Marital status, educational level, and mid-term mortality risk in 5924 patients after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Aims: There is scarce knowledge about the association between social factors and mid-term outcome in older patients undergoing transaortic valve implantation (TAVI). Our aim in this study is to explore associations between marital status, educational level, and mortality risk in patients after TAVI.

Methods And Results: Patients aged ≥65 who underwent TAVI in Sweden during 2014-2020 were identified from the SWEDEHEART registry.

Cardiac surgery and long-term risk for incident cancer: A nationwide population-based study.

Objective: Previous studies indicate an increased long-term risk for incident cancer and cancer-specific mortality in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. We compared the risk for incident cancer and cancer-specific mortality between patients and matched control subjects from the general population.

Methods: All patients (n = 127,119) undergoing first-time coronary artery or heart valve surgery in Sweden during 1997-2020 were included in a population-based observational cohort study based on individual data from the SWEDEHEART registry and 4 other mandatory national registries.

Symptoms at stroke onset as described by patients: a qualitative study.

Background: Stroke is a common and severe disease that requires prompt care. Symptom expressions as one-sided weakness and speech difficulties are common and included in public stroke campaigns. For some patients stroke can present with subtle and less common symptoms, difficult to interpret.

Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With New-Onset Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Importance: New-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) occurs in approximately 30% of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). It is unknown whether early recurrence is associated with worse outcomes.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that early AF recurrence in patients with POAF after CABG is associated with worse outcomes.

Statin treatment after surgical aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis is associated with better long-term outcome.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between statin use after surgical aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis and long-term risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in a large population-based, nationwide cohort.

Methods: All patients who underwent isolated surgical aortic valve replacement due to aortic stenosis in Sweden 2006-2020 and survived 6 months after discharge were included. Individual patient data from 5 nationwide registries were merged.

Pacemaker implantation following tricuspid valve annuloplasty.

Objective: Tricuspid annuloplasty is associated with increased risk of atrioventricular block and subsequent implantation of a permanent pacemaker. However, the exact incidence of permanent pacemaker, associated risk factors, and outcomes in this frame remain debated. The aim of the study was to report permanent pacemaker incidence, risk factors, and outcomes after tricuspid annuloplasty from nationwide databases.

Postdischarge major bleeding, myocardial infarction, and mortality risk after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objective: To investigate the incidence and mortality risk associated with postdischarge major bleeding after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and relate this to the incidence of, and mortality risk from, postdischarge myocardial infarction.

Methods: All patients undergoing first-time isolated CABG in Sweden in 2006-2017 and surviving 14 days after hospital discharge were included in a cohort study. Individual patient data from the SWEDEHEART Registry and five other mandatory nationwide registries were merged.

Socioeconomic factors and long-term mortality risk after surgical aortic valve replacement.

Background: There is scarce knowledge about the association between socioeconomic status and mortality in patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement. This study explores the associations between income, education and marital status, and long-term mortality risk.

Methods: In this national registry-based observational cohort study we included all 14,537 patients aged >18 years who underwent isolated surgical aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis in Sweden 1997-2020.

Cardiopulmonary bypass management and risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery.

Objectives: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) management may potentially play a role in the development of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) after cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to explore this potential association.

Methods: Patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and/or valvular surgery during 2016-2020 were included in an observational single-centre study.

Renin-angiotensin system inhibition after surgical aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis.

Objective: The optimal medical therapy after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) for aortic stenosis remains unknown. Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors could potentially improve cardiac remodelling and clinical outcomes after SAVR.

Methods: All patients undergoing SAVR due to aortic stenosis in Sweden 2006-2020 and surviving 6 months after surgery were included.

Associations between new-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation and long-term outcome in patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement.

Objectives: Data on prognostic implications of new-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) is limited. We sought to explore associations between POAF, early initiated oral anticoagulation (OAC) and long-term outcome after SAVR and combined SAVR + coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods: This is a retrospective, population-based study including all isolated SAVR (n = 7038) and combined SAVR and CABG patients (n = 3854) without a history of preoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) in Sweden 2007-2017.

Dual or single antiplatelet therapy after coronary surgery for acute coronary syndrome (TACSI trial): Rationale and design of an investigator-initiated, prospective, multinational, registry-based randomized clinical trial.

The TACSI trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03560310) tests the hypothesis that 1-year treatment with dual antiplatelet therapy with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and ticagrelor is superior to only ASA after isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with acute coronary syndrome. The TACSI trial is an investigator-initiated pragmatic, prospective, multinational, multicenter, open-label, registry-based randomized trial with 1:1 randomization to dual antiplatelet therapy with ASA and ticagrelor or ASA only, in patients undergoing first isolated CABG, with a planned enrollment of 2200 patients at Nordic cardiac surgery centers.

