Coffee consumption and adverse cardiovascular events in patients with atrial fibrillation.

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.

Coffee Consumption Correlates With Better Cognitive Performance in Patients With a High Incidence for Stroke.

Background: 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.

Patients on vitamin K treatment: is switching to direct-acting oral anticoagulation cost-effective? A target trial on a prospective cohort.

Aims: Direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have, to a substantial degree, replaced vitamin K antagonists (VKA) as treatments for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. However, evidence on the real-world causal effects of switching patients from VKA to DOAC is lacking. We aimed to assess the empirical incremental cost-effectiveness of switching patients to DOAC compared with maintaining VKA treatment.

Association of chocolate consumption with neurological and cardiovascular outcomes in atrial fibrillation: data from two Swiss atrial fibrillation cohort studies (Swiss-AF and BEAT-AF).

Aim: 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.

Management of hemodynamically stable wide QRS complex tachycardia in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators.

Unlabelled: Management of hemodynamically stable, incessant wide QRS complex tachycardia (WCT) in patients who already have an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is challenging. First-line treatment is performed by medical staff who have no knowledge on programmed ICD therapy settings and there is always some concern for unexpected ICD shock. In these patients, a structured approach is necessary from presentation to therapy.

Physical activity and brain health in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background And Purpose: Vascular brain lesions, such as ischemic infarcts, are common among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and are associated with impaired cognitive function. The role of physical activity (PA) in the prevalence of brain lesions and cognition in AF has not been investigated.

Methods: Patients from the multicenter Swiss-AF cohort study were included in this cross-sectional analysis.

Role of genetic testing in young patients with idiopathic atrioventricular conduction disease.

Aims: To investigate the role of genetic testing in patients with idiopathic atrioventricular conduction disease requiring pacemaker (PM) implantation before the age of 50 years.

Methods And Results: All consecutive PM implantations in Southern Switzerland between 2010 and 2019 were evaluated. Inclusion criteria were: (i) age at the time of PM implantation: < 50 years; (ii) atrioventricular block (AVB) of unknown aetiology.

Silent brain infarcts impact on cognitive function in atrial fibrillation.

Aims: We aimed to investigate the association of clinically overt and silent brain lesions with cognitive function in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients.

Methods And Results: We enrolled 1227 AF patients in a prospective, multicentre cohort study (Swiss-AF). Patients underwent standardized brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at baseline and after 2 years.

Long-term risk of adverse outcomes according to atrial fibrillation type.

Sustained forms of atrial fibrillation (AF) may be associated with a higher risk of adverse outcomes, but few if any long-term studies took into account changes of AF type and co-morbidities over time. We prospectively followed 3843 AF patients and collected information on AF type and co-morbidities during yearly follow-ups. The primary outcome was a composite of stroke or systemic embolism (SE).

Heart rate and adverse outcomes in patients with prevalent atrial fibrillation.

Objective: The optimal target heart rate in patients with prevalent atrial fibrillation (AF) is not well defined. The aim of this study was to analyse the associations between heart rate and adverse outcomes in a large contemporary cohort of patients with prevalent AF.

Methods: From two prospective cohort studies, we included stable AF outpatients who were in AF on the baseline ECG.

Biomarkers of Inflammation and Risk of Hospitalization for Heart Failure in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Background Hospitalization for heart failure (HF) is very common in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We hypothesized that biomarkers of inflammation can identify patients with AF at increased risk of this important complication. Methods and Results Patients with established AF were prospectively enrolled.

Alcohol consumption and risk of cardiovascular outcomes and bleeding in patients with established atrial fibrillation.

Background: Little is known about the association between alcohol consumption and risk of cardiovascular events in patients with established atrial fibrillation (AF). The main aim of the current study was to investigate the associations of regular alcohol intake with incident stroke or systemic embolism in patients with established AF.

Methods: To assess the association between alcohol consumption and cardiovascular events in patients with established AF, we combined data from 2 comparable prospective cohort studies that followed 3852 patients with AF for a median of 3.

Association of the CHAD(S)-VASc Score and Its Components With Overt and Silent Ischemic Brain Lesions in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Silent and overt ischemic brain lesions are common and associated with adverse outcome. Whether the CHADS-VASc score and its components predict magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-detected ischemic silent and overt brain lesions in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is unclear. In this cross-sectional analysis, patients with AF were enrolled in a multicenter cohort study in Switzerland.

Association of psychosocial factors with all-cause hospitalizations in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: A high burden of cardiovascular comorbidities puts patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) at high risk for hospitalizations, but the role of other factors is less clear.

Hypothesis: To determine the relationship between psychosocial factors and the risk of unplanned hospitalizations in AF patients.

Methods: Prospective observational cohort study of 2378 patients aged 65 or older with previously diagnosed AF across 14 centers in Switzerland.

Heart Rate Variability Triangular Index as a Predictor of Cardiovascular Mortality in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Background Impaired heart rate variability (HRV) is associated with increased mortality in sinus rhythm. However, HRV has not been systematically assessed in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We hypothesized that parameters of HRV may be predictive of cardiovascular death in patients with AF.

Incidence and Predictors of Atrial Fibrillation Progression.

Background The incidence and predictors of atrial fibrillation (AF) progression are currently not well defined, and clinical AF progression partly overlaps with rhythm control interventions (RCIs). Methods and Results We assessed AF type and intercurrent RCIs during yearly follow-ups in 2869 prospectively followed patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF. Clinical AF progression was defined as progression from paroxysmal to nonparoxysmal or from persistent to permanent AF.

[One Case for Two].

One Case for Two We report on a 59-year-old patient with a rash, hypotension and chest pain after eating tuna fish. A diagnosis of scombroid fish poisoning was made. It is a syndrome resembling an allergic reaction that occurs after eating fish of the Scombridae family contaminated with high levels of histamine.

Prevalence and predictors of atrial fibrillation type among individuals with recent onset of atrial fibrillation.

Objective: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is considered to be a progressive disease, starting with intermittent episodes that progress over time to more sustained events. However, little is known about the prevalence of and predictors for AF type among patients with recent-onset AF. We aimed to address these issues among a selected population of patients with AF.

Risk factors for heart failure hospitalizations among patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) have an increased risk for the development of heart failure (HF). In this study, we aimed to detect predictors of HF hospitalizations in an unselected AF population.

Methods: The Basel Atrial Fibrillation Cohort Study is an ongoing observational multicenter cohort study in Switzerland.