Data standards for atrial fibrillation/flutter and catheter ablation: the European Unified Registries for Heart Care Evaluation and Randomized Trials (EuroHeart).

Aims: Standardized data definitions are essential for monitoring and assessment of care and outcomes in observational studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The European Unified Registries for Heart Care Evaluation and Randomized Trials (EuroHeart) project of the European Society of Cardiology aimed to develop contemporary data standards for atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF/AFL) and catheter ablation.

Methods And Results: We used the EuroHeart methodology for the development of data standards and formed a Working Group comprising 23 experts in AF/AFL and catheter ablation registries, as well as representatives from the European Heart Rhythm Association and EuroHeart.

Elevated premature ventricular complex counts on 24-hour electrocardiogram predict incident atrial fibrillation and heart failure-A prospective population-based cohort study.

Background: Premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) are known to predict heart failure (HF) and premature atrial contractions (PACs) are known to predict atrial fibrillation (AF) and stroke. PVCs and PACs share pathophysiological mechanisms; however, the combined effects of PVCs and PACs on HF, AF, and stroke risk have not been studied.

Objectives: To study elevated PVC counts on 24-hour electrocardiogram monitoring (24hECG) in relation to incidence of AF, HF, and stroke, and whether this effect is altered by PAC frequency.

Vernakalant for Rapid Cardioversion of Recent-Onset Atrial Fibrillation: Results from the SPECTRUM Study.

Aims: Rapid restoration of sinus rhythm using pharmacological cardioversion is commonly indicated in patients with symptomatic recent-onset atrial fibrillation (AF). The objectives of this large, international, multicenter observational study were to determine the safety and effectiveness of intravenous (IV) vernakalant for conversion of AF to sinus rhythm in daily practice.

Methods And Results: Consenting patients with symptomatic recent-onset AF (< 7 days) treated with IV vernakalant were enrolled and followed up to 24 h after the last infusion or until discharge, in order to determine the incidence of predefined serious adverse events (SAEs) and other observed SAEs and evaluate the conversion rate within the first 90 min.

Risk prediction of future cardiac arrest by evaluation of a genetic risk score alone and in combination with traditional risk factors.

Objectives: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of death globally, commonly through sudden cardiac death. Cardiac arrest of cardiac origin (CA) is associated with a poor prognosis and there is a great need for risk assessment and intensified preventive actions. In this study we aim to assess if a genetic risk score for CHD, composed of 50 common CHD susceptibility variants (GRS), predicts CA and to evaluate a novel composite risk score including traditional risk factors as well as GRS.

Ischemic stroke rates decline in patients with atrial fibrillation as anticoagulants uptake improves: A Swedish cohort study.

Introduction: The impact of the increased anticoagulants uptake on incidence rate of ischemic stroke is largely unknown. We assessed time trends in rates of ischemic stroke in patients with incident atrial fibrillation (AF) diagnosed between 2011 and 2013.

Materials And Methods: Population-based retrospective registry study of all 11,500 adults diagnosed with incident non-valvular atrial fibrillation in 2011-2013 in primary and secondary care and receiving oral anticoagulants (n=4847), aspirin (n=2850) or no treatment (n=3766) in Skåne County, Sweden.

Midlife risk factor exposure and incidence of cardiac arrest depending on cardiac or non-cardiac origin.

Objective: Little is known about midlife risk factors of future cardiac arrest. Our objective was to evaluate cardiovascular risk factors in midlife in relation to the risk of cardiac arrest (CA) of cardiac and non-cardiac origin later in life.

Methods: We cross-matched individuals of the population based Malmö Diet and Cancer study (n=30,447) with the local CA registry of the city of Malmö.

ST segment depression on 24-hour electrocardiography predicts incident atrial fibrillation in two population-based cohorts.

Aims: ST-depression at 24hECG has not been studied in relation to atrial fibrillation (AF) risk. We aimed to determine whether ST-depression at 24hECG was associated with incident AF in two Swedish population-based cohorts - a sub-cohort of the Malmö Diet and Cancer study (MDCS), and the cohort 'Men born in 1914', and to determine whether 24hECG could be used to predict AF development.

Methods And Results: There were 378 acceptable 24hECG recordings in the MDCS (mean age 64.

Risk factor changes and incident atrial fibrillation among middle-aged men in the Malmö Preventive Project cohort.

