Publications by authors named "Konsta Teppo"
Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major risk factor for ischemic stroke (IS), but whether the magnitude of this risk has changed over time is unknown.
Objectives: This study sought to investigate temporal trends in IS rates in patients with incident AF before oral anticoagulant agent (OAC) therapy.
Methods: The nationwide FinACAF (Finnish Anticoagulation in Atrial Fibrillation) study covers patients with AF at all levels of care in Finland from 2007 to 2018.
Objectives: Elevations of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) levels are common after strenuous exercise. We assessed whether the composition of cTnT release after marathon race differs from that of acute myocardial infarction (MI).
Methods: Troponin composition was analysed in plasma samples taken from 45 runners after marathon race and from 84 patients with type 1 MI.
Background: Catheter ablation is a well-established treatment to prevent atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL) recurrences and to relieve symptoms, whereas pacemaker implantation and atrioventricular node (AVN) ablation is used for rate control when medical therapy fails.
Aims: We investigated temporal trends and patient characteristics in catheter ablation procedures for AF, AFL and AVN in Finland between 2012-2018.
Methods: Finnish AntiCoagulation in Atrial Fibrillation (FinACAF) is a registry-based study including all patients with AF or AFL in Finland between 2012-2018.
Novel troponin fragmentation assay to discriminate between Takotsubo syndrome and acute myocardial infarction.
Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care
December 2024
Article Synopsis
- Cardiac troponin levels, elevated in Takotsubo syndrome (TTS), show significant overlap with acute myocardial infarction (MI), prompting a study on their fragmentation.
- The study measured long forms of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) in TTS (24 patients) versus Type 1 MI (84 patients), finding a notably lower troponin ratio in TTS, which indicates different cTnT fragmentation patterns.
- Results suggest that the troponin ratio is more effective than total cTnT in differentiating between TTS and MI, highlighting its potential as a diagnostic tool for elevated cTnT levels.
Article Synopsis
- Atrial fibrillation (AF) patients often need rhythm control therapy, and the study explored whether there are gender disparities in the use of antiarrhythmic therapies (AATs) among these patients in Finland from 2007-2018.
- Out of 229,565 patients studied, women were older, had different health profiles compared to men, and were treated with AATs less frequently, with 17.6% of women and 25.1% of men receiving treatment.
- Interestingly, while women received antiarrhythmic drugs more often across all ages, they underwent fewer cardioversion and ablation procedures, especially those under 65 years old.
Background And Aims: We examined temporal trends and age-related differences in the prevalence of vascular diseases and in their association with ischemic stroke (IS) risk in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).
Methods: The registry-based FinACAF study covered all patients with AF in Finland during 2007-2018. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of IS were computed with Poisson regression, and the interaction of vascular diseases with age and calendar year period was assessed.
Objectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with increased mortality. Previous studies have reported conflicting results in temporal trends of mortality after AF diagnosis. We aim to address this disparity by investigating the 1-year mortality and causes of death in Finnish patients diagnosed with AF between 2010 and 2017.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study analyzed changes in the predictive value of a risk score (CHADS-VA) for ischaemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in Finland from 2007 to 2018.
- Researchers found that early on, the CHADS-VA score was less effective than the CHADS-VASc score, but this changed over time, with CHADS-VA performing better by the end of the study.
- The results suggest that as the risk associated with female sex decreased, the CHADS-VA score gained relevance, indicating a need to adapt stroke risk assessments over time.
Background: We conducted a comparative analysis of hypertension prevalence, progression, and treatment in two Finnish population-based cohorts comprising older adults born 20 years apart. The study covered data from pre- and post-HYVET Study eras and spanned the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: All 70-year-old home-dwelling citizens of Turku, in Southwest Finland, were invited to participate in the survey in 1990 (1920-born TUVA cohort) and in 2010 (1940-born UTUVA cohort) with a 25-year follow-up plan.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how time-in-therapeutic-range (TTR) impacts the effectiveness and safety of warfarin compared to direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).
- Researchers analyzed data from a nationwide Finnish study between 2011 and 2018, using hazard ratios to assess risks of ischaemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, and mortality among patients using warfarin and different DOACs.
- Results indicated that lower TTR was associated with higher risks of complications and mortality in warfarin users, while differences in outcomes between high TTR groups and standard dose DOACs were minimal.
Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with an increased incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF). Also, patients with AF are prone to adverse kidney outcomes. We examined comorbidities and medication use in patients with CKD and incident AF.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims: Elective cardioversion (ECV) is routinely used in atrial fibrillation (AF) to restore sinus rhythm. However, it includes a risk of thromboembolism even during adequate oral anticoagulation treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of thromboembolic and bleeding complications after ECV in a real-life setting utilizing data from a large AF population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Aims: Female sex has been linked with higher risk of ischaemic stroke (IS) in atrial fibrillation (AF), but no prior study has examined temporal trends in the IS risk associated with female sex.
Methods: The registry-linkage Finnish AntiCoagulation in Atrial Fibrillation (FinACAF) study included all patients with AF in Finland from 2007 to 2018. Ischaemic stroke rates and rate ratios were computed.
Objectives: We assessed if positive life orientation (PLO) has increased among older individuals and explored gender disparities in PLO changes.
Methods: Two cohorts of 70-year-olds from Turku, Finland were included: the 1920 birth cohort (examined in 1991; = 1,032) and the 1940 birth cohort (examined in 2011; = 956). Participants completed an identical questionnaire assessing life satisfaction, feeling needed, future plans, zest for life, depression, and loneliness.
Background: Limited data exist on the temporal relationship between new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) and ischemic stroke and its impact on patients' clinical characteristics and mortality.
Methods: A population-based registry-linkage database includes all patients with new-onset AF in Finland from 2007 to 2018. Ischemic stroke temporally associated with AF (ISTAF) was defined as an ischemic stroke occurring within ±30 days from the first AF diagnosis.
Myocardial infarction (MI) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are commonly seen in the same patient. In this study, we evaluated the temporal relations and prognosis of MI and AF. This is a substudy of the nationwide registry-based Finnish Anticoagulation in Atrial Fibrillation (FinACAF) study, comprising all Finnish patients with new-onset AF from 2010 to 2017.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims: To investigate sex-specific temporal trends in the initiation of oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy among patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF) in Finland between 2007 and 2018.
Methods: The registry-linkage Finnish AntiCoagulation in Atrial Fibrillation (FinACAF) Study included all patients with incident AF in Finland from 2007 to 2018. The primary outcome was the initiation of any OAC therapy.
Aims: We assessed the temporal trends in the prevalence of diabetes and in its associations with outcomes among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).
Methods: The registry-based FinACAF study covered all patients with incident AF in Finland between 2007 and 2018. Ischemic stroke (IS) and mortality rates were computed using Poisson regression model.
Aims: Rural-urban disparities have been reported in the outcomes of cardiovascular diseases. We assessed whether rural-urban or other geographical disparities exist in the risk of ischemic stroke (IS) and death in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in Finland.
Methods: The registry-based FinACAF cohort study covers all patients with AF from all levels of care in Finland from 2007 to 2018.
Objectives: The impact of oral anticoagulants (OACs) on the need of long-term care (LTC) in the aging and multimorbid population of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is unknown. We conducted a nationwide cohort study to evaluate the effect of OACs on the need of LTC.
Design: Retrospective nationwide cohort study.
Background Patients with aortic stenosis (AS) have been underrepresented in the trials evaluating direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to assess whether AS impacts outcomes in patients with AF and estimate the effects of DOACs versus warfarin in patients with AF and AS. Methods and Results The registry-based FinACAF (Finnish Anticoagulation in Atrial Fibrillation) study covered all patients with AF diagnosed during 2007 to 2018 in Finland.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTrends in treatment and outcomes of atrial fibrillation during 2007-17 in Finland.
Eur Heart J Qual Care Clin Outcomes
November 2023
Article Synopsis
- Guidelines for managing atrial fibrillation (AF) have significantly evolved, and a study examined trends in treatment and outcomes from 2007 to 2017 in Finland, assessing data from a nationwide cohort of 206,909 patients.
- The use of oral anticoagulants (OACs) rose dramatically from 43.6% to 76.3%, particularly among patients at higher risk for strokes, leading to a decrease in one-year mortality from 13.3% to 10.6% and a significant reduction in ischaemic strokes from 5.3% to 2.2%.
- Despite a rise in major bleeding events, catheter ablation for rhythm control saw continuous growth, while other rhythm
Aims: Little is known about rural-urban differences in the treatment and outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to assess whether the initiation of oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy in patients with AF differs between those with rural and urban residence.
Methods: The registry-based FinACAF cohort covers all patients with AF from all levels of care in Finland.