Intra-Atrial Dyssynchrony Using Cardiac Magnetic Resonance to Quantify Tissue Remodeling in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggest that left atrial (LA) late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) can quantify the underlying tissue remodeling that harbors atrial fibrillation (AF). However, quantification of LA-LGE requires labor-intensive magnetic resonance imaging acquisition and postprocessing at experienced centers. LA intra-atrial dyssynchrony assessment is an emerging imaging technique that predicts AF recurrence after catheter ablation. We hypothesized that 1) LA intra-atrial dyssynchrony is associated with LA-LGE in patients with AF and 2) LA intra-atrial dyssynchrony is greater in patients with persistent AF than in those with paroxysmal AF. METHOD: We conducted a cross-sectional study comparing LA intra-atrial dyssynchrony and LA-LGE in 146 patients with a history of AF (60.0 ± 10.0 years, 30.1% nonparoxysmal AF) who underwent pre-AF ablation cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in sinus rhythm. Using tissue-tracking CMR, we measured the LA longitudinal strain in two- and four-chamber views. We defined intra-atrial dyssynchrony as the standard deviation (SD) of the time to peak longitudinal strain (SD-TPS, in %) and the SD of the time to the peak pre-atrial contraction strain corrected by the cycle length (SD-TPSpreA, in %). We used the image intensity ratio (IIR) to quantify LA-LGE. RESULTS: Intra-atrial dyssynchrony analysis took 5 ± 9 minutes per case. Multivariable analysis showed that LA intra-atrial dyssynchrony was independently associated with LA-LGE. In addition, LA intra-atrial dyssynchrony was significantly greater in patients with persistent AF than those with paroxysmal AF. In contrast, there was no significant difference in LA-LGE between patients with persistent and paroxysmal AF. LA intra-atrial dyssynchrony showed excellent reproducibility and its analysis was less time-consuming (5 ± 9 minutes) than the LA-LGE (60 ± 20 minutes). CONCLUSION: LA Intra-atrial dyssynchrony is a quick and reproducible index that is independently associated with LA-LGE to reflect the underlying tissue remodeling.

Intra-Atrial Dyssynchrony Using Cardiac Magnetic Resonance to Quantify Tissue Remodeling in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation / Dessincronia Intra-atrial à Ressonância Magnética Cardíaca para Quantificação da Remodelação Tecidual em Pacientes com Fibrilação Atrial

Abstract Background: Recent studies suggest that left atrial (LA) late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) can quantify the underlying tissue remodeling that harbors atrial fibrillation (AF). However, quantification of LA-LGE requires labor-intensive magnetic resonance imaging acquisition and postprocessing at experienced centers. LA intra-atrial dyssynchrony assessment is an emerging imaging technique that predicts AF recurrence after catheter ablation. We hypothesized that 1) LA intra-atrial dyssynchrony is associated with LA-LGE in patients with AF and 2) LA intra-atrial dyssynchrony is greater in patients with persistent AF than in those with paroxysmal AF. Method: We conducted a cross-sectional study comparing LA intra-atrial dyssynchrony and LA-LGE in 146 patients with a history of AF (60.0 ± 10.0 years, 30.1% nonparoxysmal AF) who underwent pre-AF ablation cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in sinus rhythm. Using tissue-tracking CMR, we measured the LA longitudinal strain in two- and four-chamber views. We defined intra-atrial dyssynchrony as the standard deviation (SD) of the time to peak longitudinal strain (SD-TPS, in %) and the SD of the time to the peak pre-atrial contraction strain corrected by the cycle length (SD-TPSpreA, in %). We used the image intensity ratio (IIR) to quantify LA-LGE. Results: Intra-atrial dyssynchrony analysis took 5 ± 9 minutes per case. Multivariable analysis showed that LA intra-atrial dyssynchrony was independently associated with LA-LGE. In addition, LA intra-atrial dyssynchrony was significantly greater in patients with persistent AF than those with paroxysmal AF. In contrast, there was no significant difference in LA-LGE between patients with persistent and paroxysmal AF. LA intra-atrial dyssynchrony showed excellent reproducibility and its analysis was less time-consuming (5 ± 9 minutes) than the LA-LGE (60 ± 20 minutes). Conclusion: LA Intra-atrial dyssynchrony is a quick and reproducible index that is independently associated with LA-LGE to reflect the underlying tissue remodeling.

