Publications by authors named "Kobza R"
Background: There is some evidence of reduced major cardiovascular event (MACE) rates associated with moderate coffee consumption in the general population. However, there is concern about the potential risks of coffee consumption in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association between coffee consumption and MACE in AF patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Atrial fibrillation is an independent risk factor for the development of cognitive impairments. Regular coffee consumption has shown cognitive benefits in healthy individuals. Whether regular consumption reduces cognitive decline in vulnerable patients is controversial.
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- The study investigates the significance of cardiac troponin (cTn) levels in predicting mortality in patients with Takotsubo syndrome (TTS), analyzing data from the International Takotsubo Registry.
- It identifies that a cTn increase greater than 28.8 times the upper reference limit signals clinically relevant myocardial injury, correlating with a higher risk of mortality over 5 years (adjusted HR 1.58).
- The findings enhance understanding of patient risk profiles in TTS, emphasizing the need for increased monitoring and follow-up for those with significant troponin elevations.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated changes in demographics, risk factors, clinical presentations, and outcomes of takotsubo syndrome (TTS) patients from 2004 to 2021, using data from the InterTAK registry.
- Over the years, the proportion of male patients increased, and there was a rise in cases of midventricular TTS as well as significant growth in the incidence of physical triggers.
- There was also a notable increase in 60-day mortality rates, although no significant change in 1-year mortality when excluding early deaths was observed, indicating a complex evolution of TTS and its management in recent years.
Objectives: Sex differences occur in atrial fibrillation (AF), including age at first manifestation, pathophysiology, treatment allocation, complication rates and quality of life. However, optimal doses of cardiovascular pharmacotherapy used in women with AF with or without heart failure (HF) are unclear. We investigated sex-specific associations of beta-blocker and renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitor doses with cardiovascular outcomes in patients with AF or AF with concomitant HF.
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- * The study examined the effects of tafamidis on tissue factor (TF) expression and activity in human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs), revealing that tafamidis significantly reduces TF levels when induced by inflammatory signals.
- * This reduction in TF activity suggests that tafamidis may help lower the risk of blood clots (thromboembolic complications) in patients with ATTR cardiomyopathy, providing insights into its potential benefits beyond just stabilizing TTR.
Article Synopsis
- * In a study of 1,265 AF patients, those with heart failure (HFpEF and HFrEF) faced significantly higher risks of hospitalisation due to heart failure, mortality, and progression of AF compared to those without HF.
- * HFpEF patients received the fewest rhythm control interventions and reported the poorest quality of life, indicating a critical need for better treatments in this population.
Arrhythmias manifest frequently in individuals with heart failure, posing a notable threat of mortality and morbidity. While the prevention of sudden cardiac death through ICD therapy remains pivotal, accurate risk stratification remains a challenging task even in 2024. Recent data underscore the early consideration of catheter ablation for ventricular tachycardias.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims: High-power ablation is effective for ventricular arrhythmia ablation; however, it increases the risk of steam pops. The aim of this study was to define the safety and efficacy of QMODE ablation in the ventricle and the risk of steam pop.
Methods And Results: Consecutive patients undergoing ventricular ablation using QDOT were included in a prospective single-centre registry.
Article Synopsis
- There are significant sex-specific differences in acute heart failure (AHF), indicating a need for separate evaluation of treatments for men and women.
- In a multicenter trial of 781 AHF patients, women were older, less weighted, and had lower kidney function compared to men, with a notable difference in treatment outcomes.
- The study found that the rapid increase of RAAS inhibitors was less effective in women, which may contribute to their higher rates of mortality and rehospitalization due to AHF.
Article Synopsis
- Reducing venous drainage from the coronary sinus using the CSR System™ can alleviate symptoms and enhance quality of life for patients with refractory angina.
- This case series reports on three patients, confirming that cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is workable for those with the CSR implant, including the successful extraction of a left ventricular lead.
- While CRT shows promise, caution is advised when considering lead extraction due to potential complications, suggesting that alternative approaches should be explored early in treatment.
