AbstractAims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) haemodynamics is less well studied due to challenges explained by the nature of AF. Until now, no randomized data are available. This study evaluates haemodynamic variables after AF induction in a randomized setting.

Methods and results: Forty-two patients with AF who had been referred for ablation to the University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden, and had no arrhythmias during the 4-day screening period were randomized to AF induction vs. control (2:1). Atrial fibrillation was induced by burst pacing after baseline intracardiac pressure measurements. Pressure changes in the right and left atrium (RA and LA), right ventricle (RV), and systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP and DBP) were evaluated 30 min after AF induction compared with the control group. A total of 11 women and 31 men (median age 60) with similar baseline characteristics were included (intervention n = 27, control group n = 15). After 30 min in AF, the RV end-diastolic pressure (RVEDP) and RV systolic pressure (RVSP) significantly reduced compared with baseline and between randomization groups (RVEDP: P = 0.016; RVSP: P = 0.001). Atrial fibrillation induction increased DBP in the intervention group compared with the control group (P = 0.02), unlike reactions in SBP (P = 0.178). Right atrium and LA mean pressure (RAm and LAm) responses did not differ significantly between the groups (RAm: P = 0.307; LAm: P = 0.784).

Conclusion: Induced AF increased DBP and decreased RVEDP and RVSP. Our results allow us to understand some paroxysmal AF haemodynamics, which provides a haemodynamic rationale to support rhythm regulatory strategies to improve symptoms and outcomes.

Trial registration number clinicaltrialsgov: No NCT01553045. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01553045?term=NCT01553045&rank=1.

Background: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)is an important treatment option for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). During RFA, a significant amount of energy is delivered into the left atrium (LA), resulting in considerable LA-injury. The impact of this damage on mechanical and endocrine LA-function, however, is often disregarded.We therefore aimed to evaluate the endocrine- and mechanical function of the heart 4-months after RFA of AF.

Methods: In total 189 patients eligible for RFA of AF were studied. The levels of the N-terminal pro-B-natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and the mid-regional fragment of the N-terminal pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP)were measured. The maximum LAvolume (LAVmax),the LAejection fraction (LAEF) and the LA peak longitudinal strain (PALS), were measured usingtransthoracic echocardiography. The measurements were performed before and 4-months after the intervention.

Results: 87 patients had a recurrence during a mean follow-up of 143±36 days.NT-proBNPand MR-proANPdecreased significantly at follow-up. This reduction was greater in patients who did not suffer any recurrence after RFA.The LAVmax decreased significantly, whereasthe PALS only improved in patients who did not suffer from any recurrence. On the other hand, LAEF did not change significantly after RFA of AF.

Conclusions: Despite extensiveablation during RFA of AF, the endocrine function of the heart improved 4-months after the index procedure. Patients with no arrhythmia recurrence showed a more pronounced improvement in their endocrinal function. Mechanically, the LAVmax was reduced, and the LA strain improved significantly.

Background: Surgical cryothermia and radiofrequency (RF) ablations for atrial fibrillation (AF) seem to result in similar sinus rhythm restoration, but the biochemical consequences of the two methods are unclear. We aimed to compare the biochemical responses to the two ablative methods in concomitant mitral valve surgery (MVS).

Methods: Sixty mitral valve surgery patients with AF were prospectively included. Forty-one patients planned for ablation were randomized to cryothermia (n = 20) or radiofrequency (n = 21) ablation and 19 served as controls. Markers for myocardial injury, inflammation, cell stress, apoptosis, and heart failure were analyzed pre- and postoperatively at different time points.

Results: Troponin T and creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CK-MB) peak levels were significantly higher in the cryothermia group compared with the RF group (12,805 [6140–15,700] vs. 2790 [1880–4180] ng/L; P = 0.002 and 271 [217–357] vs. 79 [66–93] μg/L; P < 0.001, respectively). Both groups had significantly higher levels than the no-ablation group. There were no group differences in C-reactive protein (CRP) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), but there were correlations between pre- and postoperative levels of both CRP (rs = 0.41, P = 0.001) and NT-proBNP (rs = 0.48, P < 0.001). Protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR-1) and heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) were significantly increased in the cryoablation group.

Conclusions: Cryoablation results in a larger myocardial injury and possibly more elevated apoptotic activity and cell stress compared with the RF technique. The type of ablation device did not have any significant influence on the postoperative inflammatory response nor on the early postoperative levels of NT-proBNP.

