Prevalence of Fibromyalgia Syndrome and Its Correlations with Arrhythmia in Patients with Palpitations.

OBJECTIVE: It is aimed to determine the prevalence of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and its correlations with arrhythmia in patients with palpitations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty-two patients who underwent electrophysiological study (EPS) due to palpitation complaints in Cardiology department and 40 healthy controls were included in the study. The precise diagnosis of arrhythmia was established using EPS. All participants were screened for FMS using American College of Rheumatology 2010 Fibromyalgia diagnostic criteria. Clinical assessments included measurement of severity of pain, fatigue and morning fatigue with visual analog scale (VAS), functional status with Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), and anxiety/depression with Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD). RESULTS: FMS was diagnosed in 22 of the 62 patients (36%), and 4 of the 40 healthy controls (10%) (p 0.05). EPS+ patients with FMS had higher fatigue levels, HAD and FIQ scores than EPS- patients, although statistically insignificant. HV durations were statistically longer in the EPS- subgroup (p < 0.05) but other EPS data were similar. CONCLUSION: FMS frequency and HAD anxiety scores were found to be higher in patients with palpitation complaints. However, we found no association between arrhythmia, EPS parameters and FMS. In our clinical practice we should keep in mind to carry out assessments in terms of FMS in patients with palpitation.

Predictors of Future Atrial Fibrillation Development in Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Prospective Follow-Up Study.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated whether left atrial (LA) phasic functions, P-wave dispersion (PWD), and plasma NT-proBNP levels could predict future development of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). METHODS: Seventy patients with HCM were evaluated. The LA phasic functions including the LA total emptying volume (LATEV), LA total emptying fraction (LATEF), LA active emptying volume (LAAEV), LA active emptying fraction (LAAEF), LA passive emptying volume (LAPEV), and LA passive emptying fraction (LAPEF) were evaluated. P-wave dispersion was calculated. Plasma NT-proBNP levels were measured on the same day with echocardiographic study. RESULTS: Patients were followed up 53.09 ± 1.87 months. Patients who developed AF (n = 18) had significantly higher PWD values, NT-proBNP levels, LAVI, E/E' av, and resting LVOT gradients and significantly lower LATEF and LAAEF. In multivariate analysis, LATEF (P = 0.002), LAAEF (P = 0.007), logNT-proBNP level (P = 0.022), and PWD (P = 0.018) were associated with AF development. The results of receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that a LATEF cutoff value 49% with 72% sensitivity and 81% specificity, a LAAEF cutoff value of 36% with 72% sensitivity and 71% specificity, and an NT-proBNP cutoff value of 720 pg/mL predicted future AF development with 72% sensitivity and 60% specificity. A PWD cutoff value of 47.5 msecond predicted future AF development with 78% sensitivity and 72% specificity. CONCLUSION: In patients with HCM, LA phasic functions, PWD, and NT-proBNP levels predict future development of AF. Assessment of LA phasic functions during routine echocardiographic evaluation and measuring NT-proBNP levels and PWD values of patients with HCM during daily practice may provide important data in predicting those at high risk of AF occurrence.

Quality of life of patients with atrial septal defect following percutaneous closure.

INTRODUCTION: Quality of life has become an important outcome measure in addition to mortality and morbidity in patients with congenital heart disease. Atrial septal defect is a common congenital heart disease, and transcatheter atrial septal defect closure has become an accepted treatment modality. The aim of this study is to assess the quality of life of patients with atrial septal defect who underwent percutaneous closure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined the quality of life of 69 patients with atrial septal defect and 69 healthy controls matched according to age, sex, educational level, and economic, marital, and employment status. Quality of life was investigated using the Turkish version of Short Form-36. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 39.7 ± 14.2 and 26% were male. The quality of life assessment was performed at a mean follow-up time of 18.0 ± 13.8 months after the intervention. The mean scores of the domains of the Short Form-36, namely, physical functioning, role functioning, social functioning, mental health, vitality, pain, and general health, were similar in patients with atrial septal defect who underwent percutaneous closure and the control group. CONCLUSION: Adult patients who underwent percutaneous atrial septal defect closure perceive their quality of life to be as good as their healthy counterparts.

Percutaneous closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects associated with septal aneurysm in adults.

OBJECTIVE: Percutaneous closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects (pmVSD) has become an accepted alternative to surgical closure in selected cases. However, closure of pmVSDs associated with septal aneurysm is more challenging. We report our experience of device closure of pmVSDs associated with septal aneurysm. METHODS: Between 2008 and 2012, percutaneous closure of pmVSD associated with septal aneurysm was attempted in 11 adult patients in our institution. The patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the procedure. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients (64% male, 36% female) was 36.2±1.3 years. Diameter of the left and right ventricular openings of the aneurysm measured by ventriculography was 13.5±5.6 mm and 5.9±2.2 mm, respectively. The defect was occluded with Amplatzer pmVSD Occluder in 4 patients, Amplatzer Muscular Ventricular Septal Defect Occluder in 4 patients, Amplatzer Duct Occluder I in 1 patient, and Amplatzer Duct Occluder II in 2 patients (AGA Medical Corp., Plymouth, MN, USA). The procedure was succesfull in all patients. Mean follow-up time was 22±1.9 months. There was no device- or procedure-related complications at the acute setting or mid-term follow-up. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous closure of pmVSDs associated with aneurysm is more challenging than that of simple defects. The selection of the device type and size should be made according to the configuration and size of the aneurysm and defect.

[Evaluation of lead extraction procedures using the Evolution Mechanical Dilatator Sheath lead extraction system: A single centre experience]. / Evolution mekanik dilatör kilifli elektrot çikarma sistemi ile yapilan elektrot çikarma islemlerinin degerlendirilmesi: Tek merkez deneyimi.

OBJECTIVE: In recent years, there has been an increase in clinical situations requiring extraction of leads of implanted cardiac devices. This study aimed to evaluate the Evolution Mechanical Dilator Sheath system, presently in use in our clinic for lead extraction procedures. METHODS: Lead extraction procedures carried out on 20 patients (14 men, 6 women; mean age 61±19; range 23 to 85 years) between 2008 and 2013 using the Evolution system were retrospectively evaluated. Procedural success, and major and minor complications were determined by previously published guidelines. RESULTS: Mean implantation duration of the leads was 97±65 months (8-204). Fifteen (75%) patients had undergone pacemaker implantation and 5 (25%) had been implanted with a defibrillator. A total of 35 leads were removed from the patients. Seventeen (49%) were ventricular and 12 (34%) were atrial. Five (14%) were defibrillator coils and 1 a coronary sinus lead. Indications for lead extraction were device infection in 18 (90%) patients and lead dysfunction in 2 (10%). Complete procedural success was 95%. Failure occurred in 1 patient. The major complication rate was 5% and minor complications were seen in 25% of patients. No case of mortality was present. CONCLUSION: In this single centre study, it was shown that extraction of pacemaker and defibrillator leads of longer implant duration may be successfully carried out using the Evolution system. However, due to potentially serious complications it is advised that extraction be done by an experienced operator in centres with cardiovascular surgery facilities.

[Evaluation of quality of life using the Umea 22 questionnaire among patients with atrioventricular nodal tachycardia undergoing successful radiofrequency ablation treatment]. / Basarili radyofrekans ablasyon islemi uygulanan atriyoventriküler nodal reentran tasikardili hastalarda yasam kalitesinin Umea 22 anketi ile degerlendirilmesi.

OBJECTIVE: Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) attacks is one of the common arrhythmias adversely affecting quality of life. The Umea 22 (U22) is a questionnaire developed for the assessment of symptoms associated with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), and it is found to be effective in evaluation of quality of life after radiofrequency ablation. Using this questionnaire, the study aimed to assess quality of life among Turkish patients with ANRT before and after the successful RFA. METHODS: The study was conducted between January 2011 and September 2013, and included 57 patients who had undergone RFA due to AVNRT. The U22 questionnaire was administered pre-procedure and at 6 months post-procedure. The participants were asked to report on their general well-being, arrhythmia effects on their wellbeing, and intensity of discomfort associated with episodes. They were asked to provide a score from 1 to 10 in order to determine to severity of discomfort, and the quantity of symptoms was then assessed according to the visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: Patients' general wellbeing (7.5±2.3 vs. 8.7±1.8, p<0.001), the effects of arrhythmia episodes on general well-being (8.1±1.7 vs. 1.0±2.1, p<0.001), frequency of symptoms (2.8±0.8 vs. 0.4±0.9, p<0.001) and duration of symptoms were reduced significantly after RFA. The rate of drug use among patients also decreased after RFA (70% vs. 23%, p=0.017). CONCLUSION: Treatment success was high in patients undergoing RFA due to AVNRT according to the U22 quality of life questionnaire. General and arrhythmia-associated quality of life had improved significantly by the 6th month post-procedure.

