Does atrial fibrillation still increase the risk of death? One-year follow-up results of the NOMED-AF study.

Introduction: Although atrial fibrillation (AF) is a well‑known risk factor for ischemic stroke and hospitalization, its effect on mortality has not been clearly established.

Objectives: We aimed to assess whether AF is an independent risk factor for death. A secondary objective was to evaluate the role of oral anticoagulation in the prevention of stroke and death in 1‑year follow‑up of patients included in the NOMED‑AF (Noninvasive Monitoring for Early Detection of Atrial Fibrillation) study.

Impact of diabetes mellitus severity, treatment regimen and glycaemic control on atrial fibrillation prevalence in the Polish population aged ≥ 65.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a well-known risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF), but the mechanism(s) by which DM affects AF prevalence remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the impact of diabetes mellitus severity (expressed as its known duration), antihyperglycemic treatment regimen and glycaemic control on AF prevalence. From the representative sample of 3014 participants (mean age 77.

The effectiveness of atrial fibrillation identification using noninvasive long-term electrocardiographic monitoring system (NOMED-AF TECH).

Introduction: Although it is well‑known that longer electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring allows for detection of paroxysmal silent atrial fibrillation (SAF), it is still unknown how long the ECG monitoring should last to increase the probability of SAF diagnosis.

Objectives: Our aim was to analyze ECG acquisition parameters and timing to detect SAF during the Noninvasive Monitoring for Early Detection of Atrial Fibrillation study.

Patients And Methods: The protocol assumed up to 30 days of ECG telemonitoring of each participant in order to reveal AF / atrial flutter (AFL) episodes lasting at least 30 seconds.

The implantation of AV leadless pacemaker - a case report.

Unlabelled: In early 2020 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Micra AV - a new type of leadless pacemaker with atrioventricular synchrony, to treat patients with atrio-ventricular (AV) blocks. We describe one of the first in Poland case of a patient who was implanted with Micra AV pacemaker.

Case Report: A 38-year-old female patient was admitted to the clinic due to the 29-seconds event of a complete AV block without an escape rhythm and was implanted with a dual chamber pacemaker without any complications.

Prevalence of atrial fibrillation in the 65 or over Polish population. Report of cross-sectional NOMED-AF study.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, characterized by an increased risk of thromboembolic complications that can be markedly reduced with anticoagulation. There is a paucity of studies assessing the total prevalence of AF in national populations.

Aims: To assess the nationwide prevalence of AF in a population of adults ≥65 old and to determine the impact of duration of electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring on the number of newly detected AF episodes.

The prognostic impact of therapeutic hypothermia after a sudden cardiac arrest in the course of myocardial infarction.

Background: Mild therapeutic hypothermia (MTH) is one of the treatment methods recommended in post-sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) patients who remain unconscious after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The present study aimed at assessing the prognostic impact of intravascular MTH on invasively treated patients with an acute myocardial infarction complicated by SCA.

Methods: The presented data were collected via a single-center retrospective analysis of the hospitalization and follow-up of 54 patients with post-myocardial infarction complicated by SCA.

Quality of life in patients with a subcutaneous vs. transvenous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.

Background: The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) and subcutaneous ICD (S-ICD) are well-accepted life-saving devices for treating potentially lethal ventricular arrhythmia, but little is known about quality of life (QoL) in patients with S-ICD and ICD.

Aims: Our study aimed to compare QoL in patients with S-ICD and ICD.

Methods: All consecutive patients who had S-ICD implanted between October 2015 and September 2021 were included in the study.

Radiofrequency catheter ablation as a treatment option in a patient with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and atrial flutter after Fontan operation-Case report.

We report a 15-year-old male with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) after Fontan operation with recurrent, drug-resistant atrial tachycardia. With the use of electro-anatomical mapping system (EnSite) an atrial flutter (AFl) with reentry activation around the tricuspid valve was diagnosed. Successful radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) was performed.

Relationship between diabetes mellitus and atrial fibrillation prevalence in the Polish population: a report from the Non-invasive Monitoring for Early Detection of Atrial Fibrillation (NOMED-AF) prospective cross-sectional observational study.

Background: The global burden of atrial fibrillation (AF) and diabetes mellitus (DM) is constantly rising, leading to an increasing healthcare burden of stroke. AF often remains undiagnosed due to the occurrence in an asymptomatic, silent form, i.e.

