Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Versus Direct Oral Anticoagulants in the Prevention of Ischaemic Stroke in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

Introduction Existing randomised controlled trials assessing the safety and efficacy of left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) in atrial fibrillation (AF) were of relatively small sample size, or included patients who could receive oral anticoagulant treatment after device implantation. We compared the outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed AF who received percutaneous LAAO or direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) treatment, in a large population from a global federated health network (TriNetX). Methods Patients with AF treated with percutaneous LAAO were matched with those treated with DOAC between 1st December 2010 and 1st October 2018. Outcomes were all-cause mortality, ischaemic stroke and intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) at 5 years. Results We included 200 patients with AF, who received either LAAO or DOAC. The risk of all-cause mortality, ischaemic stroke and ICH at 5 years was not significantly different between the two groups (Risk Ratio [RR] for all-cause mortality: 1.52, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.97- 2.38, RR for ischaemic stroke: 1.09, 95% CI: 0.51- 2.36, and RR for ICH: 1.0, 95% CI: 0.44- 2.30). Conclusion Patients newly diagnosed with AF, eligible for DOAC, showed similar 5-year risk of death, ischemic stroke, and ICH when comparing those who underwent percutaneous LAAO to those receiving DOAC. Future randomised controlled trials are needed to confirm the findings and advise changes in guidelines.

Evaluation of Huawei smart wearables for detection of atrial fibrillation in patients following ischemic stroke: The Liverpool-Huawei stroke study.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) often remains undetected following stroke. Documenting AF is critical to initiate oral anticoagulation, which has proven benefit in reducing recurrent stroke and mortality in patients with AF. The accuracy and acceptability of using smart wearables to detect AF in patients following stroke is unknown. METHODS: The aims of the Liverpool-Huawei Stroke Study are to determine the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and patient and staff acceptability of using Huawei smart wearables to detect AF following ischemic stroke. The study plans to recruit 1,000 adults aged ≥18 years following ischemic stroke from participating hospitals over 12 months. All participants will be asked to wear a Huawei smart band for 4 weeks postdischarge. If participants do not have access to a compatible smartphone required for the study, they will be provided with a smartphone for the 4-week AF monitoring period. RESULTS: Participants with suspected AF detected by the smart wearables, without previous known AF, will be referred for further evaluation. To determine the effectiveness of the Huawei smart wearables to detect AF, the positive predictive value will be determined. Patient acceptability of using this technology will also be examined. Additional follow-up assessments will be conducted at 6 and 12 months, and clinical outcomes recorded in relation to prevalent and incident AF post-stroke. The study opened for recruitment on May 30, 2022, and is currently open at 4 participating hospitals; the first 106 participants have been recruited. One further hospital is preparing to open for recruitment. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective study will examine the effectiveness and acceptability of the use of smart wearables in patients following ischemic stroke. This could have important implications for detection of AF and therefore, earlier prophylaxis for recurrent stroke. The study is registered on https://www.isrctn.com/ (Identifier ISRCTN30693819).

Risk of myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke in individuals with first-diagnosed paroxysmal vs. non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation under anticoagulation.

AIMS: There is conflicting evidence on whether the type of atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with risk of cardiovascular events, including acute myocardial infarction (MI) and ischemic stroke. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the risk of MI and ischemic stroke differs between individuals with first-diagnosed paroxysmal vs. non-paroxysmal AF treated with anticoagulants. METHODS AND RESULTS: De-identified electronic medical records from the TriNetX federated research network were used. Individuals with a new diagnosis of paroxysmal AF who had no evidence of other types of AF in their records were 1:1 propensity score-matched with individuals with non-paroxysmal AF, defined as persistent or chronic AF, who had no evidence of other types of AF in their records. All patients were followed for three years for the outcomes of MI and ischemic stroke. Cox proportional hazard models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). In the propensity-matched cohort, among 24 848 well-matched AF individuals [mean age 74.4 ± 10.4; 10 101 (40.6%) female], 410 (1.7%) were diagnosed with acute MI and 875 (3.5%) with ischemic stroke during the three-year follow-up. Individuals with paroxysmal AF had significantly higher risk of acute MI (HR: 1.65, 95%CI: 1.35-2.01) compared to those with non-paroxysmal AF. First diagnosed paroxysmal AF was associated with higher risk of non-ST elevation MI (nSTEMI) (HR: 1.89, 95%CI: 1.44-2.46). No significant association was observed between the type of AF and risk of ischemic stroke (HR: 1.09, 95%CI: 0.95-1.25). CONCLUSION: Patients with first-diagnosed paroxysmal AF had higher risk of acute MI compared to individuals with non-paroxysmal AF, attributed to the higher risk of nSTEMI among patients with first-diagnosed paroxysmal AF. There was no significant association between type of AF and risk of ischemic stroke.