Long-term antithrombotic therapy after coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with preoperative atrial fibrillation. A nationwide observational study from the SWEDEHEART registry.

Aims: To provide data guiding long-term antithrombotic therapy after coronary artery by-pass grafting (CABG) in patients with preoperative atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods And Results: From the SWEDEHEART registry, we included all patients, between January 2006 and September 2016, with preoperative AF and CHADS-VASC score ≥2, undergoing CABG. Based on dispensed prescriptions 12 to 18 months after CABG, patients were divided in 3 groups: use of platelet inhibitors (PI) only, oral anticoagulant (OAC) only or a combination of OAC + PI.

Patients' motivation to undergo transcatheter aortic valve replacement. A phenomenological hermeneutic study.

Background: Aortic stenosis is the most common valvular disease, and its prevalence is increasing due to the ageing population. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is the recommended method when treating frail, older patients. Knowledge of what motivates older patients to undergo TAVR is important, in order to meet patients' expectations.

Risk of depression after coronary artery bypass grafting: a SWEDEHEART population-based cohort study.

Aims: A diagnosis of depression in patients with coronary heart disease is associated with worse outcomes. This study examined the long-term risk for new onset of depression after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) compared to an age- and sex-matched control group from the general population.

Methods And Results: In total, 125 418 primary isolated CABG patients and 495 371 matched controls were included from 1992 to 2017.

Risk for first onset depression in adults with congenital heart disease.

Background: The long-term risk for depression among adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) is unclear. Therefore, we assessed the risk for first onset of serious depression in patients with ACHD compared with a sex- and age-matched control population without a congenital heart disease (CHD) diagnosis.

Methods: We extracted all patients with CHD born from 1970 to 1999 who survived until age 18 years from the Swedish National Patient Register.

Associations between medical therapy after surgical aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis and long-term mortality: a report from the SWEDEHEART registry.

Aims: The association between the use of statins, renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors, and/or β-blockers and long-term mortality in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) who underwent surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) is unknown.

Methods And Results: All patients with AS who underwent isolated first-time SAVR in Sweden from 2006 to 2017 and survived 6 months after discharge were included. Individual patient data from four mandatory nationwide registries were merged.

Stroke Risk Stratification in Patients With Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Background The CHADS-VASc (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 years, diabetes, previous stroke or TIA [transient ischemic attack], vascular disease, age 65 to 74 years, sex category female; 2 indicates 2 points, otherwise 1 point) scoring system is recommended to guide decisions on oral anticoagulation therapy for stroke prevention in patients with nonsurgery atrial fibrillation. A score ≥1 in men and ≥2 in women, corresponding to an annual stroke risk exceeding 1%, warrants long-term oral anticoagulation provided the bleeding risk is acceptable. However, in patients with new-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation, the optimal risk stratification method is unknown.

Clinical Course of Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery and Long-term Outcome.

Background: New-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after cardiac surgery is associated with worse short- and long-term outcomes. Although the clinical presentation of POAF varies substantially, almost all studies model it with a dichotomous yes or no variable. We explored potential associations between the clinical course of POAF and long-term outcome.

Long-term outcome of patients undergoing re-exploration for bleeding following cardiac surgery: a SWEDEHEART study.

Objectives: Excessive bleeding leading to re-exploration is a severe complication of cardiac surgical procedures, associated with early postoperative morbidity and mortality. Less is known about the long-term outcome of these patients. We evaluated the impact of re-exploration after cardiac surgery on peri- and postoperative morbidity and mortality, as well long-term mortality, in a well-defined nationwide population.

Short- and long-term outcome after surgical aortic valve replacement in patients on dialysis.

Background: There is no consensus on the choice of aortic valve prosthesis for patients with end-stage renal failure. We analyzed short- and long-term complications in dialysis patients who underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR) with either a biological (bAVR) or a mechanical (mAVR) prosthesis.

Methods: All patients on dialysis who underwent bAVR or mAVR in Sweden from 1995 to 2017 (n=335) were included in a nationwide, population-based, observational, cohort study.

Beta blockers and long-term outcome after coronary artery bypass grafting: a nationwide observational study.

Aims: Beta blockers are associated with improved outcomes for selected patients with cardiovascular disease. We assessed long-term utilization of beta blockers after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and its association with outcome.

Methods And Results: All 35 184 patients in Sweden who underwent first-time isolated CABG between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2017 and were followed for at least 6 months were included in a nationwide observational study.

Perioperative stroke and survival in coronary artery bypass grafting patients: a SWEDEHEART study.

Objectives: Perioperative stroke is a severe complication of cardiac surgery. We assessed the incidence of stroke over time, the association between stroke and mortality and identified preoperative factors independently associated with perioperative stroke, in a large nationwide cardiac surgery population.

Methods: All patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting in Sweden 2006-2017 were included in a registry-based observational cohort study based on prospectively collected data.