Optimizing Heart Rate and Controlling Symptoms in Atrial Fibrillation

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Pragnesh Parikh ◽  
◽  
KL Venkatachalam ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Rate Control ◽  
Stroke Risk ◽  
Symptom Control ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Rhythm Control ◽  
Ventricular Rate ◽  
Control Methods ◽  
Novel Approaches

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia noted in clinical practice and its incidence and prevalence are on the rise. The single most important intervention is the evaluation and treatment of stroke risk. Once the risk for stroke has been minimized, controlling the ventricular rate and treating symptoms become relevant. In this review article, we emphasize the importance of confirming and treating the appropriate arrhythmia and correlating symptoms with rhythm changes. Furthermore, we evaluate some of the risk factors for AF that independently result in symptoms, underlining the need to treat these risk factors as part of symptom control. We then discuss existing and novel approaches to rate control in AF and briefly cover rhythm control methods.

scholarly journals Management strategies for atrial fibrillation and flutter in patients with transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Z Dale ◽  
P Chandrashekar ◽  
L Al-Rashdan ◽  
M Kim ◽  
A Masri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Rate Control ◽  
Cardiac Amyloidosis ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Nyha Class ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Symptomatic Improvement ◽  
Rhythm Control ◽  
Ventricular Rate ◽  
Ventricular Response

Abstract Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) and flutter (AFL) are common in transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CM). Ventricular rate control drugs in ATTR-CM are poorly tolerated but data addressing tolerability and efficacy of rhythm control strategies is limited. Purpose We report characteristics and outcomes of AF/AFL in a cohort with ATTR-CM. Methods A single center observational study of patients seen at our Amyloidosis Center with wild-type or hereditary ATTR-CM diagnosed between 2005–2019. Treatment was prescribed as per treating cardiologists. Results Eighty-four patients with ATTR-CM (average age 74±10 years, 94% male) had mean follow-up of 27.6±22.8 months. AF/AFL occurred in 61 patients (73%). Clinically significant rapid ventricular response (RVR) was common as well attempted rate control with AV node blockers (Table 1). However, discontinuation was frequent (80%), often for adverse effects of hypotension (33%), bradycardia (15%), or presyncope/syncope (10%). Rhythm control was initiated in 64%, most often with cardioversion (DCCV) or ablation (Table 2). Post-DCCV recurrence was common (91%) and time to recurrence did not differ with use of anti-arrhythmic drugs (AAD; 5.8 months (IQR 1.9–12.5) vs without AAD 6.2 months (IQR 1.9–12.5) p=0.83). TEE was performed for 33% of DCCV with thrombus seen in 11% of cases – all patients who were not anticoagulated at the time. TEE was otherwise deferred due to known AF/AFL duration <48 hours (13%) or adequate anticoagulation (54%). Ablation was performed in 23% of patients with AFL (all for typical AFL) with 2 patients (14%) having recurrence after mean of 60.9 months. Pulmonary vein isolation for AF was performed in 12% (86% for persistent AF) with 86% recurrence after median of 6.2 months (IQR 5.6–12.3). Most patients (62%) with rhythm control had subjective improvement (≥1 NYHA class or resolved palpitations). Among AAD, amiodarone was most well tolerated with only 8% of patient discontinuing due to side effects. DCCV and ablation resulted in no direct complications although one patient had a perforation of a previously unknown Zenker diverticulum during TEE pre-DCCV. Conclusions In our ATTR-CM cohort, AF/AFL was common. Rate control was poorly tolerated and often abandoned. While rhythm control of AF/AFL had a favorable safety profile and successful conversion to sinus rhythm led to symptomatic improvement in a majority of cases, durable success with rhythm control was limited, often requiring multiple therapies. DCCV is only modestly successful and not significant improved with AAD. Ablation was successful in cases of cavo-tricuspid isthmus dependent AFL but had limited success in AF. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

scholarly journals Current Evidence and Recommendations for Rate Control in Atrial Fibrillation

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abhishek Maan ◽  
Moussa Mansour ◽  
Jeremy N Ruskin ◽  
E Kevin Heist ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Catheter Ablation ◽  
Rate Control ◽  
Treatment Strategy ◽  
Antiarrhythmic Drugs ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Rhythm Control ◽  
Ventricular Rate ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Substantial Risk

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice, which is associated with substantial risk of stroke and thromboembolism. As an arrhythmia that is particularly common in the elderly, it is an important contributor towards morbidity and mortality. Ventricular rate control has been a preferred and therapeutically convenient treatment strategy for the management of AF. Recent research in the field of rhythm control has led to the advent of newer antiarrhythmic drugs and catheter ablation techniques as newer therapeutic options. Currently available antiarrhythmic drugs still remain limited by their suboptimal efficacy and significant adverse effects. Catheter ablation as a newer modality to achieve sinus rhythm (SR) continues to evolve, but data on long-term outcomes on its efficacy and mortality outcomes are not yet available. Despite these current developments, rate control continues to be the front-line treatment strategy, especially in older and minimally symptomatic patients who might not tolerate the antiarrhythmic drug treatment. This review article discusses the current evidence and recommendations for ventricular rate control in the management of AF. We also highlight the considerations for rhythm control strategy in the management of patients of AF.

