Hidden burden of arrhythmias in patients with small atrial septal defects: a nationwide study

BackgroundIn recent Danish nationwide register-based study, adults with small, unrepaired atrial septal defects (ASD) have increased risk of pneumonia, atrial fibrillation (AF) and stroke. Moreover, they revealed higher mortality than the background population.ObjectiveIn this nationwide study, we evaluate the hidden burden of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias in adult patients with a small, unrepaired ASD without a previous diagnosis of AF.MethodsAll Danish patients, aged 18–65, diagnosed between 1953 and 2011 with an unrepaired ASD and no documented AF were invited for 7 days Holter-recording, echocardiography and 6 min walk test. The first 48 hours Holter-recording was completely analysed, while only AF was screened for throughout all 7 days. Furthermore, the entire patient group were characterised using the unique Danish registries.ResultsA total of 151 patients (mean age 32 years) were included. Approximately 80% of the patients had spontaneous closure of their defect. Despite this, occult arrhythmias were frequent. The most common arrhythmia was supraventricular tachycardia (n=24, 16%) with non-sustained atrial arrhythmias in 21 patients and AF in two patients. A considerable number of patients had non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (n=12, 8%). Patients with ASD and tachyarrhythmias had increased right ventricular to left ventricular diastolic area in echocardiography and higher age when compared with ASD patients without arrhythmias.ConclusionAdult patients with small, unrepaired ASD have a hidden burden of both atrial and ventricular tachyarrhythmias. The mechanism likely relates to the residua of previous right-heart volume overload and incomplete reverse remodelling. Our results support guidelines recommending continued follow-up of patients with small, unrepaired ASD.

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Left ventricular rotation and right–left ventricular interaction in congenital heart disease: the acute effects of interventional closure of patent arterial ducts and atrial septal defects

Cardiology in the Young ◽

10.1017/s1047951113000978 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 24 (4) ◽

pp. 661-674 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Kai T. Laser ◽

Nikolaus A. Haas ◽

Markus Fischer ◽

Sheeraz Habash ◽

Franziska Degener ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Volume Overload ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Diastolic Filling ◽

Healthy Children ◽

Septal Defects ◽

Atrial Septal Defects ◽

Apical Rotation ◽

Maximal Torsion ◽

Group A ◽

Group B

AbstractBackgroundLeft ventricular rotation is physiologically affected by acute changes in preload. We investigated the acute effect of preload changes in chronically underloaded and overloaded left ventricles in children with shunt lesions.MethodsA total of 15 patients with atrial septal defects (Group A: 7.4 ± 4.7 years, 11 females) and 14 patients with patent arterial ducts (Group B: 2.7 ± 3.1 years, 10 females) were investigated using 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography before and after interventional catheterisation. The rotational parameters of the patient group were compared with those of 29 matched healthy children (Group C).ResultsMaximal torsion (A: 2.45 ± 0.9°/cm versus C: 1.8 ± 0.8°/cm, p < 0.05), apical peak systolic rotation (A: 12.6 ± 5.7° versus C: 8.7 ± 3.5°, p < 0.05), and the peak diastolic torsion rate (A: −147 ± 48°/second versus C: −110 ± 31°/second, p < 0.05) were elevated in Group A and dropped immediately to normal values after intervention (maximal torsion 1.5 ± 1.1°/cm, p < 0.05, apical peak systolic rotation 7.2 ± 4.1°, p < 0.05, and peak diastolic torsion rate −106 ± 35°/second, p < 0.05). Patients in Group B had decreased maximal torsion (B: 1.8 ± 1.1°/cm versus C: 3.8 ± 1.4°/cm, p < 0.05) and apical peak systolic rotation (B: 8.3 ± 6.1° versus C: 13.9 ± 4.3°, p < 0.05). Defect closure was followed by an increase in maximal torsion (B: 2.7 ± 1.4°/cm, p < 0.05) and the peak diastolic torsion rate (B: −133 ± 66°/second versus −176 ± 84°/second, p < 0.05).ConclusionsPatients with chronically underloaded left ventricles compensate with an enhanced apical peak systolic rotation, maximal torsion, and quicker diastolic untwisting to facilitate diastolic filling. In patients with left ventricular dilatation by volume overload, the peak systolic apical rotation and the maximal torsion are decreased. After normalisation of the preload, they immediately return to normal and diastolic untwisting rebounds. These mechanisms are important for understanding the remodelling processes.

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Characteristics of adult patients with atrial septal defects presenting with paradoxical embolism

Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions ◽

10.1002/ccd.22170 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 74 (7) ◽

pp. 1066-1069 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Amr Bannan ◽

Rhuna Shen ◽

Frank E. Silvestry ◽

Howard C. Herrmann

Keyword(s):

Paradoxical Embolism ◽

Adult Patients ◽

Septal Defects ◽

Atrial Septal Defects

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Prognostic value of atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure and different left ventricular ejection fraction: results of the multicenter RIF-CHF register

Russian Journal of Cardiology ◽

10.15829/1560-4071-2021-4200 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 4200

Author(s):

I. V. Zhirov ◽

N. V. Safronova ◽

Yu. F. Osmolovskaya ◽

S. N. Тereschenko

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Ejection Fraction ◽

Cardiovascular Mortality ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Left Ventricular Ejection ◽

Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽

Reduced Ejection Fraction ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

Increased Risk

Heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are the most common cardiovascular conditions in clinical practice and frequently coexist. The number of patients with HF and AF is increasing every year.Aim. To analyze the effect of clinical course and management of HF and AF on the outcomes.Material and methods. The data of 1,003 patients from the first Russian register of patients with HF and AF (RIF-CHF) were analyzed. The endpoints included hospitalization due to decompensated HF, cardiovascular mortality, thromboembolic events, and major bleeding. Predictors of unfavorable outcomes were analyzed separately for patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction (AF+HFpEF), mid-range ejection fraction (AF+HFmrEF), and reduced ejection fraction (AF+HFrEF).Results. Among all patients with HF, 39% had HFpEF, 15% — HFmrEF, and 46% — HFrEF. A total of 57,2% of patients were rehospitalized due to decompensated HF within one year. Hospitalization risk was the highest for HFmrEF patients (66%, p=0,017). Reduced ejection fraction was associated with the increased risk of cardiovascular mortality (15,5% vs 5,4% in other groups, p<0,001) but not ischemic stroke (2,4% vs 3%, p=0,776). Patients with HFpEF had lower risk to achieve the composite endpoint (stroke+MI+cardiovascular death) as compared to patients with HFmrEF and HFrEF (12,7% vs 22% and 25,5%, p<0,001). Regression logistic analysis revealed that factors such as demographic characteristics, disease severity, and selected therapy had different effects on the risk of unfavorable outcomes depending on ejection fraction group.Conclusion. Each group of patients with different ejection fractions is characterized by its own pattern of factors associated with unfavorable outcomes. The demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with mid-range ejection fraction demonstrate that these patients need to be studied as a separate cohort.

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Pacemaker and conduction disturbances in patients with atrial septal defect

Cardiology in the Young ◽

10.1017/s1047951120001365 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (7) ◽

pp. 980-985 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Diana H. R. Albæk ◽

Sebastian Udholm ◽

Anne-Sif L. Ovesen ◽

Zarmiga Karunanithi ◽

Camilla Nyboe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Septal Defect ◽

Atrioventricular Block ◽

Right Bundle Branch Block ◽

Septal Defect ◽

Pacemaker Implantation ◽

Bundle Branch Block ◽

Conduction Disturbances ◽

Septal Defects ◽

Atrial Septal Defects ◽

Background Population

AbstractObjective:To determine the prevalence of pacemaker and conduction disturbances in patients with atrial septal defects.Design:All patients with an atrial septal defect born before 1994 were identified in the Danish National Patient Registry, and 297 patients were analysed for atrioventricular block, bradycardia, right bundle branch block, left anterior fascicular block, left posterior fascicular block, pacemaker, and mortality. Our results were compared with pre-existing data from a healthy background population. Further, outcomes were compared between patients with open atrial septal defects and atrial septal defects closed by surgery or transcatheter.Results:Most frequent findings were incomplete right bundle branch block (40.1%), left anterior fascicular block (3.7%), atrioventricular block (3.7%), and pacemaker (3.7%). Average age at pacemaker implantation was 32 years. Patients with defects closed surgically or by transcatheter had an increased prevalence of atrioventricular block (p < 0.01), incomplete right bundle branch block (p < 0.01), and left anterior fascicular block (p = 0.02) when compared to patients with unclosed atrial septal defects. At age above 25 years, there was a considerably higher prevalence of atrioventricular block (9.4% versus 0.1%) and complete right bundle branch block (1.9% versus 0.4%) when compared to the background cohorts.Conclusions:Patients with atrial septal defects have a considerably higher prevalence of conduction abnormalities when compared to the background population. Patients with surgically or transcatheter closed atrial septal defects demonstrated a higher demand for pacemaker and a higher prevalence of atrioventricular block, incomplete right bundle branch block, and left anterior fascicular block when compared to patients with unclosed atrial septal defects.

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