Background: Device patients may require upgrade interventions from simpler to more complex cardiac implantable electronic devices. Prior to upgrading interventions, clinicians need to balance the risks and benefits of transvenous lead extraction (TLE), additional lead implantation or lead abandonment. However, evidence on procedural outcomes of TLE at the time of device upgrade is scarce.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: To assess the associations of chocolate consumption with neurocognitive function, brain lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and cardiovascular outcome in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).
Methods: We analysed data from patients of two prospective multicentre Swiss atrial fibrillation cohort studies (Swiss-AF) and (BEAT-AF). Assessments of MRI findings and neurocognitive function were performed only in the Swiss-AF population (in 1727 of 2415 patients [71.
Article Synopsis
- Researchers developed a machine learning model to predict in-hospital death risk in Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) patients using data from over 3,400 individuals.
- The model included 31 clinical variables and achieved strong performance results, with AUC values indicating high accuracy in identifying patients at risk of death.
- Clustering analysis revealed six distinct patient groups with varying in-hospital death rates, demonstrating the model's ability to stratify risk profiles effectively.
Background Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) face an increased risk of death and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). We aimed to assess the predictive value of the novel atrial-specific biomarker BMP10 (bone morphogenetic protein 10) for death and MACE in patients with AF in comparison with NT-proBNP (N-terminal prohormone of B-type natriuretic peptide). Methods and Results BMP10 and NT-proBNP were measured in patients with AF enrolled in Swiss-AF (Swiss Atrial Fibrillation Study), a prospective multicenter cohort study.
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- The study evaluates a new method for transseptal puncture (TSP) that uses a specialized pulsed field ablation (PFA) sheath for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), aiming to enhance safety and efficiency.
- Researchers enrolled 100 patients and successfully performed TSP using the PFA sheath without any complications, taking a median time of 12 minutes for the procedure.
- The results indicate that this simplified workflow is safe, could lower the risk of air embolism, decrease overall procedure time, and potentially cut costs.
Current guidelines recommend vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) for the treatment of a left ventricular thrombus (LVT). However, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) show superior safety and efficacy compared with VKAs in most thromboembolic disorders. Nevertheless, DOACs remain poorly investigated for the treatment of LVT.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Very high-power, short-duration (90-W/4-second) ablation for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) may reduce procedural times. However, shorter applications with higher power may impact lesion quality.
Objectives: In this multicenter, randomized controlled trial, the authors compared procedural efficiency, efficacy, and safety of PVI using 90-W/4-second ablation to 35/50-W ablation.
Background: Left ventricular (LV) unloading via the percutaneous micro-axial Impella pump is increasingly used in patients with anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and overt cardiogenic shock. In this context, the evolution of cardiac function and dimensions beyond hospital discharge remains uncertain. We aimed to characterize echocardiographic changes over time in patients with acute anterior STEMI treated with an Impella device.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA Transient Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy? We report on a 79-year-old female patient after blunt chest trauma. Based on T-negative findings on 12-lead ECG and apical left ventricular hypertrophy on echocardiography and cardiac MRI examination, apical hypertrophic cardiopathy was postulated. Subsequently, it was shown that these findings were present only transiently and completely normalized in the course.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: In the last decade, newer generation ICD leads have been developed based on mechanistic insides of priorly failing leads. The aim of our study was to assess the long-term performance and mechanisms of failure of the 2013-introduced Biotronik Protego ICD lead in a real-world population. Methods: All patients, who underwent implantation of a Protego ICD lead at the Heart Centre Lucerne (Lucerne, Switzerland) between November 2013 and March 2017, were followed up with semi-annual device-controls.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: One-third of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) have an indication for long-term oral anticoagulation (OAC).
Aims: We aimed to investigate whether continued non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC) therapy compared with continued vitamin K antagonist (VKA) therapy during TAVI is equally safe and effective. Methods: Consecutive patients on OAC with either NOAC or VKA undergoing transfemoral TAVI at five European centres were enrolled.