Aims: To determine whether risk factor changes over 6 years were associated with the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) among middle-aged men in the Malmö Preventive Project (MPP) cohort.

Methods And Results: In total, 5633 men (mean age 47.0 years at baseline) underwent two screening examinations, separated by an average of 6 years.

Validation of the good outcome following attempted resuscitation score on in-hospital cardiac arrest in southern Sweden.

Background: There is a great need for a simple and clinically useful instrument to help physicians estimate the probability of survival to discharge with a good neurological outcome (cerebral performance category, CPC=1) in cases of in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA). Our aim was to validate the "Good Outcome Following Attempted Resuscitation" (GO-FAR) score in a different country with different demographics than previously investigated.

Methods: A retrospective observational study including all cases of IHCA who were part of a cardiac arrest registry at Skåne University Hospital in Sweden 2007-2010.

Antithrombotic therapy in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation in Southern Sweden: A population-based cohort study.

Introduction: Oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) with moderate-to-high stroke risk are strongly recommended by the current guidelines.

Materials And Methods: Population-based register study of all 13,837 patients with incident non-valvular AF diagnosed during 2011-2014 in primary and secondary care (including all in- and outpatient visits) in Skåne County, Sweden. The outcome was the prescription of direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOAC), warfarin or acetylsalicylic acid (ASA).

A prospective study of supraventricular activity and incidence of atrial fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) episodes are thought to be started by an electrical trigger reaching susceptible atria. Such a trigger could be present long before the occurrence of sustained symptomatic arrhythmia.

Objective: We sought to determine whether supraventricular extrasystoles (SVESs) and supraventricular tachycardias (SVTs) measured at 24-hour Holter electrocardiogram were associated with an increased incidence of AF.

Concomitant use of dronedarone with dabigatran in patients with atrial fibrillation in clinical practice.

Introduction: Dronedarone is a strong P-glycoprotein inhibitor with a potential to increase bioavailability of dabigatran. We sought to measure and report plasma concentrations of dabigatran in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) on concomitant dronedarone treatment.

Materials And Methods: A cohort of 33 patients (mean age 64 years, 16 men) concomitantly treated with dabigatran at a dose of 110 mg twice a day (bid) and dronedarone at a dose of 400mg bid at the discretion of the patient's cardiologist were followed prospectively.

Low fasting plasma insulin is associated atrial fibrillation in men from a cohort study--the Malmö preventive project.

Background: Type 2 diabetes has been associated with increased incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and cardiovascular disease. Controversy remains regarding the role of insulin in the epidemiology of AF risk. The aim of the present study was to study the association between fasting plasma insulin (FPI) and incidence of AF, as well as any effect modification by fasting blood glucose (FBG) or 2 h post-load blood glucose and body mass index (BMI).

Evaluation of pre-arrest morbidity score and prognosis after resuscitation score and other clinical variables associated with in-hospital cardiac arrest in southern Sweden.

Objective: To evaluate pre-arrest morbidity score (PAM), prognosis after resuscitation score (PAR) and to identify additional clinical variables associated with survival after in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) treated with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Methods: A retrospective observational study involving all cases of IHCA at Skåne University Hospital Malmö 2007-2010.

Results: Two-hundred-eighty-seven cases of IHCA were identified (61.

Predictors of successful cardioversion with vernakalant in patients with recent-onset atrial fibrillation.

Background: Vernakalant is a novel atrial-selective antiarrhythmic drug able to convert recent-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) with reportedly low proarrhythmic risk. Successful cardioversion predictors are largely unknown. We sought to evaluate clinical and electrocardiographic predictors of cardioversion of recent-onset AF with vernakalant.

Reduced forced expiratory volume is associated with increased incidence of atrial fibrillation: the Malmo Preventive Project.

Aims: Reduced forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) have been associated with increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases. However, whether reduced lung function is also a risk factor for incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) is still unclear. We aimed to determine whether lung function predicted AF in the Malmö Preventive Project, a large population-based cohort with a long follow-up.

Aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation as predictors of atrial fibrillation during 11 years of follow-up.

Background: There is limited information about any association between the onset of atrial fibrillation (AF) and the presence of valvular disease.

Methods: We retrospectively examined 940 patients in sinus rhythm, examined by echocardiography in 1996. During 11 years of follow-up, we assessed the incidence of AF and outcome defined as valvular surgery or death, in relation to baseline valvular function.