidence of ventricular tachycardia (VT) and fibrillation (VF). Patients with HF in whom these lethal arrhythmias can be induced by electrophysiological (EP) testing carry a high risk of sudden cardiac death. We showed that chronic electrical carotid baroreflex activation therapy (BAT) with the Rheos® System (CVRx, Inc.) improves LV function, attenuates LV remodeling and restores autonomic sympathetic-parasympathetic balance in dogs with HF. This study examined the effects of long-term therapy with BAT on the induction of VT or VF in dogs with coronary microembolization-induced HF (LV ejection fraction ~20%). Eleven dogs with HF underwent EP testing at baseline prior to therapy and after 3 and 6 months of therapy with BAT and again 6 weeks after withdrawal of BAT therapy (n = 7) or no therapy at all (Control, n = 4). Programmed ventricular stimulation was performed from the right ventricular apex and included delivery of up to 4 extrastimuli at progressively shorter coupling intervals (in steps of 10 msec). The extrastimuli were delivered following 8 ventricular paced beats with a drive cycle length between 600 and 200 msec. If a sustained monomorphic VT or VF could not be induced, isoproterenol infusion was initiated to increase the sinus rate by ~30% and the EP stimulation protocol was repeated. At baseline, a sustained VT or VF was induced in all 11 dogs (100%). After 3 and 6 months of follow-up, all Control dogs (100%) were induced into sustained VT or VF. After 3 months of BAT, only 3 of 7 dogs (43%) were induced into sustained VT or VF. After 6 months of BAT, only 2 of 7 dogs (29%) were induced into sustained VT or VF. Finally after withdrawal of BAT therapy, all dogs (100%) were again induced into systained VT or VF. In addition to improving LV function and attenuating LV remodeling, long-term monotherapy with BAT markedly increases the threshold for lethal ventricular arrhythmias in dogs with chronic HF. This is a marked improvement over inducibility of lethal arrhythmias seen in historical untreated controls. This benefit of BAT supports the continued exploration of this device as a therapeutic modality for treating patients with chronic HF and increased risk of sudden cardiac death.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas S Papazoglou ◽  
Anastasios Kartas ◽  
Athanasios Samaras ◽  
Evangelos Akrivos ◽  
Ioannis Vouloagkas ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: There are limited data on the association of diabetes mellitus (DM) and levels of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) with outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients who were recently hospitalized with a primary or secondary diagnosis of AF from December 2015 through June 2018. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox-regression adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) were calculated for the primary outcome of all-cause mortality and for the secondary outcomes of cardiovascular (CV) mortality and the composite outcome of CV death or hospitalization. Competing-risk regression analyses were performed to calculate the cumulative risk of stroke, major bleeding, AF- or HF-hospitalizations adjusted for the competing risk of all-cause death. Spline curve models were fitted to investigate associations of HbA1c values and mortality among patients with AF and DM.Results: In total 1140 AF patients were included, of whom 373 (32.7%) had DM. During a median follow-up of 2.6 years, 414 (37.3%) patients died. The presence of DM was associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality (aHR=1.40 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.11-1.75), CV mortality (aHR=1.39, 95% CI: 1.07-1.81), sudden cardiac death (aHR=1.73, 95% CI: 1.19-2.52), stroke (aHR=1.87, 95% CI: 1.01-3.45) and the composite outcome of hospitalization or CV death (aHR=1.27, 95% CI: 1.06-1.53). In AF patients with comorbid DM, the spline curves showed a positive linear association between HbA1c levels and outcomes, with values 7.6-8.2% being independent predictors of increased all-cause mortality, and values <6.2% predicting significantly decreased all-cause and CV mortality.Conclusions: The presence of DM on top of AF was associated with substantially increased risk for all-cause or CV mortality, sudden cardiac death and excess morbidity. HbA1c levels lower than 6.2% were independently related to better survival rates suggesting that optimal DM control could be associated with better clinical outcomes in AF patients with DM.


Atrial fibrillation in old people is one of the most common causes of cardiac decompensation. It can also lead to sudden cardiac death and thromboembolism of vital organs. Comorbidities such as diffuse cardiosclerosis, myocarditis or cardiomyopathy, congenital or acquired defects of the valvular apparatus of the heart, pathology of the endocrine system, chronic obstructive diseases of the bronchopulmonary apparatus, malignant course of arterial hypertension or its refractoriness to therapy, uncontrolled intake of antiarrhythmic drugs, can complicate the course of atrial fibrillation the addition of a transverse atrioventricular block, which is called Frederick’s syndrome. This article presents a case of clinical observation of an uncontrolled course of atrial fibrillation with the subsequent development and progression of severe circulatory failure against the background of the addition of complete atrioventricular block. Such an important factor as adherence to medical recommendations can compensate for various pathological conditions for a long time without causing significant harm to health, which was neglected by the patient from the clinical case under consideration. The launched course of arterial hypertension probably launched a cascade of morphological changes in the structures of the heart, which subsequently led to the formation of atrial fibrillation, the development of heart failure, and the addition of complete atrioventricular block. The appearance of rhythm in the heart rate, which is characteristic of this conduction disturbance, is often perceived as an erroneous restoration of the rhythm in case of pre-existing atrial fibrillation; this can complicate the timely diagnosis of pathology, especially in the absence of syncope conditions characteristic of complete atrioventricular blockade. The risks of thromboembolic complications and sudden cardiac death are as high as those associated with isolated atrial fibrillation. During the examination of the patient, the absolute indications for transplantation of an artificial pacemaker were determined. Subsequently, an increase in the minute volume of blood and cardiac output, as expected, led to an improvement in the clinical course of the disease and well-being, however, the pre-existing hemodynamic disorder of a long-term nature in this patient led to irreversible decompensation of cardiac activity, which adversely affects the long-term prognosis for life.


2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii17-iii65
Author(s):  
Naomi Davey ◽  
Sarah McNally ◽  
Kerri Donnelly ◽  
Mary Kate Meagher ◽  
Imelda Noone ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Occipital lobe strokes are characterised by a visual field deficit (VFD) and the absence of a motor deficit. A persistent VFD may have significant long-term implications for a patient and their lifestyle. Our aim was to assess the overall impact of these events particularly patients’ ability to return to driving. Methods All patients admitted with an acute occipital lobe stroke to a Dublin teaching hospital in 2017 were identified. Case notes were retrospectively reviewed to identify patients’ pre-stroke function, stroke pathology, neurological losses and further vascular events. A follow up phone call was made 18 months after the event to assess if previous drivers had returned to driving and required the installation of formalised home supports after discharge. Results In 2017, 37 of 311 stroke patients admitted had a confirmed occipital lobe stroke. 33 of these patients (89.1%) had ischemic events. The median age was 76 (50-93) years old. Twenty-nine patients were able to undergo formal cognitive testing; the median Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) was 18 (2-29). 15 patients (40.5%) had underlying Atrial Fibrillation with one (6.7%) of this cohort being identified post discharge; 14 (85.7%) of those patients with ischemic strokes were anticoagulated for atrial fibrillation. The median length of stay was 33.9 days, with a range of 2-391 days. Further vascular events occurred in 2 (5.8%) of the patients. A follow up phone call was made to the 15 patients who drove prior to their event. 12 patients (80%) could not resume driving due to persistent VFD. One (7%) of the previous drivers had a home care package installed since discharge. Conclusion A persistent VFD results in long term problems including an increased risk of further vascular events, a reduction in overall independence and quality of life following an occipital lobe stroke. This study has led to a business plan for a dedicated hemianopia clinic.


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