scholarly journals Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Patients in the Polish Atrial Fibrillation (POL-AF) Registry

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 1091
Author(s):  
Marek Kiliszek ◽  
Beata Uziębło-Życzkowska ◽  
Iwona Gorczyca ◽  
Małgorzata Maciorowska ◽  
Olga Jelonek ◽  
...  

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) can cause severe symptoms, but it is frequently asymptomatic. We aimed to compare the clinical features of patients with asymptomatic and symptomatic AF. Methods: A prospective, observational, multicenter study was performed (the Polish Atrial Fibrillation (POL-AF) registry). Consecutive hospitalized AF patients over 18 years of age were enrolled at ten centers. The data were collected for two weeks during each month of 2019. Results: A total of 2785 patients were analyzed, of whom 1360 were asymptomatic (48.8%). Asymptomatic patients were more frequently observed to have coronary artery disease (57.5% vs. 49.1%, p < 0.0001), heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (39.8% vs. 26.5%, p < 0.0001), a previous thromboembolic event (18.2% vs. 13.1%, p = 0.0002), and paroxysmal AF (52.3% vs. 45.2%, p = 0.0002). In multivariate analysis, history of electrical cardioversion, paroxysmal AF, heart failure, coronary artery disease, previous thromboembolic event, and higher left ventricular ejection fraction were predictors of a lack of AF symptoms. First-diagnosed AF was a predictor of AF symptoms. Conclusions: In comparison to symptomatic patients, more of those hospitalized with asymptomatic AF had been previously diagnosed with this arrhythmia and other cardiovascular diseases. However, they presented with better left ventricular function and were more frequently treated with cardiovascular medicines.

Open Heart ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. e001165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Lamblin ◽  
Sandro Ninni ◽  
Olivier Tricot ◽  
Thibaud Meurice ◽  
Gilles Lemesle ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo assess secondary prevention and outcomes in patients with chronic coronary artery disease (CAD), atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF), focusing on disease overlap.MethodsWe analysed the data of 10 517 outpatients with a diagnosis of CAD, AF and/or HF included in a prospective cohort study. Follow-up (median 3.2 years) was achieved in 10 478 (99.6%) patients. Seven mutually exclusive patient groups were formed: CAD alone (n=4303), AF alone (n=2604), CAD+AF (n=700), HF alone (n=513), HF+CAD (n=728), HF+AF (n=1087) and HF+CAD+AF (n=582).ResultsPatients with disease overlaps represented 29.4% of the total population. The level of secondary prevention was high in all subgroups and in accordance with European class I – level A guidelines. Among patients with CAD, 99% received an antithrombotic and 91% received a statin. Among patients with AF, 81.7% were treated with an anticoagulant if indicated. Among HF patients with left ventricular ejection fraction <40%, 90.9% received a renin-angiotensin system antagonist and 91% a beta-blocker. Three-year all cause/cardiovascular mortality rates were: 6.4%/2%, 9.7%/3.3%, 15.6%/6.7%, 19.2%/9.4%, 24.3%/13.6%, 28%/15.7% and 35.4%/24.8%, for patients with CAD alone, AF alone, CAD+AF, HF alone, HF+CAD, HF+AF and HF+CAD+AF, respectively. In all groups with HF, observed all-cause mortality was higher (p<0.0001) than expected mortality for age-matched, gender-matched and geography-matched persons. In contrast, observed mortality was lower than expected for patients with CAD alone and AF alone (p<0.0001).ConclusionsIn a context of adequate secondary prevention, overlap between diseases is a frequent and high-risk situation with incremental increases in mortality. These patients deserve specific attention.


Author(s):  
Natasha K Wolfe ◽  
Joshua D Mitchell ◽  
David L Brown

Abstract Aims Guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) is underutilized in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, there are no studies evaluating the impact of GDMT adherence on mortality among patients with CAD and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). We sought to investigate the association of GDMT adherence with long-term mortality in patients with CAD and HFrEF. Methods and results Surgical Treatment for Ischaemic Heart Failure (STICH) was a trial of patients with an left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35% and CAD amenable to coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) who were randomized to CABG plus medical therapy (N = 610) or medical therapy alone (N = 602). Median follow-up time was 9.8 years. We defined GDMT for the treatment of CAD and HFrEF as the combination of at least one antiplatelet drug, a statin, a beta-blocker, and an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Assessment of the independent association between GDMT and mortality was performed using multivariable Cox regression with GDMT as a time-dependent covariate. In the CABG arm, 63.6% of patients were on GDMT throughout the study period compared to 66.5% of patients in the medical therapy arm (P = 0.3). GDMT was independently associated with a significant reduction in mortality (hazard ratio 0.65, 95% confidence interval 0.56–0.76; P &lt; 0.001). Conclusion GDMT is associated with reduced mortality in patients with CAD and HFrEF independent of revascularization with CABG. Strategies to improve GDMT adherence in this population are needed to maximize survival.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 389-406 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. V. Kokhan ◽  
G. K. Kiyakbaev ◽  
Z. D. Kobalava

Numerous studies have demonstrated the negative prognostic value of tachycardia, both in the general population and in specific subgroups, including patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), arterial hypertension (HTN) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). In the latest edition of the European guidlines for the treatment of HTN the level of heart rate (HR) exceeding 80 beats per minute is highlighted as a separate independent predictor of adverse outcomes. However, the feasibility of pharmacological reduction of HR in patients with sinus rhythm is unclear. Unlike patients with reduced ejection fraction, in whom the positive effects of HR reduction are well established, the data on the effect of pharmacological HR reduction on the prognosis of patients with HTN, CAD and/or HFpEF are not so unambiguous. Some adverse effects of pharmacological correction of HR in such patients, which may be caused by a change in the aortic pressure waveform with its increase in late systole in the presence of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, are discussed. The reviewed data underline the complexity of the problem of clinical and prognostic significance of increased HR and its correction in patients with HTN, stable CAD and/or HFpEF.


2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Gallucci ◽  
Ilaria Ronga ◽  
Andrea Fontanella ◽  
Generoso Uomo ◽  
And the FASHION Study Group

Heart failure (HF) is characterized by a high prevalence and hospitalization rate with considerable health and social impact; the knowledge of its epidemiological features remains the mainstay to assess adequacy of the health care needs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of HF in Internal Medicine Units of the Campania region (Italy) and patients’ characteristics. We recruited all patients with HF admitted between April 1 and June 30, 2014, in 23 Units of Internal Medicine: 975 patients (19.5% of 5000 admissions), 518 women and 457 men, mean age 76.9±9.9 (range 34-100) with 741 (76%) older than 70 years. The mean age was higher in women than men; 35.8% of patients had atrial fibrillation, with higher prevalence in women than in men. Coronary artery disease represented the leading etiology while prevalence of non-ischemic heart failure was higher in women. New York Heart Association class was indicated in 926 patients. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was measured in 503 patients; 18.4% of patients had a severely reduced LVEF&lt;35%, mostly men (P=0.0001) and 67.4% presented a LVEF&gt;40%. At least one hospital admission in the previous 12 months was registered in 39.6% of patients. One, two and more than two relevant comorbidities were present in 8.6%, 24.7% and 64.8% of patients, respectively. Arterial hypertension and coronary artery disease were more frequent in female. In conclusion, advanced age and clinical complexity were the main characteristics of HF patients hospitalized in the Internal Medicine Units in Campania. Gender differences also emerged from the analysis of demographic parameters and etiopathogenetic features. Some diagnostic and therapeutic aspects not in line with that recommended by the most recent HF international guidelines were registered.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document