Obstruction of superior vena cava flow during transcatheter atrial septal defect closure with the Atriasept ASD occluder.

In this paper, we describe a patient with a large secundum atrial septal defect ASD (26 mm) with adequate rims that were suitable for percutaneous closure. While closing this ASD, the superior vena cava (SVC) was occluded with the right atrial disc of the Atriasept ASD occluder (Cardia) and thus the device was retrieved before its release. After retrieval of this device, an Amplatzer ASD occluder was successfully implanted without disturbing the caval flow.

[Left ventricular thrombus formation in a patient with normal ejection fraction]. / Normal ejeksiyon fraksiyonlu hastada sol ventrikül içinde trombüs olusumu.

Left ventricular (LV) thrombi usually occur in the presence of impaired LV function, such as in dilated cardiomyopathy, aneurysm or following myocardial infarction. Thrombus formation in a normally functioning LV is extremely rare. We report a patient with LV thrombus formation despite a normal systolic function. The patient, who was admitted to the emergency service with transient loss of consciousness and diagnosed with cerebral embolism, was found to have a pedunculated and hypermobile mass in the LV apex by echocardiography. The LV mass was excised by urgent surgery due to its high embolic risk. The histopathological examination revealed that the LV mass was a thrombus. This case highlights that although very rare, LV thrombus formation may occur in patients with normal ejection fraction.

The reproducibility of heart rate recovery after treadmill exercise test.

BACKGROUND: Although predictive value of heart rate recovery (HRR) has been tested in large populations, the reproducibility of HRR in treadmill exercise test has not been assessed prospectively. This prospective study examined whether HRR index has test-retest stability in the short term. METHODS: A total of 52 healthy volunteers without cardiovascular risk factors (mean age, 30 ± 10 years, 30 females) underwent standardized graded treadmill exercise test, and the test was repeated on the 7th and the 30th days. The subjects' maximal heart rates and the decrease of heart rate from the peak exercise level to the level of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 minutes after the termination of the exercise were examined on each test, and heart rates for each minute from the first, second, and third tests were compared for each individual. RESULTS: The maximal heart rates on the 1st, 7th, and the 30th days were 179 ± 11, 177 ± 10, 178 ± 10 beats/min, respectively [P = 0.07, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.92], and the 1st minute HRR indices after peak exercise were 33 ± 10, 33 ± 10, 33 ± 11, respectively (P = 0.66, ICC = 0.88). There was no statistical difference in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th minute heart rates of the recovery phase among the 1st, 7th, and 30th day treadmill exercise tests, either. CONCLUSION: Maximal heart rates and the decline of heart rate to the 5th minute on recovery phase after treadmill exercise test have short-term reproducibility.

[Preferences regarding invasive diagnostic procedures in patients aged 70 years or over presenting with acute coronary syndrome and relationship with short-term mortality]. / Akut koroner sendrom ile basvuran 70 yas ve üzeri hastalarda invaziv tanisal yöntem tercihleri ve bunun erken dönem mortalite ile iliskisi.

OBJECTIVES: We prospectively classified patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) into two age groups, <70 years and ≥70 years, and investigated the frequency of cardiac catheterization, the predictors of cardiac catheterization in the older patient population, and determined early mortality in patients treated with or without cardiac catheterization. STUDY DESIGN: The study included 1,101 patients admitted with ACS. The patients were prospectively classified in two age groups, <70 years (n=762; mean age 55±9 years) and ≥70 years (n=339; mean age 76±5 years). Data on demographic characteristics, clinical and laboratory findings, and the presence or absence of cardiac catheterization were recorded. The predictors of cardiac catheterization were assessed in the overall patient group and in those ≥70 years of age, and 30-day mortality rates were determined. RESULTS: Compared with the older group, in younger patients cardiac catheterization was more frequent (74.4% vs. 50.7%, p=0.0001) and earlier (p=0.023), and decision for percutaneous coronary intervention was more common (52.7% vs. 40.7%, p=0.010), whereas coronary bypass grafting was performed more frequently in the older group (43% vs. 31.2%, p=0.010). Overall 30-day mortality rates showed significant differences in both groups between patients treated with or without cardiac catheterization (<70 years: 3.7% vs. 18.3%, p<0.0001; ≥70 years: 5.6% vs. 21%, p<0.0001). Logistic regression analysis showed the following as significant predictors of cardiac catheterization in patients ≥70 years of age: heart failure (OR: 3.853, p=0.017), systolic blood pressure <100 mmHg (OR: 3.602, p=0.008), creatinine clearance <60 ml/min (OR: 2.761, p=0.001), and ST-segment elevation ≥1 mm on the electrocardiogram (OR: 2.817, p=0.0001). CONCLUSION: Invasive diagnostic and therapeutic strategies are implemented less frequently in elderly patients. These procedures, which offer obvious mortality benefit, should be considered in elderly patients after meticulous risk evaluation.

A novel method for the diagnosis of neurocardiogenic syncope: heart rate recovery index.

OBJECTIVES: Neurocardiogenic syncope is a common and challenging problem in clinical practice. Heart rate recovery after the first minute of exercise is mainly controlled by the parasympathetic nervous system. The aim of the present study was to evaluate heart rate recovery as an index of parasympathetic tonus for the diagnosis of neurocardiogenic syncope. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ninety five patients (mean age 36.5 +/- 11.8 years), who had vasovagal syncope episodes documented by tilt table testing and 70 healthy subjects (mean age 32.9 +/- 9.1 years) were included in this study. Maximal exercise stress testing was performed in both groups and heart rate recovery values were calculated. Heart rate recovery was calculated by subtracting recovery heart rate in the first minute after exercise from peak heart rate. Heart rate recovery was significantly higher in the vasovagal syncope group than the control group during the first minute (42.1 vs. 30.9, p < 0.001). When the cutoff point for heart rate recovery was taken as 35, the sensitivity for the diagnosis of vasovagal syncope was 81% and the specificity was 78%. CONCLUSION: Results of our study show that heart rate recovery is greater in the first minute after exercise in vasovagal syncope patients and that it has a supportive role in the diagnosis of neurocardiogenic syncope.

Alterations of von Willebrand factor and ristocetin cofactor activity during atrial fibrillation.

The aim of this study was to assess the plasma levels of von Willebrand factor antigen and ristocetin cofactor activity, which are well-known markers of endothelial function, in atrial fibrillation (AF) with or without mitral stenosis (MS). Forty-two patients (16 patients with MS and AF [MS(+)AF(+)], 13 patients with nonvalvular AF [MS(-)AF(+)], and 13 patients with MS and sinus rhythm [MS(+)AF(-)]) were included. Von Willebrand factor antigen levels and ristocetin cofactor activities in all participants were assessed. Overall, von Willebrand factor antigen levels and ristocetin cofactor activities in the AF(+) patients were higher than in the AF(-) patients (P = .003 and P = .002, respectively). Von Willebrand factor antigen levels and ristocetin cofactor activities in the 3 groups were found to be different (P = .012 and P = .01, respectively). Von Willebrand factor antigen levels were similar between the MS(+)AF(+) and MS(-)AF(+) groups and were higher than that of the MS(+)AF(-) group. Ristocetin cofactor activity in the MS(-)AF(+) group was significantly higher than in the other 2 groups. The ristocetin cofactor activity and von Willebrand factor antigen levels were significantly higher in diabetic or hypertensive patients than in nondiabetic or normotensive patients. According to the results of this study, circulating von Willebrand factor antigen levels and plasma ristocetin cofactor activities are affected by the presence of AF, MS, and associated comorbidities including type 2 diabetes mellitus and systemic hypertension. Further studies are needed to assess the role of von Willebrand factor antigen and ristocetin cofactor activity in predicting vascular thrombotic events in AF, MS, systemic hypertension, and diabetes mellitus.

Early myocardial functional alterations in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

BACKGROUND: There is limited information regarding myocardial alterations in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in the absence of pulmonary and cardiac comorbidity. In this study, we aimed to evaluate potential myocardial alterations of these patients and investigate the possible effects of OSAS-related pathological variations on left and right ventricular functions. METHODS: We studied 107 consecutive patients who were referred to our sleep laboratory for clinically suspected OSAS and 30 controls without any history or symptoms of sleep-related disorders. Severity of OSAS was quantified by polysomnography. Patients with apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) < 5 were included in the OSAS (-) group (Group 1, n = 22). Subjects with AHI > or = 5 were considered as OSAS and classified according to their AHI as mild-to-moderate (AHI > or = 5 and AHI < 30) (Group 2, n = 45) and severe (AHI > or = 30) OSAS groups (Group 3, n = 40). Conventional M-mode, 2D, and Doppler mitral inflow parameters, tissue Doppler velocities, myocardial peak systolic strain, and strain rate values of various segments were measured and compared between groups. RESULTS: Patients with OSAS displayed impairment of left ventricular diastolic function compared with controls. There were no significant differences between groups regarding parameters reflecting left ventricular systolic function. Myocardial strain analysis demonstrated significant decrement regarding apical right ventricular longitudinal peak systolic strain and strain rate values between groups in relation to the severity of OSAS. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with OSAS display a regional pattern of right ventricular dysfunction correlated with the severity of disease.

