Modelling projections for the uptake of edoxaban in an European population to 2050: effects on stroke, thromboembolism, and health economics perspectives.

Aims: In the coming decades, the number of Europeans with atrial fibrillation (AF) is set to rise as the population ages, and so with it will the number of strokes. The risk of thromboembolism (principally stroke and systemic embolism) and death can be reduced by the use of the vitamin K antagonists (VKA, e.g.

Impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on prognosis in atrial fibrillation: A report from the EURObservational Research Programme Pilot Survey on Atrial Fibrillation (EORP-AF) General Registry.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common chronic disease, being associated with both high rates of morbidity and mortality. Similarly, atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with a higher risk of both cardiovascular (CV) events and overall mortality. The AF and COPD often coexist, but the impact of COPD on prognosis in European AF patients is unknown.

Clinically guided pacemaker choice and setting: pacemaker expert programming study.

Aim: The aim of this multicentre, observational, transversal study was to evaluate pacemaker (PM) choice and setting in a large number of patients, in order to understand their relationship with the patients' clinical characteristics.

Methods And Results: The study enrolled a total of 1858 patients (71 ± 14 years, 54% male), consecutively evaluated during scheduled PM follow-up visits in 7 Italian cardiac arrhythmia centres. To evaluate the appropriateness of PM choice in relation to the patients' clinical characteristics, we analysed their rhythm disorders at the time of device implantation and the characteristics of the devices implanted.

Outcomes with Dronedarone in Atrial Fibrillation: What Differences Between Real-World Practice and Trials? A Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression Analysis.

Dronedarone was found to have divergent safety profiles in randomized controlled trials (RCT) in term of cardiac death and overall mortality. We decided to evaluate all available evidence on the cardiovascular safety of this drug. A systematic search was made of the MEDLINE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from January 2003 through April 2016 for RCT comparing dronedarone to placebo/active control, to provide the most accurate estimate of the effects of this agent and observational cohort studies (OBS) reporting clinical outcomes in patients treated with dronedarone, according to current guidelines, to obtain a real-life comparator for the findings summarized by RTC analysis.

The wearable cardioverter-defibrillator: current technology and evolving indications.

The wearable cardioverter-defibrillator has been available for over a decade and now is frequently prescribed for patients deemed at high arrhythmic risk in whom the underlying pathology is potentially reversible or who are awaiting an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. The use of the wearable cardioverter-defibrillator is included in the new 2015 ESC guidelines for the management of ventricular arrhythmias and prevention of sudden cardiac death. The present review provides insight into the current technology and an overview of this approach.

Effects of remote monitoring on clinical outcomes and use of healthcare resources in heart failure patients with biventricular defibrillators: results of the MORE-CARE multicentre randomized controlled trial.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of remote monitoring in patients with heart failure implanted with a biventricular defibrillator (CRT-D) with advanced diagnostics.

Methods And Results: The MORE-CARE trial is an international, prospective, multicentre, randomized controlled trial. Within 8 weeks of de novo implant of a CRT-D, patients were randomized to undergo remote checks alternating with in-office follow-ups (Remote arm) or in-office follow-ups alone (Standard arm).

Glomerular filtration rate in patients with atrial fibrillation and 1-year outcomes.

We assessed 1-year outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation enrolled in the EurObservational Research Programme AF General Pilot Registry (EORP-AF), in relation to kidney function, as assessed by glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). In a cohort of 2398 patients (median age 69 years; 61% male), eGFR (ml/min/1.73 m(2)) calculated using the CKD-EPI formula was ≥80 in 35.

Prognostic implications of mitral regurgitation in patients after cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Aim: Mitral regurgitation (MR) is a common finding in patients with heart failure with debatable effects on prognosis. Reduction in MR is one of the mechanisms by which cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) exerts its beneficial effects. We investigated the prognostic impact of baseline MR and MR persistence after CRT on outcomes of treated patients.

Psychological correlates, allostatic overload and clinical course in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).

Background: Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is a key treatment option for both primary and secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death. Despite this, there is a growing number of studies showing that ICD is often associated with post-implantation deleterious psychosocial effects, even in the absence of medical complications. Knowledge about the predictive role of pre-ICD psychological profile is scant.

Automatic management of atrial and ventricular stimulation in a contemporary unselected population of pacemaker recipients: the ESSENTIAL Registry.

Aims: We investigated the applicability of the Ventricular Capture Control (VCC) and Atrial Capture Control (ACC) algorithms for automatic management of cardiac stimulation featured by Biotronik pacemakers in a broad, unselected population of pacemaker recipients.

Methods And Results: Ventricular Capture Control and Atrial Capture Control were programmed to work at a maximum adapted output voltage as 4.8 V in consecutive recipients of Biotronik pacemakers.

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator programming and electrical storm: Results of the OBSERVational registry On long-term outcome of ICD patients (OBSERVO-ICD).