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Premature ventricular complex (PVC) is common in the general population. Symptoms vary from none to pronounced. The prognostic significance of PVCs depends on the presence of underlying structural heart disease. The clinical evaluation in patients with PVC aims at excluding structural heart disease and usually involves transthoracic echocardiogram and Holter. Patients without structural heart disease usually have a good prognosis. Frequent PVCs may cause impaired left ventricular function, which usually is reversible after treatment with drugs or ablation. A 12-lead ECG provides important information about PVC localization, however anatomical factors such as the hearts localization in the thorax as well as electrode placement and pharmacological treatment may affect the ECG appearance. In symptomatic patients with or without left ventricular impairment, pharmacological treatment or catheter ablation is indicated. However, in most cases the main goal is to reasure the patient of the good prognosis. To summarize, treatment of choice depends on symptoms, comorbidities, left ventricular function and patients choice.

Ventrikulära extraslag (VES) är vanliga och förekommer hos patienter med eller utan strukturell hjärtsjukdom.

Deras prognostiska betydelse är kopplad till eventuellunderliggande hjärtsjukdom. En basal utredning inbegriper ekokardiografi samt Holter-EKG för kvantifieringav VES-börda och symtomkorrelation. Prognosen är god i frånvaro av strukturell hjärtsjukdom.

Vid förekomst av kardiell påverkan eller symtomföreligger indikation för behandling med läkemedel ellerkateterablation. 12-avlednings-EKG ger bra informationom var i hjärtat extraslagen har sitt ursprung. För dets tora flertalet gäller exspektans med information om eni regel god prognos. 

Background

Information on alcohol consumption in patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) is often limited by the reliance on self-reports. The aim of this study was to describe the long-term alcohol consumption, measured as ethyl glucuronide in hair (hEtG), in patients undergoing RFA due to AF, and to examine potential associations with cardiac biomarkers, left atrial size and re-ablation within one year after the initial RFA.

Methods

The amount of hEtG was measured in patients referred for RFA, and a cut-off of 7 pg/mg was used. N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and the mid-regional fragment of pro atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) were examined and maximum left atrium volume index (LAVI) was measured. The number of re-ablations was examined up to one year after the initial RFA. Analyses were stratified by gender, and adjusted for age, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, presence of heart failure and heart rhythm for analyses regarding NT-proBNP, MR-proANP and LAVI and heart rhythm being replaced by type of AF for analyses regarding re-ablation.

Results

In total, 192 patients were included in the study. Median (25th– 75th percentile) NT-proBNP in men with hEtG ≥ 7 vs. < 7 pg/mg was 250 (96–695) vs. 130 (49–346) pg/ml (p = 0.010), and in women it was 230 (125–480) vs. 230 (125–910) pg/ml (p = 0.810). Median MR-proANP in men with hEtG ≥ 7 vs. < 7 pg/mg was 142 (100–224) vs. 117 (83–179) pmol/l (p = 0.120) and in women it was 139 (112–206) vs. 153 (93–249) pmol/l (p = 0.965). The median of maximum LAVI was 30.1 (26.7–33.9) vs. 25.8 (21.4–32.0) ml/m2 (p = 0.017) in men, and 25.0 (18.9–29.6) vs. 25.7 (21.7–34.6) ml/m2 (p = 0.438) in women, with hEtG ≥ 7 vs. < 7 pg/ml, respectively. Adjusted analyses showed similar results, except for MR-proANP turning out significant in men with hEtG ≥ 7 vs. < 7 pg/mg (p = 0.047). The odds ratio of having a re-ablation was 3.5 (95% CI 1.3–9.6, p = 0.017) in men with hEtG ≥ 7 vs. < 7 pg/mg, while there was no significant difference in women.

Conclusions

In male patients with AF and hEtG ≥ 7 pg/mg, NT-proBNP and MR-proANP were higher, LA volumes larger, and there was a higher rate of re-ablations, as compared to men with hEtG < 7 pg/mg. This implies that men with an alcohol consumption corresponding to an hEtG-value ≥ 7, have a higher risk for LA remodelling that could potentially lead to a deterioration of the AF situation.

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with substantial morbidity, in particular stroke. Despite good evidence for the reduction of stroke risk with anticoagulant therapy, there remains significant undertreatment. The main aim of the current study was to investigate whether a clinical decision support tool (CDS) for stroke prevention integrated in the electronic health record could improve adherence to guidelines for stroke prevention in patients with AF.

