Publications by authors named "Stefan Osswald"
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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: 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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImpact of new-onset atrial fibrillation in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.
J Interv Card Electrophysiol
December 2024
Background: New-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) complicating ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains clinically challenging. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of NOAF, identify risk factors for the development of atrial fibrillation (AF), and analyze the impact on patient care, therapy, and outcomes during long-term follow-up.
Methods: This retrospective single-center study reviewed consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography (CAG) for acute STEMI between May 2015 and September 2023.
Background: Pulsed field ablation (PFA) with use of a pentaspline catheter for the treatment of atrial fibrillation is performed in a standardized fashion. Whether a reduced number of applications results in similar clinical outcomes has not been fully investigated.
Objective: This study aimed to assess a simplified PFA dosing protocol for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) compared with a standard protocol.
Article Synopsis
- The study examined the relationship between smoking habits and brain health in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), focusing on brain lesions and volumes using MRI scans.
- A total of 1,728 patients were analyzed, revealing that heavy smoking and longer smoking duration were linked to reduced gray matter volume and increased risk of white matter lesions (WMLs).
- Additionally, patients who quit smoking for at least 16 years had fewer small noncortical infarcts and smaller WML volumes, indicating that long-term cessation may improve brain health.
Characteristics of electrograms depend on the electrode design and distance to the electric source. Our aim was to assess the impact of electrode design and distance from the myocardial electric source on the unipolar and bipolar electrograms to deduce a far-field cut-off. We retrospectively analyzed left atrial electroanatomical maps of 25 patients acquired using an ablation catheter with a 4.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- * This study analyzed data from over 900 high-risk AF patients to compare outcomes between those receiving LAAO and those getting traditional treatment (mostly oral anticoagulants).
- * Results showed no significant differences in stroke or cardiovascular death rates, but LAAO patients experienced significantly less clinically relevant bleeding compared to those on conventional treatments.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the significance of cardiac troponin (cTn) levels in predicting mortality in patients with Takotsubo syndrome (TTS), analyzing data from the International Takotsubo Registry.
- It identifies that a cTn increase greater than 28.8 times the upper reference limit signals clinically relevant myocardial injury, correlating with a higher risk of mortality over 5 years (adjusted HR 1.58).
- The findings enhance understanding of patient risk profiles in TTS, emphasizing the need for increased monitoring and follow-up for those with significant troponin elevations.
Background: The influence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and blood pressure (BP) on brain lesions and cognitive function is unclear. We aimed to investigate the association of BP with different types of brain lesions and cognitive decline in patients with AF.
Methods: Overall, 1,213 AF patients underwent standardized brain magnetic resonance imaging at baseline and after 2 years, as well as yearly neurocognitive testing.
Background And Aims: The role of biomarkers in diagnosing pulmonary hypertension (PH) and distinguishing between pre- and post-capillary PH remains poorly understood. We aimed to identify biomarkers with a strong association with mean pulmonary arterial pressure, mPAP (PH diagnosis) and pulmonary vascular resistance, PVR (pre-capillary component), but not with pulmonary arterial wedge pressure, PAWP (post-capillary component).
Methods: Blood samples were collected in patients undergoing right heart catheterization within a prospective cross-sectional study.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated changes in demographics, risk factors, clinical presentations, and outcomes of takotsubo syndrome (TTS) patients from 2004 to 2021, using data from the InterTAK registry.
- Over the years, the proportion of male patients increased, and there was a rise in cases of midventricular TTS as well as significant growth in the incidence of physical triggers.
- There was also a notable increase in 60-day mortality rates, although no significant change in 1-year mortality when excluding early deaths was observed, indicating a complex evolution of TTS and its management in recent years.
Article Synopsis
- * It included over 2,300 patients, with a focus on comparing outcomes based on how many ECV procedures each patient had undergone.
- * The results indicated no significant link between the number of ECVs and either existing or new brain infarcts, nor with clinical issues like strokes, hospitalizations for heart failure, or mortality.
Objectives: Sex differences occur in atrial fibrillation (AF), including age at first manifestation, pathophysiology, treatment allocation, complication rates and quality of life. However, optimal doses of cardiovascular pharmacotherapy used in women with AF with or without heart failure (HF) are unclear. We investigated sex-specific associations of beta-blocker and renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitor doses with cardiovascular outcomes in patients with AF or AF with concomitant HF.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- * In a study of 1,265 AF patients, those with heart failure (HFpEF and HFrEF) faced significantly higher risks of hospitalisation due to heart failure, mortality, and progression of AF compared to those without HF.
- * HFpEF patients received the fewest rhythm control interventions and reported the poorest quality of life, indicating a critical need for better treatments in this population.
Article Synopsis
- Stroke is a major risk for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), potentially linked to issues with the autonomic nervous system.
- A study involving 1,922 AF patients analyzed various heart rate variability (HRV) measures to see if they correlate with stroke risk.
- Results showed that a specific HRV measure (HRVI <15) in patients with normal sinus rhythm (SR) significantly predicted stroke risk, while no HRV measures were linked to stroke risk in the AF group.
Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure frequently coexist. Prediction of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) recovery after catheter ablation (CA) for AF remains difficult.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of biomarkers, alone and in combination with the Antwerp score, to predict LVEF recovery after CA for AF.
Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) recurs in about one-third of patients after catheter ablation (CA), mostly in the first year. Little is known about the electrophysiological findings and the effect of re-ablation in very late AF recurrences (VLR) after more than 1 year. The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics and outcomes of the first repeat CA after VLR of AF after index CA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Infranodal conduction disorders are common after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Risk factors are incompletely understood.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of valve implantation depth and calcium burden of the device landing zone on infranodal conduction intraprocedure pre- and post-TAVR.
The energy demand of interventional imaging systems has historically been estimated using manufacturer-provided specifications rather than directly measured. The purpose of this study was to investigate the energy consumption of interventional imaging systems and estimate potential savings in the carbon emissions and electricity costs of such systems through hypothetical operational adjustments. An interventional radiology suite, neurointerventional suite, radiology fluoroscopy unit, two cardiology laboratories, and two urology fluoroscopy units were equipped with power sensors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims: 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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF