Heart rate and death and hospitalization for heart failure in patients with persistent or permanent atrial fibrillation: Insights from the ARISTOTLE trial.

Rate control is fundamental in the treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The independent association of heart rate with outcomes and range of heart rate associated with best outcomes remains uncertain. We assessed the relationship between heart rate and clinical outcomes in patients with persistent or permanent AF enrolled in the randomized, double-blind ARISTOTLE trial.

Trends in Oral Anticoagulant Use Among 436 864 Patients With Atrial Fibrillation in Community Practice, 2011 to 2020.

Background Among patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) and an elevated stroke risk, guidelines recommend direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) over warfarin for stroke prevention. Changes in DOAC use over the past decade have not been well described. Methods and Results We evaluated trends in use of DOACs and warfarin from 2011 to 2020 among adults with AF and a CHADS-VASc score ≥2 based on electronic health record data from 88 health systems in the United States contributing to Cerner Real World Data.

Siddha fasting in morbidly obese heart failure patients achieves significant weight loss and reduces hospitalization.

Two thirds of heart failure (HF) patients are overweight or obese. Current guidelines are unclear about weight reduction goals. We explored impact of Heartful Living (HL,) a cardiologist-led Self-Inquiry (Si) mindfulness program targeting deeper insight and resilience to promote intentional weight loss in morbidly obese HF patients.

Helicobacter pylori infection selectively increases the risk for carotid atherosclerosis in young males.

Background And Aims: Atherosclerosis is an important contributing factor to cardiovascular mortality. The role of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in atherosclerosis is inconsistent and sometimes controversial.

Effect of Catheter Ablation vs Antiarrhythmic Drug Therapy on Mortality, Stroke, Bleeding, and Cardiac Arrest Among Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: The CABANA Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Catheter ablation is effective in restoring sinus rhythm in atrial fibrillation (AF), but its effects on long-term mortality and stroke risk are uncertain.

Objective: To determine whether catheter ablation is more effective than conventional medical therapy for improving outcomes in AF.

Design, Setting, And Participants: The Catheter Ablation vs Antiarrhythmic Drug Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation trial is an investigator-initiated, open-label, multicenter, randomized trial involving 126 centers in 10 countries.

Effect of Apixaban on All-Cause Death in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: a Meta-Analysis Based on Imputed Placebo Effect.

Purpose: Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) are the standard of care for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF); therefore, there is not equipoise when comparing newer oral anticoagulants with placebo in this setting.

Methods: To explore the effect of apixaban on mortality in patients with AF, we performed a meta-analysis of apixaban versus placebo using a putative placebo analysis based on randomized controlled clinical trials that compared warfarin, aspirin, and no antithrombotic control. We used data from two prospective randomized controlled trials for our comparison of apixaban versus warfarin (Apixaban for Reduction in Stroke and Other Thromboembolic Events in Atrial Fibrillation) and apixaban versus aspirin (Apixaban Versus Acetylsalicylic Acid to Prevent Stroke in Atrial Fibrillation Patients Who Have Failed or Are Unsuitable for Vitamin K Antagonist Treatment).

Atrial Fibrillation In Athletes: Pathophysiology, Clinical Presentation, Evaluation and Management.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia in athletes, especially in middle-aged athletes. Studies have demonstrated that athletes who engage in endurance sports such as runners, cyclists and skiers are more prone to AF than other athletes. The effects of exercise on the onset and progression of AF is complex.

Anticoagulation therapy and clinical outcomes in patients with recently diagnosed atrial fibrillation: Insights from the ARISTOTLE trial.

Background: Evidence supporting use of antithrombotic therapy in atrial fibrillation (AF) is based mainly on data from patients with permanent, persistent, or paroxysmal AF. Less is known about the risk following a new diagnosis of AF and the efficacy and safety of apixaban in these patients.

Methods: Using data from ARISTOTLE, we assessed the relationship between timing of AF diagnosis and clinical outcomes and the efficacy and safety of apixaban versus warfarin in these patients.

Management of Periprocedural Anticoagulation: A Survey of Contemporary Practice.

Interruption of oral anticoagulation (AC) for surgery or an invasive procedure is a complicated process. Practice guidelines provide only general recommendations, and care of such patients occurs across multiple specialties. The availability of direct oral anticoagulants further complicates decision making and guidance here is limited.

Stroke prevention in the elderly atrial fibrillation patient with comorbid conditions: focus on non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants.

Stroke prevention in elderly atrial fibrillation patients remains a challenge. There is a high risk of stroke and systemic thromboembolism but also a high risk of bleeding if anticoagulants are prescribed. The elderly have increased chronic kidney disease, coronary artery disease, polypharmacy, and overall frailty.

Practical management of anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation has become more complex due to the introduction of new anticoagulant agents, the number and kinds of patients requiring therapy, and the interactions of those patients in the matrix of care. The management of anticoagulation has become a "team sport" involving multiple specialties in multiple sites of care. The American College of Cardiology, through the College's Anticoagulation Initiative, convened a roundtable of experts from multiple specialties to discuss topics important to the management of patients requiring anticoagulation and to make expert recommendations on issues such as the initiation and interruption of anticoagulation, quality of anticoagulation care, management of major and minor bleeding, and treatment of special populations.

The Long-Term Multicenter Observational Study of Dabigatran Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation (RELY-ABLE) Study.

Background: During follow-up of between 1 and 3 years in the Randomized Evaluation of Long-term Anticoagulation Therapy (RE-LY) trial, 2 doses of dabigatran etexilate were shown to be effective and safe for the prevention of stroke or systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation. There is a need for longer-term follow-up of patients on dabigatran and for further data comparing the 2 dabigatran doses.

Methods And Results: Patients randomly assigned to dabigatran in RE-LY were eligible for the Long-term Multicenter Extension of Dabigatran Treatment in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation (RELY-ABLE) trial if they had not permanently discontinued study medication at the time of their final RE-LY study visit.

Bleeding during treatment with aspirin versus apixaban in patients with atrial fibrillation unsuitable for warfarin: the apixaban versus acetylsalicylic acid to prevent stroke in atrial fibrillation patients who have failed or are unsuitable for vitamin K antagonist treatment (AVERROES) trial.

Background And Purpose: Apixaban reduces stroke with comparable bleeding risks when compared with aspirin in patients with atrial fibrillation who are unsuitable for vitamin k antagonist therapy. This analysis explores patterns of bleeding and defines bleeding risks based on stroke risk with apixaban and aspirin.

Methods: The Apixaban versus Acetylsalicylic Acid to Prevent Stroke in Atrial Fibrillation Patients Who Have Failed or Are Unsuitable for Vitamin k Antagonist Treatment (AVERROES) trial randomized 5599 patients with atrial fibrillation and risk factors to receive either apixaban or aspirin.

High prevalence of iatrogenic hyperthyroidism in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation in an anticoagulation clinic.

In elderly patients with established atrial fibrillation (AF) who are receiving thyroid replacement, regular testing for thyroid function is often not performed, placing the patient at risk for iatrogenic hyperthyroidism. Of 215 patients followed in an anticoagulation clinic, 41 were receiving thyroid replacement and 15 of these were found to have hyperthyroidism. Eight had documented AF coincident with abnormal thyroid function.

Electrocardiographic clues to identify nonresponders to cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Background: The aim of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is to restore myocardial electromechanical synchrony. Achieving this in patients with chronic severe heart failure due to poor left ventricular (LV) systolic function and cardiac dyssynchrony on optimal medical therapy, is associated with improved clinical performance and outcomes. Up to one-third of patients undergoing CRT do not benefit from implantation.

Quality of life effects of automatic external defibrillators in the home: results from the Home Automatic External Defibrillator Trial (HAT).

Background: Public access automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) can save lives, but most deaths from out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest occur at home. The Home Automatic External Defibrillator Trial (HAT) found no survival advantage for adding a home AED to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training for 7,001 patients with a prior anterior wall myocardial infarction. Quality of life (QOL) outcomes for both the patient and spouse/companion were secondary end points.

Cognitive function and anticoagulation control in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Patients with atrial fibrillation usually are elderly and may have cognitive dysfunction. These patients may receive less effective oral anticoagulation, resulting in more vascular events and bleeding.

Methods And Results: In an analysis of cognitive function associated with the time in therapeutic range (TTR) in the Atrial Fibrillation Clopidogrel Trial With Irbesartan for Prevention of Vascular Events, 2510 patients (mean age, 71+/-9.

Electric cardioversion of atrial fibrillation.

Electrical cardioversion (EC) has been performed for atrial fibrillation (AF) for over 40 years. EC is safe, effective and reliable method for aborting AF especially in unstable situations. Numerous technical and patient characteristics contribute to the success of EC.

Drug-induced QT prolongation and sudden death.

Prolongation of the QT interval can predispose to a potentially fatal polymorphic ventricular tachycardia called torsades de pointes (TdP). Although usually self-limited, TdP may degenerate into ventricular fibrillation and cause sudden death. Some medications that cause QT prolongation and possible TdP are commonly used in general practice.

The development and application of the implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

Several years ago, implantable defibrillators were recommended only for survivors of cardiac arrest. With improvement of surgical techniques and advancement in technology, defibrillator implantation is now considered an outpatient procedure. Clinical trials have now demonstrated improvement in survival in high risk patients who receive defibrillators which has greatly increased the number of defibrillators implanted.

Antiplatelet therapy for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation.

Warfarin has been the cornerstone therapy for stroke prevention in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), particularly in patients at high risk of ischemic stroke or thromboembolism. Warfarin use in NVAF results in a 64% relative reduction in the incidence of ischemic stroke and several trials have demonstrated warfarin to be superior to aspirin alone (relative risk reduction-22%). However, anticoagulation with warfarin is associated with increased bleeding, especially in the elderly population.

Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and risk of subsequent heart failure in patients following an acute myocardial infarction.

Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) is an important measure of ventricular performance and may identify patients at increased risk for developing late clinical symptoms of heart failure (HF). The primary outcome in this analysis of 744 patients from the Survival and Ventricular Enlargement (SAVE) trial was the development of death or HF over a mean time of 36 months. The mean LVEDP for all patients was 23+/-9 mm Hg, and 75% of participants (n=558) had an LVEDP >15 mm Hg.

Risks and benefits of combining aspirin with anticoagulant therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation: an exploratory analysis of stroke prevention using an oral thrombin inhibitor in atrial fibrillation (SPORTIF) trials.

Background: Aspirin is used in combination with anticoagulant therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), but evidence of additional efficacy is not available.

Methods: We compared ischemic events and bleeding in the SPORTIF III and IV randomized trials of anticoagulation with warfarin (international normalized ratio 2-3) or fixed-dose ximelagatran. Low-dose aspirin (<100 mg/d) was allowed based on prevailing guidelines.