Atrial fibrillation progression and prevention

ESC CardioMed ◽  
2018 ◽  
pp. 2135-2139
Author(s):  
Justin G. L. M. Luermans ◽  
Jordi Heijman ◽  
Isabelle C. Van Gelder ◽  
Harry J. G. M. Crijns

Atrial fibrillation (AF) patients are commonly classified into five groups, first-diagnosed, paroxysmal, persistent, long-standing persistent, or permanent AF, based on the duration of AF and clinical conventions. Progression of AF to longer-lasting forms is common and has important clinical significance, affecting both the success of sinus rhythm maintenance and the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events. As such, there is considerable interest in the underlying mechanisms and therapeutic options to prevent AF progression. This chapter discusses the epidemiology, risk factors, and clinical significance of AF progression. It also provides background on the pathophysiological mechanisms of AF progression and highlights options for its management and prevention.

Author(s):  
Keisuke Usuda ◽  
Takeshi Kato ◽  
Toyonobu Tsuda ◽  
Hayato Tada ◽  
Satoru Niwa ◽  
...  

Introduction: The impact of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) on cardiovascular events and mortality is controversial. We investigated the impact of sinus rhythm maintenance on major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events after AF ablation from a Japanese multicenter cohort of AF ablation. Methods and Results: We investigated 2737 consecutive patients (25.6% female, mean age 63.4 ± 10.3 years) who underwent a first catheter ablation for AF from the Atrial Fibrillation registry to Follow the long-teRm Outcomes and use of aNTIcoagulants aftER Ablation (AF Frontier Ablation Registry). The primary endpoint was a composite of stroke, transient ischemic attack, cardiovascular events, and all-cause death. During a mean follow-up of 25.2 months, 2070 (75.6%) patients were free from AF after catheter ablation, and the primary composite endpoint occurred in 122 (4.5%) patients. The AF nonrecurrence group had a significantly lower incidence of the primary endpoint (1.7 per 100 person-years) compared with the AF recurrence group (3.2 per 100 person-years; P = 0.001). The multivariate analysis revealed that freedom from AF (hazard ratio 0.57; 95% confidence interval 0.39–0.83; P = 0.003) was independently associated with the incidence of the composite event.¬¬ Conclusion: In the multicenter cohort of AF ablation, sinus rhythm maintenance after catheter ablation was independently associated with lower rates of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events.


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
T K M Wang ◽  
N Chan ◽  
P C Cremer ◽  
M Kanj ◽  
B Baranowski ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Coronary (CAC), mitral annular (MAC), aortic valve (AVC) and thoracic aortic (TAC) calcifications are known imaging biomarkers for cardiovascular risk in the general population. Despite this, their prognostic value are not well established in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients who have elevated risk for cardiovascular events. Purpose We assessed the associated factors and outcomes of cardiovascular calcifications detected by computed tomography (CT) in AF patients undergoing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). Methods Consecutive AF patients enrolled in a prospective PVI registry during 2014–2018 with CT performed within 1-year of their procedure were reviewed for the presence of cardiovascular calcifications on CT. Risk factors and outcomes for each type of cardiovascular calcifications were analyzed in univariable and multivariable regression models. Results Amongst 3604 AF patients, there were 2238 (62.1%), 308 (8.6%), 572 (15.9%) and 1048 (29.1%) patients with CAC, MAC, AVC and TAC respectively. Factors independently associated with these cardiovascular calcifications are listed in Table 1. During mean follow-up of 2.8±1.6 years, there were 97 (2.7%) all-cause deaths, and 158 (4.4%) major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Forest plots of unadjusted and adjusted hazards ratios of cardiovascular calcifications at predicting these outcomes are shown in Figure 1. Conclusion Cardiovascular calcifications especially CAC are prevalent in AF patients, and share common risk factors with cardiovascular events, except for female being protective for CAC and AVC but having higher risk of MAC and TAC. Although all cardiovascular calcifications were associated with death and MACE in unadjusted analyses, only CAC remained so for both outcomes in adjusted analyses. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): National Heart Foundation of New Zealand Table 1 Figure 1


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1456
Author(s):  
Carlo Lavalle ◽  
Michele Magnocavallo ◽  
Martina Straito ◽  
Luca Santini ◽  
Giovanni Battista Forleo ◽  
...  