The effect on upper extremity functions of cardiac electronic device placement on the dominant hand side.

BACKGROUND: Although cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) implantation is considered to be minor surgery, almost 60% of the patients suffer from shoulder-related problems a short time after the procedure. The purpose of this study was to determine the possible effects of the preference of the dominant side for CIED implantation on the ipsilateral superior extremity functions. METHODS: The study included a total of 107 patients who had been living with a CIED for >6 months. Patients were separated into two groups according to the dominant hand and side of the CIED. The ipsilateral dominant-hand group comprised those with a CIED on the same side as the dominant hand and the contralateral dominant-hand group included patients with the CIED placed on the contralateral side to the dominant hand. Visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score, quick disability of the arm shoulder and hand questionnaire (QuickDASH) and maximum isometric grip strength tests were used to evaluate the upper extremity disabilities. RESULTS: No significant difference was determined between the groups in respect of VAS pain scores (P = 0.10), QuickDASH scores (P = 0.21), and limitations of the shoulder joint range of motion (P = 0.192). The maximum isometric grip strength was significantly different in the right hands between two groups (34 [16-95]-40 [24-85]) (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: The present study shows that the joint range of motion limitation, pain, and disability of the upper extremity were no different in the affected arm compared to the healthy contralateral side with respect to the placement of the CIED on the dominant or non-dominant side.

Successful fibrinolytic treatment in an old patient with acute aortic prosthetic thrombosis.

Thrombosis of mechanical heart valve prosthesis is a rare fatal complication after heart valve replacement. This report describes an old female patient with aortic prosthetic valve thrombosis who had a successful fibrinolytic treatment.

Atrial myocardial deformation properties are temporarily reduced after cardioversion for atrial fibrillation and correlate well with left atrial appendage function.

AIM: This study was conducted to evaluate whether left atrial strain and strain rate correlate well with transesophageal parameters of stunning after atrial fibrillation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-two consecutive patients with chronic atrial fibrillation >/=3 months and <1 year were enrolled in the study. Transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal (TEE) echocardiography with color Doppler myocardial imaging were performed before, 1 day after and 10 days after successful cardioversion. Left atrial transthoracic strain (S) and strain rate (SR) from lateral, inferior and anterior atrial walls, left atrial appendage tissue velocities, strain and strain rate values were measured with offline analysis. Left atrial appendage emptying (LAAEV) and filling (LAAFV) velocities were obtained from transesophageal echocardiography. Left atrial transthoracic, and left atrial appendage strain and strain rates were significantly lower following 1 day after cardioversion (TTE S/SR, 5.0 +/- 2.8%/2.3 +/- 1.0; TEE (septal) S/SR, 7.6 +/- 3.6%/1.6 +/- 0.7). There was a good correlation between these parameters and LAAEV (LA systolic strain and LAAEV, r = 0.73, P = 0.007). Left atrial and LAA strain and strain rate values improved over time, and correlated well with LAAEV, measured 10 days after cardioversion. CONCLUSIONS: Transthoracic atrial and TEE LAA strain and strain rate, which are quantitative measures of atrial function, are reduced after cardioversion, and recover subsequently. The good correlation between LAA function and TTE strain and strain rate suggests that TTE atrial parameters may help determine duration of anticoagulation.

Is heart rate recovery index a predictive factor for cardioinhibitory syncope?

