Background: Arterial stiffness is a strong predictor of atrial fibrillation in the community. Whether noninvasively measured conduit artery function and peripheral vascular reactivity are related to atrial fibrillation remains unknown.
Methods And Results: In 15 010 individuals of the population-based Gutenberg Health Study, mean age 55 ± 11 years, 50.5% men, we determined noninvasive vascular function by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) in relation to manifest atrial fibrillation (N = 466). Patients with atrial fibrillation exhibited a higher mean brachial artery diameter [4.81 mm (4.17, 5.33) in atrial fibrillation vs. 4.31 mm (3.67, 4.93)] and baseline pulse amplitude in arbitrary units [6.35 (5.76, 6.78) in atrial fibrillation vs. 6.09 (5.36, 6.71)] as well as a reduced FMD in arbitrary units [1.29 (1.26, 1.33) in atrial fibrillation vs. (1.31 (1.26, 1.37)] and PAT ratio [0.42 (0.19, 0.77) in atrial fibrillation vs. 0.67 (0.33, 0.94)] compared with individuals without atrial fibrillation (all PWilcoxon rank-sum test). In age-adjusted and sex-adjusted logistic regression analyses, only baseline brachial artery diameter [odds ratio (OR) per standard deviation 1.19; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.04-1.37; P = 0.012] and PAT ratio (OR 0.83; 0.74-0.94; P = 0.0029) were associated with atrial fibrillation. In risk factor and heart rate-adjusted models, there was no statistically significant correlation of atrial fibrillation and brachial artery diameter, FMD and PAT ratio while baseline pulse amplitude was reduced in individuals with atrial fibrillation (OR 0.81; 95% CI 0.71-0.93; P = 0.0034).
Conclusion: In our large contemporary cohort, peripheral vascular function was compromised in individuals with atrial fibrillation. However, observed associations were mediated by age and classical risk factors. Noninvasive vascular function measures did not improve discriminatory ability for atrial fibrillation.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000002000 | DOI Listing |
Europace
December 2024
Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Division of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
In 1924, the Dutch physiologist Willem Einthoven received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discovery of the mechanism of the electrocardiogram (ECG). Anno 2024, the ECG is commonly used as a diagnostic tool in cardiology. In the paper 'Le Télécardiogramme', Einthoven described the first recording of the now most common cardiac arrhythmia: atrial fibrillation (AF).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPharmacy (Basel)
December 2024
R&D for Clinical Activity in Telemedicine, Italian National Health Agency-AGENAS, 00187 Rome, Italy.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias of clinical relevance and a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Following a diagnosis of AF, patients are directed towards therapy with anticoagulant drugs to reduce the thromboembolic risk and antiarrhythmics to control their cardiac rhythm, with periodic follow-up checks. Despite the great ease of handling these drugs, we soon realized the need for follow-up models that would allow the appropriateness and safety of these pharmacological treatments to be monitored over time.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Cardiovasc Dev Dis
November 2024
Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Clinical Science Wing, University of Leicester, Glenfield Hospital, Groby Road, Leicester LE3 9QP, UK.
Background: pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) improves health-related quality of life (QoL). This study compares QoL improvement after radiofrequency ablation (RF) and cryoballoon ablation (cryo) and assesses additional ablations' role in QoL improvement.
Methods: we evaluated the QoL of consecutive patients with first-time RF and cryo for PAF between January 2017 and June 2019.
J Cardiovasc Dev Dis
November 2024
Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Ischemic stroke is a major cause of mortality and disability and has become a significant public health concern among women. Overall, women have more ischemic stroke events than men, in part due to their longer life span, and also suffer from more severe stroke-related disabilities compared to men. Women are also more likely than men to present with atypical non-focal neurological symptoms, potentially leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Pers Med
November 2024
Department of Stroke Unit, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, 00152 Rome, Italy.
Stroke is the leading cause of seizures and epilepsy in adults; however, current guidelines lack robust recommendations for treating post-stroke seizures (PSSs) and epilepsy (PSE). This study aims to demonstrate the long-term safety and efficacy of lacosamide combined with non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in patients with PSE and atrial fibrillation (AF). In this prospective longitudinal single-center study, 53 patients with concomitant PSE and AF, admitted between 2022 and 2023, received NOACs for AF management and lacosamide for seizure control.
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