Antiplatelet Agents and Oral Anticoagulant Use in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Carotid Artery Disease After First-Time Ischaemic Stroke.

INTRODUCTION: People with atrial fibrillation (AF) frequently have competing mechanisms for ischaemic stroke, including extracranial carotid atherosclerosis. The objective of this study was to determine associations between use of oral anticoagulants (OACs) plus antiplatelet agents (APA) after ischaemic stroke and outcomes for patients with AF and carotid artery disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Participants receiving OACs with or without APA were propensity score-matched for age, sex, ethnicity, co-morbidities and presence of cardiac and vascular implants and grafts. Outcomes were 1-year mortality, recurrent stroke and major bleeding. RESULTS: Of 5708 patients, 24.1% (n=1628) received non-vitamin K antagonist OACs (NOACs) with no APA, 26.0% (n=1401) received NOACs plus APA, 20.7% (n=1243) received warfarin without APA and 29.2% (n=1436) received warfarin plus APA. There was no significant difference in risk of recurrent stroke between the groups. Compared to receiving NOACs without APA, receiving warfarin plus APA was associated with a higher risk of mortality (hazard ratio (HR) 1.51 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.20, 1.89)) and major bleeding (HR 1.66 (95% CI 1.40, 1.96)). Receiving NOACs plus APA was also associated with a higher risk of major bleeding compared to NOACs without APA (HR 1.27 (95% CI 1.07, 1.51), respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest for patients with AF and carotid artery disease after ischaemic stroke, receiving NOACs without APA is associated with a lower risk of major bleeding with no negative impact on recurrent stroke or mortality. Evidence from randomised trials is needed to confirm this finding.

Use of telemonitoring in patient self-management of chronic disease: a qualitative meta-synthesis.

BACKGROUND: Telemonitoring for the remote patient self-management of chronic conditions can be a cost-effective method for delivering care in chronic disease; nonetheless, its implementation in clinical practice remains low. The aim of this meta-synthesis is to explore barriers and facilitators associated with the use of remote patient monitoring of chronic disease, drawing on qualitative research, and assessing participant interactions with this technology. METHOD: A meta-synthesis of qualitative studies was performed. MEDLINE, SCOPUS and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) were searched from database date of inception to 5 February 2021. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) was used to critically appraise each study. Thematic synthesis was performed to identify user (patients, carers and healthcare professionals) perspectives and experiences of patient remote monitoring of chronic disease (Type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cardiovascular disease). RESULTS: Searches returned 10,401 studies and following independent screening by two reviewers, nine studies were included in this meta-synthesis. Data were synthesised and categorised into four key themes: (1) Improved care; (2) Communication; (3) Technology feasibility & acceptability; and (4) Intervention concerns. Most patients using patient remote devices felt motivated in managing their own lifestyles and felt reassured by the close monitoring and increased communication. Barriers identified involved generational differences and difficulties with the technology used. CONCLUSION: Most studies showed a positive attitude to telemonitoring, with patients preferring the convenience of telemonitoring in comparison to attending regular clinics. Further research is required to assess the most effective technology for chronic disease management, how to maintain long-term patient adherence, and identify effective approaches to address generational variation in telemonitoring up-take.

Stroke-Heart Syndrome: Incidence and Clinical Outcomes of Cardiac Complications Following Stroke.

BACKGROUND: The risk of major adverse cardiovascular events is substantially increased following a stroke. Although exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation has been shown to improve prognosis following cardiac events, it is not part of routine care for people following a stroke. We, therefore, investigated the association between cardiac rehabilitation and major adverse cardiovascular events for people following a stroke. Following a stroke, individuals have an increased risk of new-onset cardiovascular complications. However, the incidence and long-term clinical consequence of newly diagnosed cardiovascular complications following a stroke is unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the incidence and long-term clinical outcomes of newly diagnosed cardiovascular complications following incident ischemic stroke. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using anonymized electronic medical records from 53 participating health care organizations. Patients with incident ischemic stroke aged ≥18 years with 5 years of follow-up were included. Patients who were diagnosed with new-onset cardiovascular complications (heart failure, severe ventricular arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, ischemic heart disease, Takotsubo syndrome) within 4-weeks (exposure) of incident ischemic stroke were 1:1 propensity score-matched (age, sex, ethnicity, comorbidities, cardiovascular care) with ischemic stroke patients who were not diagnosed with a new-onset cardiovascular complication (control). Logistic regression models produced odds ratios (OR) with 95% CIs for 5-year incidence of all-cause mortality, recurrent stroke, hospitalization, and acute myocardial infarction. RESULTS: Of 365 383 patients with stroke with 5-year follow-up: 11.1% developed acute coronary syndrome; 8.8% atrial fibrillation/flutter; 6.4% heart failure; 1.2% severe ventricular arrythmias; and 0.1% Takotsubo syndrome within 4 weeks of incident ischemic stroke. Following propensity score matching, odds of 5-year all-cause mortality were significantly higher in stroke patients with acute coronary syndrome (odds ratio, 1.49 [95% CI, 1.44-1.54]), atrial fibrillation/flutter (1.45 [1.40-1.50]), heart failure (1.83 [1.76-1.91]), and severe ventricular arrhythmias (2.08 [1.90-2.29]), compared with matched controls. Odds of 5-year rehospitalization and acute myocardial infarction were also significantly higher for patients with stroke diagnosed with new-onset cardiovascular complications. Takotsubo syndrome was associated with significantly higher odds of 5-year composite major adverse cardiovascular events (1.89 [1.29-2.77]). Atrial fibrillation/flutter was the only new-onset cardiac complication associated with significantly higher odds of recurrent ischemic stroke at 5 years (1.10 [1.07-1.14]). CONCLUSIONS: New-onset cardiovascular complications diagnosed following an ischemic stroke are very common and associate with significantly worse 5-year prognosis in terms of major adverse cardiovascular events. People with stroke and newly diagnosed cardiovascular complications had >50% prevalence of recurrent stroke at 5 years.

Exercise-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation Associates with Lower Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in People with Stroke.

BACKGROUND: The risk of major adverse cardiovascular events is substantially increased following a stroke. Although exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation has been shown to improve prognosis following cardiac events, it is not part of routine care for people following a stroke. We therefore investigated the association between cardiac rehabilitation and major adverse cardiovascular events for people with stroke. METHODS: This retrospective analysis was conducted on June 20, 2021, using anonymized data within TriNetX, a global federated health research network with access to electronic medical records from participating healthcare organizations, predominantly in the USA. All participants were aged ≥18 years with cerebrovascular disease and at least 2 years of follow-up. People with stroke and an electronic medical record of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation were 1:1 propensity score matched to people with stroke but without cardiac rehabilitation using participant characteristics, comorbidities, cardiovascular procedures, and cardiovascular medications. RESULTS: Of 836,923 people with stroke and 2-year follow-up, 2,909 met the inclusion for the exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation cohort. Following propensity score matching (n = 5,818), exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation associated with 53% lower odds of all-cause mortality (odds ratio 0.47, 95% confidence interval: 0.40-0.56), 12% lower odds of recurrent stroke (0.88, 0.79-0.98), and 36% lower odds of rehospitalization (0.64, 0.58-0.71), compared to controls. No significant association between cardiac rehabilitation and incident atrial fibrillation was observed. CONCLUSION: Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation prescribed for people following a stroke associated with significantly lower odds of major adverse cardiovascular events at 2 years, compared to usual care.

