A Bayesian Interpretation of CABANA and Other Randomized Controlled Trials for Catheter Ablation in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Catheter ablation improves symptoms and quality of life in atrial fibrillation patients, but its effect on adverse cardiovascular outcomes and mortality remains uncertain. Bayesian analysis of randomized controlled trials offers a deeper understanding of treatment effects beyond conventional p-value thresholds.

Methods: We conducted a post hoc Bayesian reanalysis of CABANA and four similar trials to estimate catheter ablation's effect on cardiovascular and survival outcomes.

Direct oral anticoagulants versus vitamin K antagonists in patients with atrial fibrillation on chronic hemodialysis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Purpose: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and end-stage renal disease on chronic hemodialysis are at risk for thromboembolic and bleeding events. We aimed to perform a meta-analysis to evaluate the safety and efficacy of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) compared with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in this population.

Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE) and Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing DOACs with VKAs in patients with AF on chronic hemodialysis from inception to February 2023 in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Multipolar Ablation Using Mapping Electrodes: A Novel Approach to Intramural Arrhythmia Substrates.

Intramural ventricular arrhythmias are challenging to treat. Adjunctive techniques such as bipolar ablation, ethanol injection, use of a needle catheter, or surgery have been described. These are often not readily available.

Determinants of Early and Late In-Hospital Mortality After Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Subanalysis of the OBTAIN Registry.

Background: Predictors of in-hospital mortality after myocardial infarction (MI) have been reported dichotomously: survival vs death. Predictors of time from admission to death have not been reported.

Methods: A total of 7335 patients were enrolled in a prospective multicentre registry of acute MI.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement for Severe Symptomatic Aortic Stenosis in Rheumatic Heart Disease: A Systematic Review.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is well-established for severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS), but its use in rheumatic heart disease (RHD) has been limited. We systematically review the use of TAVR for severe symptomatic AS in RHD. Pubmed, Embase, and Scopus were searched for TAVR for symptomatic severe AS and proven or suspected RHD.

Sacubitril/valsartan versus angiotensin inhibitors and arrhythmia endpoints in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Background: Angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) therapy has been associated with improved survival for patients with symptomatic heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Objectives: We performed a meta-analysis of arrhythmia endpoints from studies comparing ARNI with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) for patients with HFrEF to assess for incremental benefit.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.

SGLT2 inhibitors decrease cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalizations in patients with heart failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors reduce the composite of heart failure (HF) hospitalizations or cardiovascular mortality among patients with HF. However, the efficacy of SGLT2 inhibitors in secondary endpoints of randomized trials and in subgroups of HF patients is not well known.

Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled, randomized trials of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with HF.

Association of SGLT2 inhibitors with arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death in patients with type 2 diabetes or heart failure: A meta-analysis of 34 randomized controlled trials.

Background: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) reduce hospitalizations and death from heart failure (HF), but their effect on arrhythmia expression has been poorly investigated.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of SGLT2is with arrhythmias in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) or HF.

Methods: We searched PubMed and ClinicalTrials.

Network meta-analysis of His bundle, biventricular, or right ventricular pacing as a primary strategy for advanced atrioventricular conduction disease with normal or mildly reduced ejection fraction.

Introduction: Although right ventricular pacing (RVP) may impair ventricular function, it is commonly used for advanced atrioventricular block (AVB) and normal or mildly reduced ejection fraction (EF). We aimed to compare His bundle pacing (HBP), biventricular pacing (BiVP), and RVP for advanced AVB in patients with normal or mildly reduced EF.

Methods And Results: MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, ClinicalTrials.

A 10-Year Trend Analysis of Heart Failure in the Less Developed Brazil.

Background: Data on heart failure (HF) epidemiology in less developed areas of Brazil are scarce.

Objective: Our aim was to determine the HF morbidity and mortality in Paraiba and Brazil and its 10-year trends.

Methods: A retrospective search was conducted from 2008 to 2017 using the DATASUS database and included patients ≥ 15 years old with a primary diagnosis of HF.

Right atrial myxoma with peripheral eosinophilia: Eosinophilia in cardiac myxoma.

Background: Cardiac myxoma is the most common type of primary cardiac tumors. It is known that inflammatory markers are increased in the setting of myxoma, like C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and interleukin-6. The association between cardiac myxoma and abnormal blood cell counts has been scarcely reported.

A meta-analysis of arrhythmia endpoints in randomized controlled trials of transendocardial stem cell injections for chronic ischemic heart disease.

Introduction: The electrophysiologic impact of cell-based therapy on the injured myocardium remains highly controversial. We aimed to perform a meta-analysis of studies comparing arrhythmia burden following transendocardial stem cell therapy vs placebo in patients with chronic ischemic heart disease (CIHD).

Methods And Results: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched.

Prevention of Stroke in Atrial Fibrillation After Coronary Stenting.

Background and Purpose- The optimal antithrombotic strategy to balance thromboembolic and bleeding events, especially acute stroke, for patients with atrial fibrillation following coronary stenting remains a matter of debate. We conducted a network meta-analysis to identify the antithrombotic regimen associated with the lowest rate of bleeding and thromboembolic events in atrial fibrillation after coronary stenting. Methods- PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Central were searched for randomized controlled trials and observational studies of patients with atrial fibrillation after coronary stenting.

Cryoballoon versus Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation in Atrial Fibrillation: A Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Radiofrequency (RF) and cryoballoon (CB) catheter ablation are effective for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in atrial fibrillation (AF). This report presents an updated meta-analysis comparing the efficacy and safety of CB versus RF ablations in AF.

Methods: Databases and conference abstracts were systematically searched for studies that directly compared CB and RF PVI, and reported safety or efficacy outcomes in follow-up ≥12 months.

The Prevalence of Atrial Fibrillation and Conduction Abnormalities in Chagas' Disease: A Meta-Analysis.

Background/objectives: Chagas' disease (CD) has been associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) and electrocardiographic (ECG) conduction defects. However, prior studies have shown conflicting results. We performed a meta-analysis comparing the prevalence of AF and conduction abnormalities between CD and non-CD patients.