The impact of education level on all-cause mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation.

The association of socioeconomic status with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is well known, but data on the influence of education level on mortality in individuals with atrial fibrillation (AF) are scarce. We investigated education level as a predictor of all-cause mortality in patients diagnosed with AF. This retrospective cohort study used a database created from several Swedish nationwide registries to identify all patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of AF hospitalized from 1995 to 2008.

All-cause mortality trends in patients hospitalized for atrial fibrillation in Sweden: Role of age, stroke risk, and education.

Background: The incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) has long been increasing, and AF is associated with increased mortality. Over time, mortality trends may differ between subgroups depending on their underlying risk patterns and treatments.

Aim: To explore all-cause-mortality trends over time in patients hospitalized for incident AF, and the effects of age, stroke risk, and education level.

The ratio of cardiac troponin T to troponin I may indicate non-necrotic troponin release among COVID-19 patients.

Background: Although cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and troponin I(cTnI) are expressed to similar amount in cardiac tissue, cTnI often reach ten-times higher peak levels compared to cTnT in patients with myocardial necrosis such as in acute myocardial infarction (MI). In contrast, similar levels of cTnT and cTnI are observed in other situations such as stable atrial fibrillation and after strenuous exercise.

Objective: Examine cTnT and cTnI levels in relation to COVID-19 disease and MI.

The contribution of intermittent handheld electrocardiogram and continuous electrocardiogram monitoring with an implantable loop recorder to detect incident and recurrent atrial fibrillation during 1 year after coronary artery bypass graft surgery: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

Objective: To evaluate the incidence and recurrence rate of AF during 1 year after CABG surgery. We also aimed at calculating the AF burden and compare long-term intermittent vs continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring.

Inhibition of K2 and K11.1 Channels in Pigs With Left Ventricular Dysfunction.

Background: Inhibition of K2 channels, conducting I, can convert atrial fibrillation (AF) to sinus rhythm and protect against its induction. I inhibition has been shown to possess functional atrial selectivity with minor effects on ventricles. Under pathophysiological conditions with ventricular remodeling, however, inhibiting I can exhibit both proarrhythmic and antiarrhythmic ventricular effects.

Changes in treatment and mortality in men with locally advanced prostate cancer between 2000 and 2016: a nationwide, population-based study in Sweden.

Objective: To evaluate whether the effects of radical treatment in men with locally advanced prostate cancer (PCa) on PCa mortality observed in randomised clinical trials are applicable on a population basis.

Patients And Methods: We conducted a population-based cohort study using the Prostate Cancer data Base Sweden of 20 350 men diagnosed between 2000 and 2016 with locally advanced PCa, defined as clinical local stage T3/T4, M0, Mx and a prostate-specific antigen level of <100 ng/mL. Cumulative PCa mortality was examined using competing risk analysis of all men with locally advanced PCa, and also including men who did not undergo radical treatment.

Stroke incidence and anticoagulation treatment in patients with pacemaker-detected silent atrial fibrillation.

Background: Silent atrial fibrillation (AF) episodes are common but the role of anticoagulation treatment is under debate.

Methods: Consecutive patients with dual-chamber pacemakers for sinus node disease or AV block/bundle branch block were retrospectively enrolled and the development of silent AF, any anticoagulation and the incidence of ischaemic stroke and dementia were recorded.

Results: In total 411 patients without and 267 with known AF at implant were included.

Assessment of Atrial Fibrillation-Specific Symptoms Before and 2 Years After Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: Do Patients and Physicians Differ in Their Perception of Symptom Relief?

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate patient-reported and physician-assessed atrial fibrillation (AF)-related symptoms after AF ablation.

Background: Success of AF ablation is usually defined as freedom from AF, although symptom relief is often patients' desire.

Methods: Symptom relief was assessed as perceived by patients using the short, validated, AF-specific symptom questionnaire AF6 and as classified by physicians using the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) classification at baseline and 6, 12, and 24 months after AF ablation.

Patient-Reported Outcomes in Relation to Continuously Monitored Rhythm Before and During 2 Years After Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Using a Disease-Specific and a Generic Instrument.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation improves patient-reported outcomes, irrespective of mode of intermittent rhythm monitoring. We evaluated the use of an AF-specific and a generic patient-reported outcomes instrument during continuous rhythm monitoring 2 years after AF ablation.

Methods And Results: Fifty-four patients completed the generic 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey and the AF-specific AF6 questionnaires before and 6, 12, and 24 months after AF ablation.

Patients without comorbidities at the time of diagnosis of atrial fibrillation: causes of death during long-term follow-up compared to matched controls.

Background: Little is known about the long-term, cause-specific mortality risk in patients without comorbidities at the time of diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: From a nation-wide registry of patients hospitalized with incident AF between 1995 and 2008 we identified 9 519 patients with a first diagnosed AF and no comorbidities at the time of AF diagnosis. They were matched with 12 468 controls.

Patients with atrial fibrillation and outcomes of cerebral infarction in those with treatment of warfarin versus no warfarin with references to CHA2DS2-VASc score, age and sex - A Swedish nationwide observational study with 48 433 patients.

Aims: There is controversy in the guidelines as to whether patients with atrial fibrillation and a low risk of stroke should be treated with anticoagulation, especially those with a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 1 point.

