Comparing the Efficacy of Carvedilol and Flecainide on the Treatment of Idiopathic Premature Ventricular Complexes from Ventricular Outflow Tract: A Multicenter, Randomized, Open-Label Pilot Study.

The mechanism of premature ventricular complexes (PVC) occurring in the ventricular outflow tract (OT) is related to an intracellular calcium overload and delayed afterdepolarizations that lead to triggered activity. The guidelines recommend using beta-blockers and flecainide for idiopathic PVCs, but they also acknowledge the limited evidence supporting this recommendation. We conducted a multicenter, randomized, open-label pilot study comparing the effect of carvedilol and flecainide on OT PVC, which are widely used to treat this arrhythmia.

The higher recurrence rate after catheter ablation in younger patients with atrial fibrillation suggesting different pathophysiology.

Background: Young atrial fibrillation (AF) patients have been underrepresented in studies of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) and the outcome of RFCA has not been widely addressed. We investigated age-related differences in clinical features, the recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmia, and its predictors of patients who underwent RFCA for AF.

Methods: This is a multicenter prospective study of 2799 patients who underwent RFCA for AF in 2017-2020.

XaMINA: A Real-World, Prospective, Observational Study of Treatment-Naïve Patients Treated with Rivaroxaban for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation in Asia.

Introduction: The efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism have been demonstrated in Asian and non-Asian patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) in multiple studies. However, limited published data exist on its use specifically in treatment-naïve patients from the Asia region. Patients in South Korea and Taiwan can now receive rivaroxaban as first-line therapy, allowing for data generation in this patient group.

Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Prolonged Dual Antiplatelet Therapy according to Baseline Anemia after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) depending on baseline anemia after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Materials And Methods: Among the 1470 study participants, 448 (30.5%) were classified as having baseline anemia.

Long-term clinical impact of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol target attainment according to lesion complexity after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objective: Long-term clinical outcomes of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) target attainment according to coronary lesion complexity are limited. We investigated the clinical outcomes of LDL-C target attainment after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) according to coronary lesion complexity.

Methods: A total of 1285 patients who underwent PCI was categorized by LDL-C target attainment at 1 year and lesion complexity: LDL-C levels less than or equal to 70 mg/dl ( n = 179) and greater than 70 mg/dl ( n = 308) in complex PCI; LDL-C levels less than or equal to 70 mg/dl ( n = 315) and greater than 70 mg/dl ( n = 483) in noncomplex PCI.

Long-term effects of the mean hemoglobin A1c levels after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with diabetes.

Background/aims: The clinical benefit of strict blood glucose-lowering therapy for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is still debated. We aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes of patients with diabetes who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), according to the mean hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level after PCI.

Methods: We evaluated 675 diabetes patients with CAD treated with PCI.

Electrocardiographic Manifestations in Patients with COVID-19: Daegu in South Korea.

Background And Objectives: As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spreads worldwide, cardiac injury in patients infected with COVID-19 becomes a significant concern. Thus, this study investigates the impact of several electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters and disease severity in COVID-19 patients.

Methods: Seven medical centers in Daegu admitted 822 patients with COVID-19 between February and April 2020.

Clinical impact of blood pressure variability in patients with COVID-19 and hypertension.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between blood pressure variability (BPV) and clinical outcomes in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and hypertension.

Methods: A total of 136 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were enrolled in this study. Patients were grouped according to the presence of hypertension and BPV.

Clinical Implication of 'Obesity Paradox' in Elderly Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background: The clinical impact of body mass index (BMI), especially in the elderly with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), has not been sufficiently evaluated. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the clinical impact of BMI in very old patients (≥80 years) with AMI.

Methods: The study analysed 2,489 AMI patients aged ≥80 years from the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry and the Korea Working Group on Myocardial Infarction (KAMIR/KorMI) registries between November 2005 and March 2012.

A prospective, observational study of rivaroxaban for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation: the XANAP Korea.

Background/aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF)-related stroke accounts for 20% of ischemic strokes. Rivaroxaban use in AF patients for preventing stroke and systemic embolism was approved in 2013 in Korea. This study was to investigate the safety and effectiveness of rivaroxaban use in Korean patients with non-valvular AF in a real-world setting.

Clinical Impact of Dysglycemia in Patients with an Acute Myocardial Infarction.

This study aimed to determine the impact of dysglycemia on myocardial injury and cardiac dysfunction in acute myocardial infarctions (AMIs). From 2005 to 2016, a total of 1,593 patients with AMIs who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention were enrolled. The patients were classified into five groups according to the admission glucose level: ≤80, 81 to 140, 141 to 200, 201 to 260, and ≥261 mg/dL.

