Aims: To assess the number of admissions to the emergency room (ER) of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter (af) and their subsequent management. To evaluate the clinical profile and the use of antithrombotics and antiarrhythmic therapy in patients with AF admitted to cardiology wards.
Methods And Results: BLITZ-AF is a multicentre, observational study conducted in 154 centres on patients with AF/af. In each centre, data were collected, retrospectively for 4 weeks in ER and prospectively for 12 weeks in cardiology wards. In ER, there were 6275 admissions. Atrial fibrillation was the main diagnosis in 52.9% of the cases, af in 5.9%. Atrial fibrillation represented 1.0% of all ER admissions and 1.7% of all hospital admissions. A cardioversion has been performed in nearly 25% of the cases. Out of 4126 patients, 52.2% were admitted in cardiology ward; mean age was 74 ± 11 years, 41% were females. Patients with non-valvular AF were 3848 (93.3%); CHA2DS2-VASc score was ≥2 in 87.4%. Cardioversion was attempted in 38.8% of the patients. In-hospital mortality was 1.2%. At discharge, 42.6% of the patients were treated with vitamin K antagonists, 39.5% with direct oral anticoagulants, 13.6% with other antithrombotic drugs, and 4.2% did not take any antithrombotic agent. Rate control strategy was pursued in 47.2%, rhythm control in 44.0%, 45.6% were discharged in sinus rhythm.
Conclusion: Atrial fibrillation still represents a significant burden on health care system. Oral anticoagulant use increased over time even if compliance with guidelines, with respect to prevention of the risk of stroke, remains suboptimal.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/europace/euy166 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Isolated atrial infarction complicated by sick sinus syndrome and atrial fibrillation: a case report.
Eur Heart J Case Rep
January 2025
Department of Cardiology, Hyogo Prefectural Awaji Medical Center, Sumoto, Japan.
Background: Atrial infarction is a complication of myocardial infarction with ventricular infarction; however, isolated atrial infarction (IAI) has rarely been reported. Herein, we report a case of IAI associated with sick sinus syndrome and atrial fibrillation (AF).
Case Summary: An 83-year-old woman was brought to the emergency department with a complaint of general malaise.
Prognostic value of left atrial stiffness in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation.
Int J Cardiol Heart Vasc
February 2025
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
Aim: This study was performed to evaluate the association between left atrial (LA) stiffness and outcomes in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).
Methods And Results: This study involved 279 patients with aortic stenosis (AS) who underwent TAVI at Kumamoto University Hospital between 2015 and 2023. During a median follow-up of 468 days (interquartile range: 258-825 days), 42 deaths occurred.
Safety and efficacy of a light antithrombotic regimen after left atrial appendage occlusion: Insights from the LOGIC (left atrial appendage occlusion in patients with gastrointestinal or IntraCranial bleeding) international multicenter registry.
Cardiovasc Revasc Med
January 2025
Department of Cardiology, Ospedale dell'Angelo, AULSS3 Serenissima, Mestre, Venezia, Italy.
Background: Antithrombotic therapy (AT) after left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) has the purpose of preventing device related thrombosis (DRT), avoiding embolic events; nevertheless, the correct antithrombotic regimen after LAAO is still under debate.
Aims: Aim of this substudy of the observational LOGIC registry was to describe the efficacy and safety of a light antithrombotic regimen, comprising single antiplatelet therapy or none, compared to a standard antithrombotic regimen, after a successful LAAO.
Methods: Patients with NVAF that underwent LAAO were previously included in the LOGIC registry.
Associations of glycemic status with dynamic disease trajectories of atrial fibrillation and dementia.
J Prev Alzheimers Dis
January 2025
Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) has been associated with elevated dementia risk, while few studies have examined the role of the optimal glycemic status in disease trajectories of AF and dementia.
Objectives: We aim to evaluate associations between glycemic status with disease trajectories of AF and dementia, as well as major dementia subtypes, including Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.
Design: Population-based cohort study.
Posterior left atrial wall isolation for treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation during first-time catheter ablation: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.
Int J Cardiol
January 2025
Arrhythmias and Electrophysiology Unit, Division of Cardiology, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico S. Matteo, Pavia, Italy. Electronic address:
Background: Although catheter ablation (CA) by mean of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is nowadays the mainstay treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF), its success-rate in persistent AF remains suboptimal. Results from studies evaluating whether adding posterior wall isolation (PWI) to PVI can increase the success-rate of CA in persistent AF have yielded conflicting data. The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess whether PWI plus PVI might be beneficial in patients with persistent AF.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!