Interactive Remote Patient Monitoring Devices for Managing Chronic Health Conditions: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Telemedicine is an expanding and feasible approach to improve medical care for patients with long-term conditions. However, there is a poor understanding of patients' acceptability of this technology and their rate of uptake. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to systematically review the current evidence on telemonitoring in the management of patients with long-term conditions and evaluate the patients' uptake and acceptability of this technology. METHODS: MEDLINE, Scopus, and CENTRAL (the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) were searched from the date of inception to February 5, 2021, with no language restrictions. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they reported any of the following outcomes: intervention uptake and adherence; study retention; patient acceptability, satisfaction, and experience using the intervention; changes in physiological values; all-cause and cardiovascular-related hospitalization; all-cause and disease-specific mortality; patient-reported outcome measures; and quality of life. In total, 2 reviewers independently assessed the articles for eligibility. RESULTS: A total of 96 studies were included, and 58 (60%) were pooled for the meta-analyses. Meta-analyses showed a reduction in mortality (risk ratio=0.71, 95% CI 0.56-0.89; P=.003; I2=0%) and improvements in blood pressure (mean difference [MD]=-3.85 mm Hg, 95% CI -7.03 to -0.68; P=.02; I2=100%) and glycated hemoglobin (MD=-0.33, 95% CI -0.57 to -0.09; P=.008; I2=99%) but no significant improvements in quality of life (MD=1.45, 95% CI -0.10 to 3; P=.07; I2=80%) and an increased risk of hospitalization (risk ratio=1.02, 95% CI 0.85-1.23; P=.81; I2=79%) with telemonitoring compared with usual care. A total of 12% (12/96) of the studies reported adherence outcomes, and 9% (9/96) reported on satisfaction and acceptance outcomes; however, heterogeneity in the assessment methods meant that a meta-analysis could not be performed. CONCLUSIONS: Telemonitoring is a valid alternative to usual care, reducing mortality and improving self-management of the disease, with patients reporting good satisfaction and adherence. Further studies are required to address some potential concerns regarding higher hospitalization rates and a lack of positive impact on patients' quality of life. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42021236291; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=236291.

Efficacy and safety of direct-acting oral anticoagulants compared to vitamin K antagonists in COVID-19 outpatients with cardiometabolic diseases.

BACKGROUND: It remains uncertain if prior use of oral anticoagulants (OACs) in COVID-19 outpatients with multimorbidity impacts prognosis, especially if cardiometabolic diseases are present. Clinical outcomes 30-days after COVID-19 diagnosis were compared between outpatients with cardiometabolic disease receiving vitamin K antagonist (VKA) or direct-acting OAC (DOAC) therapy at time of COVID-19 diagnosis. METHODS: A study was conducted using TriNetX, a global federated health research network. Adult outpatients with cardiometabolic disease (i.e. diabetes mellitus and any disease of the circulatory system) treated with VKAs or DOACs at time of COVID-19 diagnosis between 20-Jan-2020 and 15-Feb-2021 were included. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance cohorts receiving VKAs and DOACs. The primary outcomes were all-cause mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) admission/mechanical ventilation (MV) necessity, intracranial haemorrhage (ICH)/gastrointestinal bleeding, and the composite of any arterial or venous thrombotic event(s) at 30-days after COVID-19 diagnosis. RESULTS: 2275 patients were included. After PSM, 1270 patients remained in the study (635 on VKAs; 635 on DOACs). VKA-treated patients had similar risks and 30-day event-free survival than patients on DOACs regarding all-cause mortality, ICU admission/MV necessity, and ICH/gastrointestinal bleeding. The risk of any arterial or venous thrombotic event was 43% higher in the VKA cohort (hazard ratio 1.43, 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.98; Log-Rank test p = 0.029). CONCLUSION: In COVID-19 outpatients with cardiometabolic diseases, prior use of DOAC therapy compared to VKA therapy at the time of COVID-19 diagnosis demonstrated lower risk of arterial or venous thrombotic outcomes, without increasing the risk of bleeding.

