Chronic atrial fibrillation is by definition always preceded by paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. The electropathophysiological mechanisms underlying paroxysmal atrial fibrillation are reviewed: atrial electrophysiological inhomogeneity, atrial ectopic activity, and cardiac autonomic dysfunction. Safe and effective interventions that prevent the progression from paroxysmal into chronic atrial fibrillation have not yet been developed. Such developments should be given high priority, as the consequences of chronic atrial fibrillation--stroke and heart failure--are unacceptable.
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Circulation
January 2025
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN (Y.N.V.R., A.T., M.M.R., B.A.B.).
Background: Plasma NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) is commonly used to diagnose heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), but its diagnostic performance in the ambulatory/outpatient setting is unknown because previous studies lacked objective reference standards.
Methods: Among patients with chronic dyspnea, diagnosis of HFpEF or noncardiac dyspnea was determined conclusively by exercise catheterization in a derivation cohort (n=414), multicenter validation cohort 1 (n=560), validation cohort 2 (n=207), and a nonobese Japanese validation cohort 3 (n=77). Optimal NT-proBNP cut points for HFpEF rule out (optimizing sensitivity) and rule in (optimizing specificity) were derived and tested, stratified by obesity and atrial fibrillation.
BMC Med
January 2025
Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science at University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital, Liverpool, UK.
Background: Polypharmacy (i.e., treatment with ≥ 5 drugs) is common in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and has been associated with suboptimal management and worse outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHeart
January 2025
Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Background: Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterised by non-caseating granulomas, while arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is a genetic condition mainly affecting desmosomal proteins. The coexistence of CS and genetic variants associated with ACM is not well understood, creating challenges in diagnosis and management. This study aimed to describe the clinical, imaging and genetic features of patients with both conditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLoS Med
January 2025
Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Orthopedics, Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Background: Cardiovascular, respiratory, and musculoskeletal disease are among the leading causes of disability in middle-aged and older people. Health and lifestyle factors in youth have known associations with cardiovascular or respiratory disease in adulthood, but largely unknown associations with musculoskeletal disease.
Methods And Findings: We included approximately 40,000 18-year-old Swedish males, who completed their conscription examination in 1969 to 1970, followed up until age of 60 years.
Cureus
December 2024
Internal Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, PAK.
Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains a major global health burden, encompassing a spectrum of conditions from unstable angina to acute myocardial infarction. Despite advancements in early detection and management, ACS is often complicated by the development of heart failure. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to identify factors associated with the development of heart failure following acute coronary syndrome.
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