A prospective multi-site registry of real-world experience of catheter ablation for treatment of symptomatic paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation (Real-AF): design and objectives.

Purpose: Catheter ablation has become a mainstay therapy for atrial fibrillation (AF) with rapid innovation over the past decade. Variability in ablation techniques may impact efficiency, safety, and efficacy; and the ideal strategy is unknown. Real-world evidence assessing the impact of procedural variations across multiple operators may provide insight into these questions.

Prevalence and determinants of electrocardiographic abnormalities in African Americans with type 2 diabetes.

Background: Electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities are independently associated with poor outcomes in the general population. Their prevalence and determinants were assessed in the understudied African American population with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: Standard 12-lead ECGs were digitally recorded in 635 unrelated African American-Diabetes Heart Study (AA-DHS) participants, automatically processed at a central lab, read, and coded using standard Minnesota ECG Classification.

Atrial fibrillation, anticoagulation, fall risk, and outcomes in elderly patients.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) affects 2.5 million patients in the United States. The incidence of this condition increases with age, such that approximately 5% of people > 65 years of age have AF.

A new generation of antiplatelet agents.

Purpose Of Review: Since the development and market entry of clopidogrel, a platelet ADP blocker, physicians have had few new antiplatelet options available to them for the treatment of acute and chronic coronary disease, specifically in the setting of acute coronary syndromes, percutaneous coronary intervention, and chronic stent management. Over the years, limitations of current antiplatelet regimens have emerged, establishing a need for novel antiplatelet drugs. This article discusses potential new targets for platelet inhibition and reviews innovative antiplatelet therapies under investigation.