Predicting Silent Atrial Fibrillation in the Elderly: A Report from the NOMED-AF Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Silent atrial fibrillation (SAF) is common and is associated with poor outcomes.

Aims: to study the risk factors for AF and SAF in the elderly (≥65 years) general population and to develop a risk stratification model for predicting SAF.

Methods: Continuous ECG monitoring was performed for up to 30 days using a vest-based system in a cohort from NOMED-AF, a cross-sectional study based on a nationwide population sample.

A multicentre, prospective, randomised controlled trial to assess the safety and effectiveness of cooling as an adjunctive therapy to percutaneous intervention in patients with acute myocardial infarction: the COOL AMI EU Pivotal Trial.

Background: Despite primary PCI (PPCI), ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) can still result in large infarct size (IS). New technology with rapid intravascular cooling showed positive signals for reduction in IS in anterior STEMI.

Aims: We investigated the effectiveness and safety of rapid systemic intravascular hypothermia as an adjunct to PPCI in conscious patients, with anterior STEMI, without cardiac arrest.

Therapeutic hypothermia and postreperfusion myocardial injury in myocardial infarction.

Myocardial infarction is one of the main causes of death worldwide. Since the introduction of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI), the rate of patients who die of a myocardial infarction or suffer from numerous complications afterwards has significantly decreased. During PPCI, the patient sustains postreperfusion myocardial injury, which entails an extension of the myocardial infarct size related to ischemia.

Results of targeted temperature management of patients after sudden out‑of‑hospital cardiac arrest: a comparison between intensive general and cardiac care units.

Background: Targeted temperature management (TTM) is used to treat patients after sudden out‑of‑hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

Aims: The aim of the study was to compare the results of TTM between intensive general and cardiac care units (ICCUs).

Methods: The Polish Registry of Therapeutic Hypothermia obtained data on 377 patients with OHCA from 26 centers (257 and 120 patients treated at the ICCU and intensive care unit [ICU], respectively).

Predicting survival in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients undergoing targeted temperature management: The Polish Hypothermia Registry Risk Score.

Background: Prompt reperfusion and post-resuscitation care, including targeted temperature management (TTM), improve survival in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients. To predict inhospital mortality in OHCA patients treated with TTM, the Polish Hypothermia Registry Risk Score (PHR-RS) was developed. The use of dedicated risk stratification tools may support treatment decisions.

Experts of the Heart Rhythm Section of the Polish Cardiac Society: opinion on the use of wearable cardioverter-defibrillators in Poland.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is one of the main causes of mortality in developed countries. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) have become a widely used and efficient method for SCD prevention in high-risk populations. Nevertheless, there are clinical situations in which the benefit of ICD is uncertain, such as: early postinfarction left ventricular dysfunction, reversible causes of cardiomyopathy, presence of temporary or permanent ICD contraindications in high-risk populations, or when ICD is not accepted by SCD prevention candidates.

The first successful implantation of an intravenous AAIR pacemaker into autologous extracardiac lateral tunnel Fontan in the child.

Patients with a single ventricle have complex anatomy that requires staged palliation which is usually the Fontan procedure. This procedure has undergone a lot of modifications to improve hemodynamics. Despite these efforts, sinus node dysfunction (SND) and bradyarrythmias are still common complications after Fontan operation, therefore there is a need of pacemakers implantation.

Effect of Intravascular Cooling on Microvascular Obstruction (MVO) in Conscious Patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Primary PCI: Results from the COOL AMI EU Pilot Study.

Objective: COOL AMI EU pilot was a multi-center, randomized controlled trial to assess feasibility and safety of rapid intravascular therapeutic hypothermia (TH) in conscious patients with anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary PCI (PPCI). We report the effect of hypothermia upon microvascular obstruction (MVO).

Methods: Conscious patients with anterior STEMI and symptom duration <6 h were recruited and randomized to PPCI + TH or PPCI alone.

Implementation of mild therapeutic hypothermia for post-resuscitation care of sudden cardiac arrest survivors in cardiology units in Poland.

Background: The post-cardiac arrest (CA) period is often associated with secondary damage of the brain that leads to severe neurological deficits. The current practice guidelines recommend the use of therapeutic hypothermia (TH) to prevent neurological deficit and improve survival.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the implementation of medical guidelines in clinical practice and to evaluate the barriers for implementation of TH in cardiology units in Poland.