Connecting the dots: A narrative review of the relationship between heart failure and cognitive impairment.

Large clinical data underscore that heart failure is independently associated to an increased risk of negative cognitive outcome and dementia. Emerging evidence suggests that cerebral hypoperfusion, stemming from reduced cardiac output and vascular pathology, may contribute to the largely overlapping vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Despite these insights, cognitive outcomes remain largely overlooked in heart failure management.

Early Rhythm Control and Incident Dementia in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Prior Stroke.

Background: Although early rhythm control (ERC) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) reduces the risk of stroke, there is no evidence thus far on whether ERC reduces the risk of developing dementia in patients with AF and prior stroke.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate whether ERC reduces the risk of developing dementia in patients with new-onset AF and prior stroke.

Methods: Using the Korean nationwide claims database, we identified patients with new-onset AF and prior stroke between 2010 and 2016.

Clinical Impact of Early Rhythm Control and Healthy Lifestyles in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: There are limited data regarding the combined effect of early rhythm control (ERC) and healthy lifestyle (HLS) behaviors on the risk of ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate how the combination of ERC and HLS behaviors affects the risk of ischemic stroke in patients with AF.

Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance database, we included patients with new-onset AF between 2009 and 2016 (n = 208,662).

Risk of Atrial Fibrillation and Adverse Outcomes in Patients With Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices.

Background And Objectives: Comprehensive epidemiological data are lacking on the incident atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). This study aimed to examine the incidence, risk factors, and AF-related adverse outcomes of patients with CIEDs.

Methods: This was an observational cohort study that analyzed patients without prevalent AF who underwent CIED implantation in 2009-2018 using a Korean nationwide claims database.

Association between the accumulation of elevated serum γ-glutamyltransferase level and risk of atrial fibrillation: a nationwide cohort study.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia. The association between AF and γ-Glutamyltransferase (GGT) was not fully established. This study demonstrated the independent association of cumulative GGT score and AF incidence with the dose-response relationship.

Early Rhythm Control in Patients With Incident Atrial Fibrillation Who Had a Prior Stroke.

Background: There are limited data regarding the benefit of early rhythm control therapy for secondary prevention for stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the risk of recurrent stroke between early rhythm control therapy and usual care in patients with new-onset AF and a history of prior stroke.

Methods: Using the Korean nationwide claims database, the investigators identified patients who were newly diagnosed with AF and had a history of prior stroke.

Increased risk of incident atrial fibrillation in young adults with mental disorders: A nationwide population-based study.

Background: Mental disorders and cardiovascular diseases are closely related. However, a paucity of information on the risk of incident atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with mental disorders exists.

Objective: We aimed to assess the association between mental disorders and the risk of AF, particularly in young adults.

Physical Activity Changes and the Risk of Incident Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Nationwide Longitudinal Follow-up Cohort Study of 1.8 Million Subjects.

Objective: We investigated the association between alterations in regular physical activity (PA) and the risk of developing AF in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the optimal PA range based on energy expenditure.

Research Design And Methods: In a nationwide database, subjects who underwent health examinations twice at a 2-year interval between 2009 and 2012 were studied. After 1,815,330 patients with T2DM who did not have a history of AF were identified, they were followed until 2018.

Net clinical benefit of antithrombotic therapy for atrial fibrillation patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Objectives: To compare the net clinical benefit of oral anticoagulant (OAC) monotherapy to OAC plus single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and stable coronary artery disease (CAD) at 1- and 3-year after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Background: It has not been studied whether the net clinical benefit of the antithrombotic treatment options differs depending on the elapsed time from the index PCI.

Methods: Using the Korean nationwide claims database, we included AF patients who underwent PCI from 2009 to 2019 and constructed two cohorts: 1- and 3-year after PCI.

Clustering of Unhealthy Lifestyle and the Risk of Adverse Events in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Little is known regarding the risk of clinical outcomes depending on the clustering of lifestyle behaviors after atrial fibrillation (AF) diagnosis. This study evaluated the association between a cluster of healthy lifestyle behaviors and the risk of adverse outcomes in patients with AF.

Methods: Using the Korean National Insurance Service database, patients who were newly diagnosed with AF between 2009 and 2016 were included.

Type and Severity of Migraine Determines Risk of Atrial Fibrillation in Women.

Objective: To evaluate sex differences in the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) according to the type and severity of migraine.

Methods: We analyzed the nationwide health screening recipients in 2009 without previous AF diagnosis from the Korean National Health Insurance Service data. The diagnosis, type, and severity of migraine were determined using claims data.

Risk of Dementia After Smoking Cessation in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Atrial Fibrillation.

Importance: Incident atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with an increased risk of dementia. However, data on the association between smoking cessation after AF diagnosis and dementia risk are limited.

Objective: To evaluate the association between changes in smoking status after AF diagnosis and dementia risk.

Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and the Risk of Incident Atrial Fibrillation in Young Adults: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a multisystem disease including cardiovascular. However, the association between NAFLD and the risk of incident atrial fibrillation (AF), especially in young adults, remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the association between NAFLD as assessed by the fatty liver index (FLI) and the risk of AF in young adults.

Low Risk of Dementia in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Atrial Fibrillation and a Clustering of Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background Limited data are available on the clinical impact of healthy lifestyle behaviors on the risk of dementia in patients with new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF). Here, we aimed to evaluate the association between a combination of healthy lifestyle behaviors and the risk of incident dementia in patients with AF. Methods and Results Using the Korean National Health Insurance database between 2009 and 2016, we identified 199 952 adult patients who were newly diagnosed as AF without dementia.

Newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation and hospital utilization in heart failure: a nationwide cohort study.

Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) constitutes a major burden to health services, but the importance of incident AF in patients with heart failure (HF) is unclear. We examined the associations between incident AF and hospital utilization in patients with HF.

Methods And Results: In a nationwide matched-cohort study of HF patients, we identified patients diagnosed with incident AF between 2008 and 2018 in the Danish Heart Failure Registry (N = 4463), and we compared them to matched referents without AF (N = 17 802).

Risk of Atrial Fibrillation in Young Adults With Isolated Diastolic, Isolated Systolic, and Systolic-Diastolic Hypertension.

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Hypertension control and end-stage renal disease in atrial fibrillation: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

Background: The impact of hypertension control on the risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in patients newly diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF) is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the impact of hypertension control on incident ESRD among AF patients.

Methods: From the National Health Information database of Korea, we identified ESRD-free patients who were newly diagnosed with AF during 2010 and 2016.

Lower risk of stroke after alcohol abstinence in patients with incident atrial fibrillation: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between alcohol consumption status (and its changes) after newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF) and the risk of ischaemic stroke.

Methods And Results: Using the Korean nationwide claims and health examination database, we included subjects who were newly diagnosed with AF between 2010 and 2016. Patients were categorized into three groups according to the status of alcohol consumption before and after AF diagnosis: non-drinkers; abstainers from alcohol after AF diagnosis; and current drinkers.

Alcohol Abstinence and the Risk of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Nationwide Population-Based Study.

Objective: To investigate the effects of alcohol abstinence on prevention of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Research Design And Methods: A total of 1,112,682 patients newly diagnosed with T2DM between 2011 and 2014 were identified from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. After excluding those with a history of AF, 175,100 patients were included.

Body Mass Index and Clinical Outcomes in Asian Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Receiving Oral Anticoagulation.

Background And Purpose: The influence of body mass index (BMI) on clinical outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation remains controversial, especially among Asians. We aimed to evaluate the association between BMI and clinical outcomes in Asian patients with atrial fibrillation receiving oral anticoagulants.

Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance database between January 2015 and December 2017, we identified oral anticoagulant new users among patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation who had BMI information.

Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Prior Gastrointestinal Bleeding.

Background And Purpose: Limited data support the benefits of non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) among atrial fibrillation patients with prior gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB). We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of NOACs compared with those of warfarin among atrial fibrillation patients with prior GIB.

Methods: Oral anticoagulant-naive individuals with atrial fibrillation and prior GIB between January 2010 and April 2018 were identified from the Korean claims database.

Left ventricular thrombosis: new perspectives on an old problem.

Left ventricular thrombosis (LVT) is a major risk factor for systemic thromboembolism and might complicate both the acute and the chronic phase of ischaemic heart disease after myocardial infarction and, less frequently, non-ischaemic cardiomyopathies. The pathophysiology of thrombus formation is complex and involves the three aspects of Virchow's triad: blood stasis, prothrombotic state, and tissue injury. Advances in technology have improved the detection rate of intracardiac thrombi, but several uncertainties still remain regarding the optimal treatment strategy within daily clinical practice.

Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants in Asian Patients With Supranormal Renal Function.

Background and Purpose- In clinical trials, the reduced efficacy of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) for stroke prevention was reported for patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation with a creatinine clearance (CrCl) >95 mL/min compared with that of warfarin. We examined the effectiveness, safety, and net clinical benefit of NOACs compared with warfarin in Asian patients with atrial fibrillation and supranormal renal function. Methods- Using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database from January 2014 to December 2016, we included patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation with CrCl >80 mL/min.

Optimal Rivaroxaban Dose in Asian Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Normal or Mildly Impaired Renal Function.

Background and Purpose- Although rivaroxaban 15 mg (R15) was only given to patients with creatinine clearance (CrCl) ≤50 mL/min in the pivotal clinical trial, this dose has been commonly prescribed in Asian patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation regardless of renal function. There is a paucity of information on the clinical outcomes of R15 compared with rivaroxaban 20 mg (R20) in patients with CrCl ≥50 mL/min. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness and safety of 2 doses of rivaroxaban in Asian patients with atrial fibrillation and CrCl ≥50 mL/min.