Atrial Fibrillation in Young Patients: Insights From the National Inpatient Sample.

Background: The burden of atrial fibrillation (AF) hospitalizations in young patients is not well characterized. We aimed to study the burden, comorbidities, outcomes, and resource utilization of AF hospitalizations in young patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of all primary AF hospitalizations in patients 18-45 years of age using the National Inpatient Sample data from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2019.

Conduction system pacing compared with biventricular pacing for cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with heart failure and mildly reduced left ventricular ejection fraction: Results from International Collaborative LBBAP Study (I-CLAS) Group.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a guideline-recommended therapy in patients with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF, 36%-50%) and left bundle branch block or indication for ventricular pacing. Conduction system pacing (CSP) using left bundle branch area pacing or His bundle pacing has been shown to be a safe and physiologic alternative to biventricular pacing (BVP).

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes between BVP and CSP for patients with HFmrEF undergoing CRT.

Mortality in Recipients of Durable Left Ventricular Assist Devices Undergoing Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation.

Background: Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) recipients have a higher incidence of ventricular tachycardia (VT). However, the role of VT ablation in this population is not well-established.

Objectives: This single-center retrospective cohort study sought to examine the impact of post-LVAD implant VT ablation on survival.

Clinical Outcomes of Early Rhythm or Rate Control for New Onset Atrial Fibrillation Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background: New onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) is a common occurrence after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and portends a poorer prognosis. The optimal strategy for managing NOAF in this population is uncertain.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study utilized deidentified patient data from the TriNetX Research Network.

Cardiac conduction diseases: understanding the molecular mechanisms to uncover targets for future treatments.

Introduction: The cardiac conduction system (CCS) is crucial for maintaining adequate cardiac frequency at rest and modulation during exercise. Furthermore, the atrioventricular node and His-Purkinje system are essential for maintaining atrioventricular and interventricular synchrony and consequently maintaining an adequate cardiac output.

Areas Covered: In this review article, we examine the anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of the CCS.

Comprehensive atrial fibrillation burden and symptom reduction post-ablation: insights from DECAAF II.

Aims: Traditional atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after catheter ablation is reported as a binary outcome. However, a paradigm shift towards a more granular definition, considering arrhythmic or symptomatic burden, is emerging. We hypothesize that ablation reduces AF burden independently of conventional recurrence status in patients with persistent AF, correlating with symptom burden reduction.

Electronic ventricular pacing at the end of the QRS complex: Is it abnormal?

An 82-year-old man with ischemic cardiomyopathy, heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and Medtronic biventricular ICD presented with shortness of breath. His ECG is presented with shortness of breath. ECG shows atrial sensed, electronic ventricular pacing.

Association between neighborhood household income and inpatient atrial fibrillation outcomes.

Background: The impact of socioeconomic status on the clinical outcomes of patients admitted to the hospital for atrial fibrillation (AF) is not well described.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the association between median neighborhood household income (mNHI) and clinical outcomes among patients admitted to the hospital for AF.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed primary AF hospitalizations from the United States National Inpatient Sample between 2016 and 2020.

Arrhythmic Risk in Biventricular Pacing Compared With Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing: Results From the I-CLAS Study.

Background: Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) may be associated with greater improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction and reduction in death or heart failure hospitalization compared with biventricular pacing (BVP) in patients requiring cardiac resynchronization therapy. We sought to compare the occurrence of sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) and new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients undergoing BVP and LBBAP.

Methods: The I-CLAS study (International Collaborative LBBAP Study) included patients with left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35% who underwent BVP or LBBAP for cardiac resynchronization therapy between January 2018 and June 2022 at 15 centers.

Smartphone AF Burden During the Blanking Period Predicts Catheter Ablation Outcomes: Insights From DECAAF II.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence during the blanking period is under investigated. With the rise of smartphone-based electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring, there's potential for better prediction and understanding of AF recurrence trends.

Objectives: In this study the authors hypothesize that AF burden derived from a single-lead Smartphone ECG during the blanking period predicts recurrence of atrial arrhythmias after ablation.

Clinical outcomes of conduction system pacing versus biventricular pacing for cardiac resynchronization therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Conduction system pacing (CSP) is observed to produce greater improvements in echocardiographic and hemodynamic parameters as compared to conventional biventricular pacing (BiVP). However, whether these surrogate endpoints directly translate to improvements in hard clinical outcomes such as death and heart failure hospitalization (HFH) with CSP remains uncertain as studies reporting these outcomes are scarce. The aim of this meta-analysis was to analyze the existing data to compare the clinical outcomes of CSP versus BiVP.

Comparison of Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing and Biventricular Pacing in Candidates for Resynchronization Therapy.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) with biventricular pacing (BVP) is a well established therapy in patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), heart failure, and wide QRS or expected frequent ventricular pacing. Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) has recently been shown to be a safe alternative to BVP.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes between BVP and LBBAP among patients undergoing CRT.

Catheter ablation improved ejection fraction in persistent AF patients: a DECAAF-II sub analysis.

Aims: The aim of our study was to assess differences in post-ablation atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence and burden and to quantify the change in LVEF across different congestive heart failure (CHF) subcategories of the DECAAF-II population.

Methods And Results: Differences in the primary outcome of AF recurrence between CHF and non-CHF groups was calculated. The same analysis was performed for the three subgroups of CHF and the non-CHF group.