Methods and findings

We conducted a cluster-randomized trial where all 43 primary care clinics in the county of Östergötland, Sweden (population 444,347), were randomized to be part of the CDS intervention or to serve as controls. The CDS produced an alert for physicians responsible for patients with AF and at increased risk for thromboembolism (according to the CHA2DS2-VASc algorithm) without anticoagulant therapy. The primary endpoint was adherence to guidelines after 1 year. After randomization, there were 22 and 21 primary care clinics in the CDS and control groups, respectively. There were no significant differences in baseline adherence to guidelines regarding anticoagulant therapy between the 2 groups (CDS group 70.3% [5,186/7,370; 95% CI 62.9%–77.7%], control group 70.0% [4,187/6,009; 95% CI 60.4%–79.6%], p = 0.83). After 12 months, analysis with linear regression with adjustment for primary care clinic size and adherence to guidelines at baseline revealed a significant increase in guideline adherence in the CDS (73.0%, 95% CI 64.6%–81.4%) versus the control group (71.2%, 95% CI 60.8%–81.6%, p = 0.013, with a treatment effect estimate of 0.016 [95% CI 0.003–0.028]; number of patients with AF included in the final analysis 8,292 and 6,508 in the CDS and control group, respectively). Over the study period, there was no difference in the incidence of stroke, transient ischemic attack, or systemic thromboembolism in the CDS group versus the control group (49 [95% CI 43–55] per 1,000 patients with AF in the CDS group compared to 47 [95% CI 39–55] per 1,000 patients with AF in the control group, p = 0.64). Regarding safety, the CDS group had a lower incidence of significant bleeding, with events in 12 (95% CI 9–15) per 1,000 patients with AF compared to 16 (95% CI 12–20) per 1,000 patients with AF in the control group (p = 0.04). Limitations of the study design include that the analysis was carried out in a catchment area with a high baseline adherence rate, and issues regarding reproducibility to other regions.

Conclusions

The present study demonstrates that a CDS can increase guideline adherence for anticoagulant therapy in patients with AF. Even though the observed difference was small, this is the first randomized study to our knowledge indicating beneficial effects with a CDS in patients with AF.

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with substantial morbidity, in particular stroke. Despite good evidence for the reduction of stroke risk with anticoagulant therapy, there remains a significant undertreatment. The main aim of the current study is to investigate whethera clinical decision support tool for stroke prevention (CDS) integrated in the electronic health record can improve adherence to guidelines for stroke prevention in patients with AF. Methods We will conduct a cluster randomized trial where 43 primary care clinics in the county of Ostergotland, Sweden (population 444,347), will be randomized to be part of the CDS intervention or serve as controls. The CDS will alert responsible physicians of patients with AF and increased risk for thromboembolism according to the CHA(2)DS(2)VASc (Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age 74 years, Diabetes mellitus, previous Stroke/TIA/thromboembolism, Vascular disease, Age 65-74 years, Sex category (i.e. female sex)) algorithm without anticoagulant therapy. The primary end point will be adherence to guidelines after 1 year. Conclusion The present study will investigate whether a clinical decision support system integrated in an electronic health record can increase adherence to guidelines regarding anticoagulant therapy in patients with AF.

Conclusions Anxiety, depression, and low-grade inflammation were the factors that predicted both arrhythmia-related symptoms and HRQoL in patients with AF. Obesity was the most significant predictor of patient general physical status. These factors need to be addressed in patients with AF to improve management of their disease. Intensive risk factor modification can be of great importance. (Reasons for Variations in Health Related Quality of Life and Symptom Burden in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation [SMURF]; NCT01553045)

INTRODUCTION: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, with an estimated prevalence of 1.5-2%. It is an independent risk factor for ischaemic stroke and is estimated to cause about 20-25% of all stroke cases. AF has a great impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL); however, one unresolved issue related to AF is the wide variation in its symptoms.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The symptom burden, metabolic profile, ultrasound findings, rhythm, neurohormonal activation, haemodynamics and HRQoL in patients with AF (Symptom burden, Metabolic profile, Ultrasound findings, Rhythm, neurohormonal activation, haemodynamics and health-related quality of life in patients with atrial Fibrillation, SMURF) study is a prospective observational, cohort study, with a randomised interventional part. The aim of the study is to investigate, in patients with AF, the relationship between symptom burden and metabolic aspects, atrial function and different neurohormones, and the effect of radiofrequency ablation (RFA). The interventional part of the study will give an insight into the neurohormonal and intracardiac pressure changes directly after initiation of AF. Consecutive patients with symptomatic AF accepted for treatment with RFA for the first time at Linköping University Hospital are eligible for participation. The enrolment started in January 2012, and a total of 200 patients are to be included into the study, with 45 of them being enrolled into the interventional study with initiation of AF. The sample size of the interventional study is based on a small pilot study with 5 patients induced to AF while 2 served as controls. The results indicated that, in order to find a statistically significant difference, there was a need to include 28 patients; for safety reasons, 45 patients will be included.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The SMURF study is approved by the Regional Ethical Review Board at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping, Sweden. The results will be presented through peer-review journals and conference presentation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01553045; Pre-results.