Methods: In a retrospective, nationwide cohort study, we used the Swedish National Patient Registry, the National Prescribed Drugs Registry, the Swedish Registry of Education and the Population and Housing Census Registry. 48 433 patients were identified between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2008 with incident atrial fibrillation who were divided in age categories, sex and a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 0, 1, 2 and ≥3 and they were included in a time-varying analysis of warfarin treatment versus no treatment.

In Silico Predictions and In Vivo Results of Drug-Drug Interactions by Ketoconazole and Verapamil on AZD1305, a Combined Ion Channel Blocker and a Sensitive CYP3A4 Substrate.

The objectives were to estimate and compare, in silico and in vivo, the effects of a strong and a moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor on AZD1305 pharmacokinetics. In silico, simulations were performed with the computer software Simcyp, and the predicted outcome was compared with the results observed in healthy male subjects. In silico, the geometric mean plasma exposure of AZD1305 + ketoconazole showed a 7.

Rhythm Control and Its Relation to Symptoms during the First Two Years after Radiofrequency Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation.

Clinical Trial Registration: URL: http://clinicaltrials.gov. Unique Identifier: NCT00697359.

Costs of unstructured investigation of unexplained syncope: insights from a micro-costing analysis of the observational PICTURE registry.

Aims: The observational PICTURE (Place of Reveal In the Care pathway and Treatment of patients with Unexplained Recurrent Syncope) registry enrolled 570 patients with unexplained syncope, documented their care pathway and the various tests they underwent before the insertion of an implantable loop recorder (ILR). The aims were to describe the extent and cost of diagnostic tests performed before the implant.

Methods And Results: Actual costs of 17 predefined diagnostic tests were characterized based on a combination of data from PICTURE and a micro-costing study performed at a medium-sized UK university hospital in the UK.

Gender-related differences in risk of cardiovascular morbidity and all-cause mortality in patients hospitalized with incident atrial fibrillation without concomitant diseases: a nationwide cohort study of 9519 patients.

Background: Previous studies of patients with "lone" and "idiopathic" atrial fibrillation (AF) have provided conflicting evidence concerning the development, management and prognosis of this condition.

Methods: In this nation-wide, retrospective, cohort study, we studied patients diagnosed with incidental AF recorded in national Swedish registries between 1995 and 2008. Controls were matched for age, sex and calendar year of the diagnosis of AF in patients.

Unexplained syncope: implications of age and gender on patient characteristics and evaluation, the diagnostic yield of an implantable loop recorder, and the subsequent treatment.

Background: Syncope is a common clinical problem with a variety of underlying mechanisms, some of which occur more frequently in 1 of the sexes or at a certain age.

Hypothesis: There may be clinically significant age- and gender-related differences in patients with unexplained syncope.

Methods: Five hundred seventy patients (54% women) with unexplained syncope received an implantable loop recorder (ILR) and were followed until diagnosis or for at least 1 year.

DeltaT50--a new method to assess temporal ventricular repolarization variability.

Background: Increased beat-to-beat variability in cardiac repolarization time is a tentative risk marker of drug-induced torsades de pointes. We developed a new, automatic method based on the temporal variability of the T-wave down slope to assess this variability.

Method And Results: Leads V(1) to V(6) of resting electrocardiograms were recorded in 42 healthy subjects (18-68 years, 22 men).

Central nervous system lipocalin-type prostaglandin D2-synthase is correlated with orexigenic neuropeptides, visceral adiposity and markers of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in obese humans.

Lipocalin-type prostaglandin D2-synthase (L-PGDS) is the main producer of prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) in the central nervous system (CNS). Animal data suggest effects of central nervous L-PGDS in the regulation of food intake and obesity. No human data are available.

The lipocalins retinol-binding protein-4, lipocalin-2 and lipocalin-type prostaglandin D2-synthase correlate with markers of inflammatory activity, alcohol intake and blood lipids, but not with insulin sensitivity in metabolically healthy 58-year-old Swedish men.

The lipocalins retinol-binding protein (RBP)-4, lipocalin-2 and lipocalin-type prostaglandin D-synthase (L-PGDS) have been suggested to mediate obesity-associated insulin resistance and other metabolic co-morbidities. The role of lipocalins is however controversial and it is unclear whether they have a physiological role in regulation of insulin sensitivity and metabolic function in clinically healthy humans. Therefore, we examined the correlations between serum levels of RBP-4, L-PGDS and lipocalin-2 and insulin sensitivity and other metabolic parameters in non-diabetic subjects selected to display variations in insulin sensitivity.

Use of an implantable loop recorder to increase the diagnostic yield in unexplained syncope: results from the PICTURE registry.

Aims: To collect information on the use of the Reveal implantable loop recorder (ILR) in the patient care pathway and to investigate its effectiveness in the diagnosis of unexplained recurrent syncope in everyday clinical practice.

Methods And Results: Prospective, multicentre, observational study conducted in 2006-2009 in 10 European countries and Israel. Eligible patients had recurrent unexplained syncope or pre-syncope.

Pharmacological rhythm and rate control treatment for atrial fibrillation: patient and physician satisfaction.

Objective: : Atrial fibrillation (AF) represents a significant burden on healthcare resources. This study aimed to (i) identify key determinants for treatment choices in AF; (ii) analyze impacts of AF treatment on patient satisfaction and compliance; and (iii) analyze impacts of AF treatment on physician satisfaction and willingness to prescribe.

Methods: : Physicians and their patients with paroxysmal, persistent, and permanent AF were recruited and asked to respond to questionnaires.