Endothelial dysfunction and vascular maladaptation in atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia and is associated with worsened morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of AF is estimated to increase with an ageing population resulting in an ever-increasing burden on the healthcare system. Despite improvements in AF treatment, several questions remain unanswered in relation to the development and progression of AF. In this review, we discuss the evidence supporting the presence of vascular dysfunction in the development of AF, but also as a final common pathway explaining why AF constitutes a markedly increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Specifically, we summarise the work performed in humans related to the impact of AF on vascular structure and function, and whether measures of vascular function predict AF progression and the development of cardiovascular events. Subsequently, we discuss the potential mechanisms linking AF to the development of vascular dysfunction. Finally, we propose future perspectives of vascular health and AF, advocating a strong focus on regular exercise training as a safe and effective strategy to improve vascular function and, hence, reduce the risk for development and progression of AF and its associated risk for cardiovascular events.

Prevalence and clinical outcomes of myocarditis and pericarditis in 718,365 COVID-19 patients.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has a wide spectrum of cardiovascular sequelae including myocarditis and pericarditis; however, the prevalence and clinical impact are unclear. We investigated the prevalence of new-onset myocarditis/pericarditis and associated adverse cardiovascular events in patients with COVID-19. METHODS AND RESULTS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using electronic medical records from a global federated health research network. Patients were included based on a diagnosis of COVID-19 and new-onset myocarditis or pericarditis. Patients with COVID-19 and myocarditis/pericarditis were 1:1 propensity score matched for age, sex, race and comorbidities to patients with COVID-19 but without myocarditis/pericarditis. The outcomes of interest were 6-month all-cause mortality, hospitalisation, cardiac arrest, incident heart failure, incident atrial fibrillation and acute myocardial infarction, comparing patients with and without myocarditis/pericarditis. Of 718,365 patients with COVID-19, 35,820 (5.0%) developed new-onset myocarditis and 10,706 (1.5%) developed new-onset pericarditis. Six-month all-cause mortality was 3.9% (n = 702) in patients with myocarditis and 2.9% (n = 523) in matched controls (p < .0001), odds ratio 1.36 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.21-1.53). Six-month all-cause mortality was 15.5% (n = 816) for pericarditis and 6.7% (n = 356) in matched controls (p < .0001), odds ratio 2.55 (95% CI: 2.24-2.91). Receiving critical care was associated with significantly higher odds of mortality for patients with myocarditis and pericarditis. Patients with pericarditis seemed to associate with more new-onset cardiovascular sequelae than those with myocarditis. This finding was consistent when looking at pre-COVID-19 data with pneumonia patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with COVID-19 who present with myocarditis/pericarditis associate with increased odds of major adverse events and new-onset cardiovascular sequelae.

Associations between COVID-19 and 30-day thromboembolic events and mortality in people with dementia receiving antipsychotic medications.

BACKGROUND: Antipsychotic medications are frequently prescribed to people with dementia to manage behavioural and psychological symptoms. Using a global federated research network, the objectives were to determine: 1) if COVID-19 is associated with 30-day thromboembolic events and mortality for people with dementia receiving antipsychotic medications; and 2) if the proportion of people with dementia receiving antipsychotics is higher during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to 2019. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using TriNetX, a global federated health research network. The network was searched for people aged ≥ 65 years with dementia, COVID-19 and use of antipsychotics in the 30-days prior to COVID-19 recorded in electronic medical records between 20/01/2020 and 05/12/2020. These individuals were compared to historical controls from 2019 with dementia and use of antipsychotics in the 30-days before a visit to a participating healthcare organisation. Propensity score matching for age, sex, race, co-morbidities and use of antidepressants and anticonvulsants was used to balance cohorts with and without COVID-19. RESULTS: Within the TriNetX network, 8414 individuals with COVID-19, dementia and use of antipsychotics and 31,963 historical controls were identified. After propensity score matching there were 8396 individuals with COVID-19 and 8396 historical controls. The cohorts were well balanced for age, sex, race, co-morbidities and use of antidepressants and anticonvulsants. The odds of 30-day thromboembolic events and all-cause mortality were significantly higher in adults with COVID-19 (Odds Ratios: 1.36 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.21-1.52) and 1.93 (1.71-2.17), respectively). The number of people with dementia with a visit to a participating healthcare organisation was lower between 20/01/2020 and 05/12/2020 (n = 165,447) compared to the same period in 2019 (n = 217,391), but the proportion receiving antipsychotics increased from 14.7% (95%CI: 14.6-14.9%) to 16.4% (95%CI: 16.2-16.5%), P < .0001. CONCLUSIONS: These findings add to the evidence base that during the COVID-19 pandemic there was an increase in the proportion of people with dementia receiving antipsychotics. The negative effects of antipsychotics in patients with dementia may be compounded by concomitant COVID-19.