Background: Electrical storm (ES) is defined as 3 or more episodes of ventricular fibrillation (VF) or ventricular tachycardia (VT) within 24 hours and is associated with increased cardiac and all-cause mortality.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to test whether aggressive implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) programming can be associated with ES.

Methods: The OBSERVational registry On long-term outcome of ICD patients (OBSERVO-ICD) is a multicenter, retrospective registry enrolling all consecutive patients undergoing ICD implantation from 2010 to 2012 in 5 Italian high-volume arrhythmia centers.

Usefulness of Electrocardiographic Patterns at Presentation to Predict Long-term Risk of Cardiac Death in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

The objective of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) patterns in a large multicenter cohort of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; 1,004 consecutive patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and a recorded standard ECG (64% men, mean age 50 ± 16 years) were evaluated at 4 Italian centers. The study end points were sudden cardiac death (SCD) or surrogates, including appropriate implanted cardiac defibrillator discharge and resuscitated cardiac arrest and major cardiovascular events (including SCD or surrogates and death due to heart failure, cardioembolic stroke, or heart transplantation). Prevalence of baseline electrocardiographic characteristics was: normal ECG 4%, ST-segment depression 56%, pseudonecrosis waves 33%, "pseudo-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)" pattern 17%, QRS duration ≥120 ms 17%, giant inverted T waves 6%, and low QRS voltages 3%.

Effect of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy on Left Atrial Size and Function as Expressed by Speckle Tracking 2-Dimensional Strain.

Changes in left atrial (LA) strain in patients treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) remain not entirely explored. We prospectively evaluated long-term changes in LA size and function and their relation with left ventricular (LV) reverse remodeling and noninvasive hemodynamic variables in patients treated with CRT by 2-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography. Thirty patients (62 ± 11 years, 63% men) underwent 2-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography before implant and after 12 months.

P-wave Variability and Atrial Fibrillation.

The analysis of P-wave template has been widely used to extract indices of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) risk stratification. The aim of this paper was to assess the potential of the analysis of the P-wave variability over time in patients suffering from atrial fibrillation. P-wave features extracted from P-wave template together with novel indices of P-wave variability have been estimated in a population of patients suffering from persistent AF and compared to those extracted from control subjects.

Atrial fibrillation burden and atrial fibrillation type: Clinical significance and impact on the risk of stroke and decision making for long-term anticoagulation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia increasing the risk of morbidity and adverse outcomes (stroke, heart failure, death). AF is found in 1-2% of the general population, with increasing prevalence with aging. Its exact epidemiological profile is incomplete and underestimated, because 10-40% of AF patients (particularly the elderly) can be asymptomatic ("clinically silent or subclinical AF"), with occasional electrocardiographic diagnosis.

'Real-world' atrial fibrillation management in Europe: observations from the 2-year follow-up of the EURObservational Research Programme-Atrial Fibrillation General Registry Pilot Phase.

Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is commonly associated with a high risk of stroke, thromboembolism, and mortality. The 1-year follow-up of the EURObservational Research Programme-Atrial Fibrillation (EORP-AF) Pilot Registry demonstrated a high mortality but good outcomes with European Society of Cardiology guideline-adherent therapy. Whether these 'real-world' observations on patients managed by European cardiologists extend to 2 years remains uncertain.

Cardiac device therapy in patients with left ventricular dysfunction and heart failure: 'real-world' data on long-term outcomes (mortality, hospitalizations, days alive and out of hospital).

Background: The impact on long-term outcomes of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and biventricular defibrillators for cardiac resynchronization (CRT-D) devices in 'real world' patients with heart failure (HF) needs to be assessed in terms of clinical effectiveness.

Methods And Results: A registry including consecutive HF patients who underwent a first implant of an ICD (891 patients) or a CRT-D device (709 patients) in 2006-2010 was followed (median 1487 days and 1516 days, respectively), collecting administrative data on survival, all-cause hospitalizations, cardiovascular or HF hospitalizations, and days alive and out of hospital (DAOH). Survival free from death/cardiac transplant was 61.

Electrocardiographic Eligibility for Subcutaneous Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator: Evaluation during Bicycle Exercise.

Background: The subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) is used in patients at risk of sudden death. Our aim was to assess clinical predictors of electrocardiographic ineligibility for S-ICD, and the impact of exercise on S-ICD eligibility in an unselected series of patients requiring ICD therapy.

Methods: 102 patients at risk of sudden death were evaluated at rest and during exercise.

Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy With a Quadripolar Electrode Lead Decreases Complications at 6 Months: Results of the MORE-CRT Randomized Trial.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that a quadripolar left ventricular (LV) lead results in fewer LV lead-related events than a bipolar cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) system in a prospective randomized trial.

Background: Bipolar LV leads cannot be implanted at the optimal site in up to 10% of patients who need CRT, because of anatomic or technical challenges (pacing threshold, phrenic stimulation, or mechanical instability).

Methods: The MORE-CRT (More Options Available With a Quadripolar LV Lead Provide In-Clinic Solutions to CRT Challenges) trial enrolled 1,078 patients.