scholarly journals Stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation: comparison of recent international guidelines

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_O) ◽  
pp. O53-O60
Author(s):  
Tze-Fan Chao ◽  
Milan A Nedeljkovic ◽  
Gregory Y H Lip ◽  
Tatjana S Potpara
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Stroke Prevention ◽  
Stroke Risk ◽  
Care Pathway ◽  
Symptom Control ◽  
Bleeding Risk ◽  
Low Risk

Abstract Stroke prevention is one of the cornerstones of management in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). As part of the ABC (Atrial fibrillation Better Care) pathway (A: Avoid stroke/Anticoagulation; B: Better symptom control; C: Cardiovascular risk and comorbidity optimisation), stroke risk assessment and appropriate thromboprophylaxis is emphasised. Various guidelines have addressed stroke prevention. In this review, we compared the 2017 APHRS, 2018 ACCP, 2019 ACC/AHA/HRS, and 2020 ESC AF guidelines regarding the stroke/bleeding risk assessment and recommendations about the use of OAC. We also aimed to highlight some unique points for each of those guidelines. All four guidelines recommend the use of the CHA2DS2-VASc score for stroke risk assessment, and OAC (preferably NOACs in all NOAC-eligible patients) is recommended for AF patients with a CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥2 (males) or ≥3 (females). Guidelines also emphasize the importance of stroke risk reassessments at periodic intervals (e.g. 4–6 months) to inform treatment decisions (e.g. initiation of OAC in patients no longer at low risk of stroke) and address potentially modifiable bleeding risk factors.

scholarly journals Antiarrhythmic therapy for atrial fibrillation: current guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology and the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (ESC/EACTS)

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 2962
Author(s):  
A. I. Tarzimanova ◽  
V. L. Doshchitsin
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Thoracic Surgery ◽  
European Society ◽  
Rate Control ◽  
European Association ◽  
Rhythm Control ◽  
Ventricular Rate ◽  
Thromboembolic Events ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
European Society Of Cardiology

The treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) remains one of the most difficult tasks in modern cardiology. In 2020, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), together with the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS), published guidelines for the diagnosis and management of AF, which include several new directives.ESC experts have formulated a novel concept for treatment of AF patients. The first component of treatment ‘A' (Anticoagulation/ Avoid stroke) is anticoagulant therapy in patients with increased risk of thromboembolic events. The second line of treatment ‘B' (Better symptom control) is the control of arrhythmia symptoms, selection of a rhythm control strategy or ventricular rate control. The third direction ‘C' includes cardiovascular risk factors and comorbid conditions management.The most challenging tasks in AF treatment are the control of arrhythmia symptoms. As in the previous version of 2016 guidelines, the latest ones identify 2 following strategies in treatment of AF: rhythm control and ventricular rate control.According to the current ESC/EACTS guidelines (2020), antiarrhythmic therapy continues to be one of the important directions in AF management. Early prescription f antiarrhythmic and anticoagulant agents with an increased risk of thromboembolic events, catheter ablation can not only improve the quality of life, but also the prognosis of patients with AF.

scholarly journals Use of rate control medication before cardioversion of recent-onset atrial fibrillation or flutter in the emergency department is associated with reduced success rates

CJEM ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 14 (03) ◽  
pp. 169-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel E. Blecher ◽  
Ian G. Stiell ◽  
Brian H. Rowe ◽  
Eddy Lang ◽  
Robert J. Brison ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Rate Control ◽  
Rhythm Control ◽  
Electrical Cardioversion ◽  
Ventricular Rate ◽  
Recent Onset ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Onset Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Control Medication

ABSTRACTObjective:It is believed that when patients present to the emergency department (ED) with recent-onset atrial fibrillation or flutter (RAFF), controlling the ventricular rate before cardioversion improves the success rate. We evaluated the influence of rate control medication and other variables on the success of cardioversion.Methods:This secondary analysis of a medical records review comprised 1,068 patients with RAFF who presented to eight Canadian EDs over 12 months. Univariate analysis was performed to find associations between predictors of conversion to sinus rhythm including use of rate control, rhythm control, and other variables. Predictive variables were incorporated into the multivariate model to calculate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) associated with successful cardioversion.Results:A total of 634 patients underwent attempted cardioversion: 428 electrical, 354 chemical, and 148 both. Adjusted ORs for factors associated with successful electrical cardioversion were use of rate control medication, 0.39 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.21-0.74); rhythm control medication, 0.28 (95% CI 0.15-0.53); and CHADS2score > 0, 0.43 (95% CI 0.15-0.83). ORs for factors associated with successful chemical cardioversion were use of rate control medication, 1.29 (95% CI 0.82-2.03); female sex, 2.37 (95% CI 1.50-3.72); and use of procainamide, 2.32 (95% CI 1.43-3.74).Conclusion:We demonstrated reduced successful electrical cardioversion of RAFF when patients were pretreated with either rate or rhythm control medication. Although rate control medication was not associated with increased success of chemical cardioversion, use of procainamide was. Slowing the ventricular rate prior to cardioversion should be avoided.

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