Optimal Medical Therapy for Heart Failure and Integrated Care in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Report From the ESC-EHRA EORP Atrial Fibrillation Long-Term General Registry.

Background: Heart failure (HF) often occurs in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), with a major impact on prognosis. Few data are available on the effect of integrated treatment strategies to improve prognosis in patients with AF. We aimed to evaluate the association between HF (according to left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF]), HF optimal medical therapy and adherence to the Atrial Fibrillation Better Care pathway, and major outcomes in patients with AF.

Anticoagulation in Patients With Device-Detected Atrial Fibrillation With and Without a Prior Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack: The NOAH-AFNET 6 Trial.

Background: Short and rare episodes of atrial fibrillation (AF) are commonly detected using implanted devices (device-detected AF) in patients with prior stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). The effectiveness and safety of oral anticoagulation in patients with prior stroke or TIA and device-detected AF but with no ECG-documented AF is unclear.

Methods And Results: This prespecified analysis of the NOAH-AFNET 6 (Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants in Patients With Atrial High Rate Episodes) trial with post hoc elements assessed the effect of oral anticoagulation in patients with device-detected AF with and without a prior stroke or TIA in the randomized, double-blind, double-dummy NOAH-AFNET 6 trial.

Perspectives and Future Directions of Anticoagulant Therapy in Coronary Artery Disease Patients.

Antiplatelet agents are routinely used to treat patients with chronic atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. Treatment with the addition of a low dose of rivaroxaban as dual-pathway inhibition (DPI) decreases ischaemic events at the expense of increased bleeding. At present, the balance between thrombotic and bleeding risks must be carefully weighed up when considering DPI.

Treatment implications of renal disease in patients with atrial fibrillation: The BALKAN-AF survey.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) often co-exists with renal function (RF) impairment. We investigated the characteristics and management of AF patients across creatinine clearance strata and potential changes in the use of nonvitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOAC) according to different equations for estimation of RF.

Methods: In this post hoc analysis of the BALKAN-AF survey, patients were classified according to RF (Cockcroft-Gault formula) as: preserved/mildly depressed RF (P-RF) ≥50 mL/min, moderately depressed RF (MD-RF) 30-49 mL/min, and severely depressed RF (SD-RF) <30 mL/min.

Anticoagulant protein S in COVID-19: low activity, and associated with outcome.

COVID-19 disease was associated with both thrombo-embolic events and in-situ thrombi formation in small vessels. Antiphospholipidic antibodies were found in some studies. Assessment of protein S activity in patients with COVID-19 as a cause of this prothrombotic state, and of the association of protein S activity with worse outcome.

Rhythm Control in AF: Have We Reached the Last Frontier?

AF is a worldwide epidemic, affecting approximately 33 million people, and its rising prevalence is expected to account for increasing clinical and public health costs. AF is associated with an increased risk of MI, heart failure, stroke, dementia, chronic kidney disease and mortality. Preserving sinus rhythm is essential for a better outcome.

A case of 75-year-old survivor of unrepaired tetralogy of Fallot and quadricuspid aortic valve.

In tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), the most common form of cyanotic congenital heart disease, only a few patients reach adulthood without surgical correction. We present the case of a man with TOF who survived until the age of 75 years without surgical intervention and had a very unusual combination of TOF and quadricuspid aortic valve (QAV). QAV, complicated by aortic regurgitation, is an uncommon finding in TOF patients.