Empagliflozin's role in reducing ventricular repolarization heterogeneity: insights into cardiovascular mortality decline from the EMPATHY-HEART trial.

Background: The incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) and sudden cardiac death (SCD) is significantly higher in individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) than in the general population. Strategies for the prevention of fatal arrhythmias are often insufficient, highlighting the need for additional non-invasive diagnostic tools. The T-wave heterogeneity (TWH) index measures variations in ventricular repolarization and has emerged as a promising predictor for severe ventricular arrhythmias.

Misuse of antithrombotic therapy in atrial fibrillation patients: frequent, pervasive and persistent.

Purpose: To assess the use of antithrombotic therapy among atrial fibrillation (AF) patients in a Brazilian University Heart Hospital (InCor).

Methods And Results: In a cross-sectional study we analyzed the charts of all patients treated at InCor in five separate days of 2002 (Phase 1). To assess the impact of admission to a cardiology hospital, a follow-up of the AF patients selected in Phase 1 was carried out after 1 year (Phase 2).