The counterintuitive role of exercise in the prevention and cause of atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, characterized by irregular atrial activity. AF is related to increased risk of thromboembolic events, heart failure, and premature mortality. Recent advances in our understanding of its pathophysiology include a potentially central role for inflammation and presence of cardiovascular risk factors. The role of physical activity and exercise in the development and progression of AF, however, are not yet fully understood. Physical activity is protective for modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, including those associated with AF. Indeed, emerging research has demonstrated beneficial effects of exercise on AF-specific outcomes, including AF recurrence postablation. Counterintuitively, the prevalence of AF in veteran endurance athletes seems higher compared with the general population. In this review, we discuss the novel evidence and underlying mechanisms underpinning the role of exercise as medicine in the development and management of AF but also the counterintuitive detrimental role of excessive endurance exercise. Finally, we advocate regular (but not long-term high-intensity endurance) exercise training as a safe and effective strategy to reduce the risk of incident AF and to minimize the associated risk of secondary cardiovascular events.

Facilitators and challenges in delivering a peer-support physical activity intervention for older adults: a qualitative study with multiple stakeholders.

BACKGROUND: Involving peer volunteers in intervention delivery can provide social support and improve adherence. Whilst such interventions have the potential to reduce physical activity (PA) intervention costs, little is known about the process of delivering them in practice. This qualitative study explored the facilitators and challenges of delivering a peer-support PA intervention for older adults, with a view to making recommendations for the delivery of future interventions. METHODS: Data were collected via (7) semi-structured interviews and a focus group with stakeholders involved in a peer-support PA intervention for older adults in a large city in the North-West of England. Participants included local authority staff (n = 3), peer volunteers (n = 2) and service users (n = 7). Audio data were transcribed verbatim and thematically coded to identify perceived facilitators and challenges. RESULTS: Facilitators to delivery included social interaction, community referral pathways, suitable facilities, peer volunteers and high-quality instructors. Challenges surrounded inconsistent practice, staff capacity, safety and accountability, and awareness raising. CONCLUSIONS: Peer volunteers can provide an additional support mechanism alongside qualified instructors for increasing social interaction within PA interventions. For optimal intervention delivery, consideration needs to be given to equipment and space, safety and accountability and consistency of practice.

Direct oral anticoagulants are associated with lower risk of dementia in patients with atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with increased risk of dementia. Whether direct oral anticoagulation (DOAC) reduce this risk compared to vitamin-K antagonist (VKA) is unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of new all-cause dementia and vascular dementia in AF patients, treated with either DOAC or VKAs. METHODS: Anonymized electronic medical records from the TriNetX federated research network were used. AF patients treated with DOACs within 1 month of AF diagnosis, were 1:1 propensity score-matched with those treated with a VKA. The analysis included patients who completed 5 and 10 years of follow-up and were assessed for all-cause dementia and vascular dementia. Cox proportional hazard models were used to hazard ratios (HR), respectively with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Among patients who completed 5 years of follow-up, after propensity score matching the final cohort consisted of 215,404 well-matched AF patients. All-cause dementia was diagnosed in 4,153 (3.9%) patients among those treated with DOACs and 4,150 (3.9%) among the VKA-treated patients (HR: 1.01, 95%CI: 0.96-1.05). Among patients 65-74 years old who were followed, DOAC treatment was associated with lower risk of dementia compared to VKAs (HR: 0.72; 95%CI: 0.59-0.86). Among patients who completed 10 years of follow-up, after propensity score matching the final cohort consisted of 19,208 well-matched AF patients. All-cause dementia was diagnosed in 314 (3.3%) patients among those treated with DOACs and 451 (4.7%) among the VKA-treated patients. DOAC treatment was associated with significantly lower risk of all-cause dementia during a follow-up period of 10 years compared to VKA treatment (HR: 0.72, 95%CI: 0.62-0.83), which remained consistent in patiens ≥65 years old. CONCLUSION: This propensity-score matched analysis showed that among AF patients, treatment with a DOACs for a period of 10 years was associated with lower risk of all-cause dementia and vascular dementia compared to VKA treatment, an effect which was not apparent in those treated for shorter duration. This finding requires confirmation in ongoing randomised controlled trials.