Impact of Oxidative Stress on Long-Term Heart Rate Variability: Linear Versus Non-Linear Heart Rate Dynamics.

Background: Heart rate variability (HRV) is a widely used non-invasive and quantitative marker of cardiac autonomic control. Elevated oxidative stress (OS) and reduced HRV have been proven in specific disease subsets. However, the impact of OS on the long-term heart rate dynamics of both conventional linear and non-linear origin in the general population is not known.

Status of international normalized ratio control and treatment patterns in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation taking vitamin K antagonist with or without antiplatelet therapy: Results from KORAFII registry.

Background: Studies have shown that the concomitant use of a vitamin K antagonist (VKA) and an antiplatelet (APL) drug increased the bleeding risk and was less effective at preventing ischemic events. This study aimed to investigate the control status of international normalized ratio (INR) and the discontinuation rate of a VKA in patients taking VKA plus an APL drug compared with those taking a VKA alone.

Methods: Data were extracted from the KORean Atrial Fibrillation Investigation II registry, a multicenter noninterventional prospective observational study.

Long-term clinical outcomes according to the mean observed blood pressure in patients with coronary artery disease after drug-eluting stent implantation.

Background: A recent guideline emphasized strict blood pressure (BP) control for the patients at high risk for cardiovascular events. However, there are little data about the relationship between BP control and clinical outcome in Korea. We sought to evaluate the clinical outcomes according to the mean observed BP in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) who had undergone drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation.

Rationale, design, and endpoints of the 'DEvice-Detected CArdiac Tachyarrhythmic Events and Sleep-disordered Breathing (DEDiCATES)' study: Prospective multicenter observational study of device-detected tachyarrhythmia and sleep-disordered breathing.

Background: Few studies have investigated the prognostic value of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED)-detection of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) for risk stratification of cardiovascular events. In the Device-Detected CArdiac Tachyarrhythmic events and Sleep-disordered breathing (DEDiCATES) study, we aim to determine whether device-detected SDB events are associated with increased risk of cardiac arrhythmias or other cardiovascular outcomes.

Methods And Design: Six-hundred patients (300 patients with low-voltage pacing devices and 300 with high-voltage defibrillator devices) who have dual chamber CIEDs with AP Scan™ function (Boston Scientific Inc.

Quality of Anticoagulation and Treatment Satisfaction in Patients with Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation Treated with Vitamin K Antagonist: Result from the KORean Atrial Fibrillation Investigation II.

Background: Vitamin K antagonist (VKA) to prevent thromboembolism in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients has limitations such as drug interaction. This study investigated the clinical characteristics of Korean patients treated with VKA for stroke prevention and assessed quality of VKA therapy and treatment satisfaction.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter, prospective, non-interventional study.

Discordant Relationships between Systemic Inflammatory Markers and Burden of Oxidative Stress in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

Background And Objectives: Oxidative stress (OS) plays an important role in the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation (AF) by amplifying the inflammatory cascade, wherein augmented inflammation facilitates the atrial electrical remodeling process. Few studies have investigated the possible link between systemic inflammation and OS in AF.

Subjects And Methods: A total of 220 consecutive patients with AF (117 patients) or healthy controls (103 patients) were enrolled.

Normative Values of Short-Term Heart Rate Variability Parameters in Koreans and Their Clinical Value for the Prediction of Mortality.

Background: Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis is an important clinical tool for characterising cardiac autonomic status. We sought to determine the normative values and characteristics of the HRV parameters derived from a short-term study in Koreans and to determine their clinical role in predicting mortality.

Methods: A total of 1828 consecutive patients (range 20-84 years, men 64.

Effectiveness of Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Therapy for Heart Failure Patients according to Ischemic or Non-Ischemic Etiology in Korea.

Background And Objectives: This study was performed to describe clinical characteristics of patients with left ventriculars (LV) dysfunction and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), and to evaluate the effect of ICD therapy on survival in Yeongnam province of Korea.

Subjects And Methods: From a community-based device registry (9 centers, Yeongnam province, from November 1999 to September 2012), 146 patients with LV dysfunction and an ICD implanted for primary or secondary prophylaxis, were analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups, based on the etiology (73 with ischemic cardiomyopathy and 73 with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy), and indication for the device implantation (36 for primary prevention and 110 for secondary prevention).

The efficacy and safety of co-administration of fimasartan and rosuvastatin to patients with hypertension and dyslipidemia.

Background: Hypertension and dyslipidemia are major risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the co-administration of fimasartan and rosuvastatin in patients with hypertension and hypercholesterolemia.

Methods: We conducted a randomized double-blind and parallel-group trial.