Transcatheter ablation was increasingly and successfully used to treat symptomatic drug refractory patients affected by supraventricular arrhythmias. Antiarrhythmic drug treatment still plays a major role in patient management, alone or combined with non-pharmacological therapies. Flecainide is an IC antiarrhythmic drug approved in 1984 from the Food and Drug Administration for the suppression of sustained ventricular tachycardia and later for acute cardioversion of atrial fibrillation and for sinus rhythm maintenance. Currently, flecainide is mostly used for sinus rhythm maintenance in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients without structural cardiomyopathy although recent studies enrolling different patient populations have demonstrated a good effectiveness and safety profile. How should we interpret the results of the CAST after the latest evidence? Is it possible to expand the indications of flecainide, and therefore, its use? This review aims to highlight the main characteristics of flecainide, as well as its optimal clinical use, delineating drug indications and contraindications and appropriate monitoring, based on the most recent evidence.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 775.2-776
Author(s):  
C. W. S. Chan ◽  
P. H. LI ◽  
C. S. Lau ◽  
H. Y. Chung

Background:Cardiovascular (CVS) diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide and patients with rheumatic diseases have an increased CVS risk including stroke and myocardial infarction (MI) (1-3). CVS risk factors and CVS events are common in SpA (4). Delineating the CVS risk and the association with medications in patients with SpA would be useful.Objectives:The objective of this study was to delineate the CVS risk and the association with medications in patients with SpA.Methods:Patients with SpA and patients with non-specific back pain (NSBP) were identified in rheumatology and orthopedics clinics respectively. Clinical information and CVS events were retrieved. Incidence rates were calculated. Association analysis was performed to determine the CVS risk of SpA and other modifiable risk factors.Results:A total of 5046 patients (SpA 2616 and NSBP 2430) were included from eight centers. Over 56 484 person-years of follow-up, 160 strokes, 84 MI and 262 major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were identified. Hypercholesterolemia was more prevalent in SpA (SpA 34.2%, NSBP 28.7%, P<0.01). Crude incidence rates of stroke and MI were higher in SpA patients. SpA was associated with a higher risk of MACE (HR 1.66, 95%CI 1.22-2.27, P<0.01) and cerebrovascular events (HR 1.42, 95%CI 1.01-2.00, p=0.04). The use of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) drugs was associated with a reduced risk of MACE (HR 0.37, 95%CI 0.17-0.80, P=0.01) and cerebrovascular events (HR 0.21, 95%CI 0.06-0.78, P=0.02).Conclusion:SpA is an independent CVS risk factor. Anti-TNF drugs were associated with a reduced CVS risk in these patients.References:[1]Crowson CS, Liao KP, Davis JM, 3rd, Solomon DH, Matteson EL, Knutson KL, et al. Rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular disease. Am Heart J. 2013;166(4):622-8 e1.[2]Verhoeven F, Prati C, Demougeot C, Wendling D. Cardiovascular risk in psoriatic arthritis, a narrative review. Joint Bone Spine. 2020;87(5):413-8.[3]Liew JW, Ramiro S, Gensler LS. Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2018;32(3):369-89.[4]Molto A, Etcheto A, van der Heijde D, Landewe R, van den Bosch F, Bautista Molano W, et al. Prevalence of comorbidities and evaluation of their screening in spondyloarthritis: results of the international cross-sectional ASAS-COMOSPA study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2016;75(6):1016-23.Disclosure of Interests:None declared.


2021 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 817-823
Author(s):  
Marjo Okkonen ◽  
Aki S. Havulinna ◽  
Olavi Ukkola ◽  
Heikki Huikuri ◽  
Arto Pietilä ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yubi Lin ◽  
Hairui Li ◽  
Xianwu Lan ◽  
Xianghui Chen ◽  
Aidong Zhang ◽  
...  

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most important risk factors for atrial fibrillation (AF) and is a predictor of stroke and thromboembolism. DM may increase the incidence of AF, and when it is combined with other risk factors, the incidence of stroke and thromboembolism may also be higher; furthermore, hospitalization due to heart failure appears to increase. Maintenance of well-controlled blood glucose and low levels of HbA1c in accordance with guidelines may decrease the incidence of AF. The mechanisms of AF associated with DM are autonomic remodeling, electrical remodeling, structural remodeling, and insulin resistance. Inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system is suggested to be an upstream therapy for this type of AF. Studies have indicated that catheter ablation may be effective for AF associated with DM, restoring sinus rhythm and improving prognosis. Catheter ablation combined with hypoglycemic agents may further increase the rate of maintenance of sinus rhythm and reduce the need for reablation.


2011 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. e11
Author(s):  
Richard Petersson ◽  
Frida Sandberg ◽  
Pyotr Platonov ◽  
Fredrik Holmqvist

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