Catheter ablation and lower risk of incident dementia and mortality in older adults with atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) has consistently been associated with a higher risk of incident dementia. Observational evidence has suggested catheter ablation may be associated with a lower risk of dementia in patients with AF, but further research is needed. The objectives of this study were to use a global health research network to examine associations between catheter ablation, incident dementia and mortality in older adults with AF, and amongst subgroups by age, sex, co-morbidity status, and oral anticoagulant use. METHODS: The research network primarily included healthcare organizations in the United States. This network was searched on 28th September 2022 for patients aged ≥65 years with a diagnosis of AF received at least 5 years prior to the search date. Cox proportional hazard models were run on propensity-score matched cohorts. RESULTS: After propensity score matching, 20,746 participants (mean age 68 years; 59% male) were included in each cohort with and without catheter ablation. The cohorts were well balanced for age, sex, ethnicity, co-morbidities, and cardiovascular medications received. The risk of dementia was significantly lower in the catheter ablation cohort (Hazard Ratio 0.52, 95% confidence interval: 0.45-0.61). The catheter ablation cohort also had a lower risk of all-cause mortality (Hazard Ratio 0.58, 95% confidence interval: 0.55-0.61). These associations remained in subgroup analyses in individuals aged 65-79 years, ≥80 years, males, females, participants who received OACs during follow-up, participants with paroxysmal and non-paroxysmal AF, and participants with and without hypertension, diabetes mellitus, ischemic stroke, chronic kidney disease and heart failure, including heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. CONCLUSION: The observed lower risk of dementia and mortality with catheter ablation could be an important consideration when determining appropriate patient-centered rhythm control strategies for patients with AF. Further studies including data on the success of ablation are required.

Effects of different exercise types on quality of life for patients with atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: To investigate the effectiveness of exercise and the most effective types of exercise for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) to improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and exercise capacity, and reduce AF burden, AF recurrence and adverse events. METHODS AND RESULTS: Systematic search in PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, CINAHL Plus, and SPORTDiscus for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and nonrandomized pre-post intervention studies investigating the effect of different types of exercise on AF patients. After exclusion, 12 studies (11 RCTs, 1 prepost) with a total of 670 participants were included. Exercise interventions consisted of aerobic exercise, aerobic interval training (AIT), Qigong, yoga, and exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR). There were significant positive effects of exercise on general health {mean difference [MD] = 6.42 [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.90, 9.93]; P = 0.0003; I2 = 17%} and vitality [MD = 6.18 (95% CI: 1.94, 10.41); P = 0.004; I2 = 19%)] sub-scales of the Short Form 36-item questionnaire (SF-36). Qigong resulted in a significant improvement in the 6-min walk test [MD = 105.00m (95% CI: 19.53, 190.47)]. Exercise-based CR and AIT were associated with a significant increment in V̇O2peak, and AIT significantly reduced AF burden. Adverse events were few and one intervention-related serious adverse event was reported for exercise-based CR. CONCLUSION: Exercise led to improvements in HRQoL, exercise capacity, and reduced AF burden. The available exercise interventions for AF patients are few and heterogeneous. Future studies are needed for all types of exercise intervention in this patient group to (co-)develop an optimized exercise training intervention for AF patients.