Previous Exercise Levels and Outcome in Patients with New Atrial Fibrillation: "Past Achievements Do Not Predict the Future".

Introduction: Long-term endurance exercise is suspect to elevate the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), but little is known about cardiovascular outcome and disease progression in this subgroup of AF patients. We investigated whether previous exercise level determines cardiovascular outcome.

Methods: In this post hoc analysis of the RACE 4 randomized trial, we analyzed all patients with a completed questionnaire on sports participation.

Effects of a simple cardiac rehabilitation program on improvement of self-reported physical activity in atrial fibrillation - Data from the RACE 3 study.

Background And Aim: Physical inactivity is associated with an increased prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF). We aim to evaluate whether cardiac rehabilitation (CR) motivates patients to become and stay physical active, and whether CR affects sinus rhythm maintenance and quality of life (QoL) in patients with persistent AF and moderate heart failure.

Methods: In the Routine versus Aggressive risk factor driven upstream rhythm Control for prevention of Early atrial fibrillation in heart failure study patients were randomized to conventional or targeted therapy.

Nurse-led vs. usual-care for atrial fibrillation.

Background: Nurse-led integrated care is expected to improve outcome of patients with atrial fibrillation compared with usual-care provided by a medical specialist.

Methods And Results: We randomized 1375 patients with atrial fibrillation (64 ± 10 years, 44% women, 57% had CHA2DS2-VASc ≥ 2) to receive nurse-led care or usual-care. Nurse-led care was provided by specialized nurses using a decision-support tool, in consultation with the cardiologist.

Effectiveness and safety of dabigatran versus acenocoumarol in 'real-world' patients with atrial fibrillation.

Aims: Randomized trials showed non-inferior or superior results of the non-vitamin-K-antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) compared with warfarin. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of dabigatran (direct thrombin inhibitor) vs. acenocoumarol (vitamin K antagonist) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in daily clinical practice.