BACKGROUND: Cardioinhibitory syncope is related with excessive bradycardia or asystole due to parasympathetic response. AIM: We investigated whether patients with cardioinhibitory syncope have higher heart rate recovery index (HRRi) considered as a parasympathetic system activation in exercise stress testing (EST) than in those with other neurogenic syncope forms. METHODS: A total of 262 patients who had neurogenic syncope documented by head-up tilt test (HUTT) and 199 healthy control individuals were examined. A maximal EST was applied to all patients after the HUTT. The HRRi was obtained by subtracting the heart rate that was measured at the first (HRRi-1), second (HRRi-2), and third minute (HRRi-3) of the recovery period from the maximal heart rate that was measured during the test. RESULTS: Eighty patients had cardioinhibitory syncope, 118 patients had vasodepressor syncope, and 64 patients had mixed-type syncope. The HRRi-1 was higher in patients with syncope (43.3 ± 7.7) compared to the control group (34.5 ± 4.8; p < 0.001). Post hoc analysis showed that among the syncope groups, there was no difference between patients with vasodepressor syncope (42.2 ± 7.6) and those with mixed type syncope (40.7 ± 4.1) in terms of HRRi-1 (p = 0.420). However, patients with cardioinhibitory syncope (47 ± 8.7) had a higher HRRi-1 than vasodepressor and mixed-type syncope groups (p < 0.05). The threshold value of the HRRi-1, which can be used for the prediction of cardioinhibitory syncope development, was determined to be 41 with 75% sensitivity and 72% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: The HRRi-1 was higher in patients with cardioinhibitory syncope compared to the controls. The HRRi-1 has the predictive feature of differentiating cardioinhibitory syncope from other syncope types.

Assessment of bicuspid aortic valve phenotypes and associated pathologies: A transesophageal echocardiographic study.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the frequency of different bicuspid aortic valve disease (BAV) phenotypes,the associated valvular pathologies, and the aortopathy phenotypes, using 2-dimensional (2D) transthoracic, 2D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and 3-dimensional (3D) TEE. METHODS: A total of 154 patients with BAV were included. Five BAV phenotypes were detected. To better define valvular pathologies, binary classifications of BAV were used: BAV with antero-posterior commisural line (BAV-AP) and right-left commissural line (BAV-RL). Aortopathy phenotype was classified according to the involved tract(s). RESULTS: Of the patients, 53.2% had type 1, 16.2% type 2, 15.6% type 3, 1.3% type 4, and 13.6% had type 5 BAV. The prevalence of BAV-AP and BAV-RL was 68.2% and 31.8%, respectively. No difference was detected with respect to aortic regurgitation between BAV-AP and BAV-RL (p=0.9), but the BAVRL group had an increased propensity to have a stenotic aortic valve (p=0.003). The indexed aortic diameter was larger in BAV-AP cases than BAV-RL at the sinus of Valsalva (p=0.008). In patients with dilatation of the root and tubular portion, a predominance of BAV-AP versus BAV-RL was observed (85% vs 15%). A markedly low prevalence of the root phenotype (3.2%) was observed. In 90.1% of the patients, 2D TEE was sufficient to classify BAV phenotypes; further 3D imaging was needed in 9.9% of the cases. CONCLUSION: There may be racial differences in the frequency of valvular and aortopathy phenotypes in patients with BAV. BAV phenotypes differ with respect to aortic stenosis and aortopathy phenotypes. TEE may have good diagnostic utility in differentiating BAV phenotypes.

Impaired quality of life in patients with intermittent atrial fibrillation.

OBJECTIVE: The quality of life (QoL) is impaired in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the data on the perceived QoL of patients with different types of AF is limited. In this study, we investigated the QoL of patients with intermittent and chronic AF. METHODS: The study was designed as an observational cross-sectional study, and 135 consecutive patients with documented AF admitted to the cardiology outpatient clinic in a tertiary hospital were recruited. The pattern of AF was classified as intermittent or chronic AF. The European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) classification and symptom severity score were used to quantify the symptoms related to AF. The QoL was assessed by the Short Form-36 and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Severity in Atrial Fibrillation (SAF) scale. RESULTS: Thirty-nine percent of the patients (n=52) had intermittent AF and 61% (n=83) had chronic AF. In the overall patient population, 92% reported having at least one of the symptoms that can be attributable to AF. Although the prevalence of symptoms were similar in patients with intermittent or chronic AF, the patients with intermittent AF perceived more severe palpitations (symptom severity score 2.4±1.7 vs. 1.5±1.5, p=0.003). Patients with intermittent AF had higher EHRA and SAF scores than the patients with chronic AF (2.6±0.9 vs. 1.9±0.8, p<0.001; 2.5±1.3 vs. 1.7±1.2, p<0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Outpatients with AF have a high prevalence of symptoms and impaired QoL. The impairment of subjective health-related QoL is worse in patients with intermittent AF.