Differences in Healthcare Use Between Patients With Persistent and Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing Catheter-Based Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: A Population-Based Cohort Study From Ontario, Canada.

Background Patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing catheter-based AF ablation have lower success rates than those with paroxysmal AF. We compared healthcare use and clinical outcomes between patients according to their AF subtypes. Methods and Results Consecutive patients undergoing AF ablation were prospectively identified from a population-based registry in Ontario, Canada.

Pacemaker-detected atrial fibrillation in patients with pacemakers: prevalence, predictors, and current use of oral anticoagulation.

Background: Dual-chamber pacemakers frequently document atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients without symptoms. Pacemaker-detected AF is associated with a 2.5-fold increased risk of stroke, although it is not established whether oral anticoagulation reduces this risk.

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shock prevention does not reduce mortality: a systemic review.

Background: Mortality is increased among implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) recipients who receive shocks; however, whether shocks cause this increase or are simply a marker of risk is unknown. Antiarrhythmic medications, catheter ablation, and enhanced ICD programming all may reduce ICD shocks, but whether shock reduction decreases mortality is unknown.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis to estimate the impact of ICD shock reduction on survival.

Predictors of atrio-ventricular conduction disease, long-term outcomes in patients with myotonic dystrophy types I and II.

Background: Patients with myotonic dystrophy (DM) have an annual mortality of approximately 3.5%, one-third of which is sudden cardiac death. The predictors of cardiac conduction disease in these patients are incompletely defined.