Coffee consumption and adverse cardiovascular events in patients with atrial fibrillation.

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.

Blood pressure, brain lesions and cognitive decline in patients with atrial fibrillation.

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.

BMP10 reflects pre-capillary pulmonary hemodynamics: association of biomarkers and hemodynamic parameters in pulmonary hypertension.

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.

Apixaban versus Aspirin for Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source.

BACKGROUND: Rivaroxaban and dabigatran were not superior to aspirin in trials of patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS). It is unknown whether apixaban is superior to aspirin in patients with ESUS and known risk factors for cardioembolism. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, randomized, open-label, blinded-outcome trial of apixaban (5 mg twice daily) compared with aspirin (100 mg once daily) initiated within 28 days after ESUS in patients with at least one predictive factor for atrial fibrillation or a patent foramen ovale.

Penumbral Rescue by normobaric O = O administration in patients with ischemic stroke and target mismatch proFile (PROOF): Study protocol of a phase IIb trial.

Rationale: Oxygen is essential for cellular energy metabolism. Neurons are particularly vulnerable to hypoxia. Increasing oxygen supply shortly after stroke onset could preserve the ischemic penumbra until revascularization occurs.

Association of bone morphogenetic protein 10 and recurrent atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation.

Aims: Atrial remodelling, defined as a change in atrial structure, promotes atrial fibrillation (AF). Bone morphogenetic protein 10 (BMP10) is an atrial-specific biomarker released to blood during atrial development and structural changes. We aimed to validate whether BMP10 is associated with AF recurrence after catheter ablation (CA) in a large cohort of patients.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Heart Rhythm, Rate, and Variability in Atrial Fibrillation.

Background Previous randomized control trials showed mixed results concerning the effect of omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FAs) on atrial fibrillation (AF). The associations of n-3 FA blood levels with heart rhythm in patients with established AF are unknown. The goal of this study was to assess the associations of total and individual n-3 FA blood levels with AF type (paroxysmal versus nonparoxysmal), heart rate (HR), and HR variability in patients with AF.

Case report: mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine-associated myopericarditis: Successful treatment and re-exposure with colchicine.

Introduction: Vaccine-induced myocarditis is a rare complication of messenger RNA (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccines.

Case Presentation: We report a case of acute myopericarditis in a recipient of allogeneic hematopoietic cells following the first dose of the mRNA-1273 vaccine and the successful administration of a second and third dose while on prophylactic treatment with colchicine to successfully complete the vaccination.

Conclusion: Treatment and prevention of mRNA-vaccine-induced myopericarditis represent a clinical challenge.

Assessment of the atrial fibrillation burden in Holter electrocardiogram recordings using artificial intelligence.

Background: Emerging evidence indicates that a high atrial fibrillation (AF) burden is associated with adverse outcome. However, AF burden is not routinely measured in clinical practice. An artificial intelligence (AI)-based tool could facilitate the assessment of AF burden.

Bone Morphogenetic Protein 10-A Novel Biomarker to Predict Adverse Outcomes in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Background Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) face an increased risk of death and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). We aimed to assess the predictive value of the novel atrial-specific biomarker BMP10 (bone morphogenetic protein 10) for death and MACE in patients with AF in comparison with NT-proBNP (N-terminal prohormone of B-type natriuretic peptide). Methods and Results BMP10 and NT-proBNP were measured in patients with AF enrolled in Swiss-AF (Swiss Atrial Fibrillation Study), a prospective multicenter cohort study.

Atrial Fibrillation Risk Assessment after Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source.

Objective: Approximately 20% of strokes are embolic strokes of undetermined source (ESUS). Undetected atrial fibrillation (AF) remains an important cause. Yet, oral anticoagulation in unselected ESUS patients failed in secondary stroke prevention.

Association of pulmonary vein isolation and major cardiovascular events in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) face an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events. Evidence suggests that early rhythm control including AF ablation may reduce this risk.

Methods: To compare the risks for cardiovascular events in AF patients with and without pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), we analysed data from two prospective cohort studies in Switzerland (n = 3968).

Association between ventricular repolarization parameters and cardiovascular death in patients of the SWISS-AF cohort.

Background: The effect of the ventricular repolarization heterogeneity has not been systematically assessed in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Aim of this study is to assess ventricular repolarization heterogeneity as predictor of cardiovascular (CV) death and/or other CV events in patients with AF.

Methods: From the multicenter prospective Swiss-AF (Swiss Atrial Fibrillation) Cohort Study, we enrolled 1711 patients who were in sinus rhythm (995) or AF (716).

Silent brain infarcts impact on cognitive function in atrial fibrillation.

Aims: We aimed to investigate the association of clinically overt and silent brain lesions with cognitive function in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients.

Methods And Results: We enrolled 1227 AF patients in a prospective, multicentre cohort study (Swiss-AF). Patients underwent standardized brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at baseline and after 2 years.

Association of Diabetes With Atrial Fibrillation Phenotype and Cardiac and Neurological Comorbidities: Insights From the Swiss-AF Study.

Background Diabetes is a major risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, it remains unclear whether individual AF phenotype and related comorbidities differ between patients who have AF with and without diabetes. This study investigated the association of diabetes with AF phenotype and cardiac and neurological comorbidities in patients with documented AF.

Cardiac autonomic function and cognitive performance in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with loss of cognition and dementia. Cardiac autonomic dysfunction has been linked to cognitive decline. We aimed to investigate if reduced cardiac autonomic function (CAF) is associated with cognitive impairment in AF patients.

Association of Heart Rate Variability With Silent Brain Infarcts in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Silent brain infarcts (SBI) are frequently detected in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), but it is unknown whether SBI are linked to autonomic dysfunction. We aimed to explore the association of autonomic dysfunction with SBI in AF patients. 1,358 AF patients without prior stroke or TIA underwent brain MRI and 5-min resting ECG.

Heart rate and adverse outcomes in patients with prevalent atrial fibrillation.

Objective: The optimal target heart rate in patients with prevalent atrial fibrillation (AF) is not well defined. The aim of this study was to analyse the associations between heart rate and adverse outcomes in a large contemporary cohort of patients with prevalent AF.

Methods: From two prospective cohort studies, we included stable AF outpatients who were in AF on the baseline ECG.

Closure or medical therapy of patent foramen ovale in cryptogenic stroke: prospective case series.

Background: Results of randomized controlled trials (RCT) do not provide definite guidance for secondary prevention after ischemic stroke (IS)/transient ischemic attack (TIA) attributed to patent foramen ovale (PFO). No recommendations can be made for patients > 60 years. We aimed to compare interventional and medical PFO-management in cryptogenic IS/TIA patients, including patients > 60 years.