Resumo Fundamento: Estudos recentes sugerem que o realce tardio com gadolínio (RTG) no átrio esquerdo (AE) pode quantificar a remodelação tecidual subjacente que abriga a fibrilação atrial (FA). No entanto, a quantificação do RTG-AE requer um trabalho intenso de aquisição por ressonância magnética e pós-processamento em centros experientes. A avaliação da dessincronia intra-atrial no AE é uma técnica de imagem emergente que prediz a recorrência da FA após ablação por cateter. Nós levantamos as hipóteses de que 1) a dessincronia intra-atrial está associada ao RTG-AE em pacientes com FA e 2) a dessincronia intra-atrial é maior em pacientes com FA persistente do que naqueles com FA paroxística. Método: Realizamos um estudo transversal comparando a dessincronia intra-atrial no AE e o RTG-AE em 146 pacientes com história de FA (60,0 ± 10,0 anos, 30,1% com FA não paroxística) submetidos à ressonância magnética cardíaca (RMC) durante ritmo sinusal antes da ablação da FA. Com utilização de RMC com tissue tracking, medimos o strain longitudinal do AE em cortes de duas e quatro câmaras. Definimos a dessincronia intra-atrial como o desvio padrão (DP) do tempo até o pico do strain longitudinal (DP-TPS, em %) e o DP do tempo até o pico do strain antes da contração atrial corrigido pela duração do ciclo (DP-TPSpreA, em %). Utilizamos a razão da intensidade da imagem (RIM) para quantificar o RTG-AE. Resultados: A análise da dessincronia intra-atrial levou 9 ± 5 minutos por caso. A análise multivariada mostrou que a dessincronia intra-atrial no AE esteve independentemente associada ao RTG-AE. Além disso, a dessincronia intra-atrial no AE foi significativamente maior em pacientes com FA persistente do que naqueles com FA paroxística. Por outro lado, não houve diferença significativa no RTG-AE entre pacientes com FA persistente e paroxística. A dessincronia intra-atrial no AE mostrou excelente reprodutibilidade e sua análise foi menos demorada (5 ± 9 minutos) do que o RTG-AE (60 ± 20 minutos). Conclusão: A dessincronia intra-atrial no AE é um índice rápido, reprodutível e independentemente associado ao RTG-AE para indicar remodelação tecidual subjacente. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2019; 112(4):441-450)

Pulmonary Embolism Mortality in Brazil from 1989 to 2010: Gender and Regional Disparities / Mortalidade por Embolia Pulmonar no Brasil entre 1989 e 2010: Disparidades Regionais e por Gênero

Abstract Background: A significant variation in pulmonary embolism (PE) mortality trends have been documented around the world. We investigated the trends in mortality rate from PE in Brazil over a period of 21 years and its regional and gender differences. Methods: Using a nationwide database of death certificate information we searched for all cases with PE as the underlying cause of death between 1989 and 2010. Population data were obtained from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). We calculated age-, gender- and region-specific mortality rates for each year, using the 2000 Brazilian population for direct standardization. Results: Over 21 years the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) fell 31% from 3.04/100,000 to 2.09/100,000. In every year between 1989 and 2010, the ASMR was higher in women than in men, but both showed a significant declining trend, from 3.10/100,000 to 2.36/100,000 and from 2.94/100,000 to 1.80/100,000, respectively. Although all country regions showed a decline in their ASMR, the largest fall in death rates was concentrated in the highest income regions of the South and Southeast Brazil. The North and Northeast regions, the lowest income areas, showed a less marked fall in death rates and no distinct change in the PE mortality rate in women. Conclusions: Our study showed a reduction in the PE mortality rate over two decades in Brazil. However, significant variation in this trend was observed amongst the five country regions and between genders, pointing to possible disparities in health care access and quality in these groups.

Resumo Fundamento: Uma significativa variação nas tendências de mortalidade por embolia pulmonar (EP) foi documentada em todo o mundo. Investigamos as tendências na taxa de mortalidade por EP no Brasil no período de 21 anos, assim como suas diferenças regionais e de gênero. Métodos: Utilizando uma base de dados nacionais de certificados de óbito, buscamos todos os casos de EP como causa básica de morte entre 1989 e 2010. Dados populacionais foram obtidos no Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Calculamos as taxas de mortalidade específica por idade, gênero e região para cada ano, usando a população brasileira do ano 2000 para padronização direta. Resultados: Nos 21 anos, a taxa de mortalidade padronizada por idade (TMPI) caiu 31%, passando de 3,04/100.000 para 2,09/100.000. Em cada ano entre 1989 e 2010, a TMPI foi maior nas mulheres do que nos homens, tendo ambos mostrado uma significativa tendência decrescente, de 3,10/100.000 para 2,36/100.000 e de 2,94/100.000 para 1,80/100.000, respectivamente. Embora todas as regiões do país tenham apresentado um declínio em suas taxas de mortalidade padronizada por idade, as maiores quedas concentraram-se nas regiões de mais alta renda do Sul e Sudeste do Brasil. As regiões Norte e Nordeste, que têm as mais baixas rendas, apresentaram uma queda menos marcante nas taxas de mortalidade, sem qualquer alteração na taxa de mortalidade por EP nas mulheres. Conclusões: Nosso estudo mostrou uma redução na taxa de mortalidade por EP nas duas décadas no Brasil. Entretanto, houve uma significativa variação nessa tendência entre as cinco regiões do país e entre gêneros, indicando uma possível disparidade no acesso aos cuidados de saúde e sua qualidade nesses grupos.

Pulmonary Embolism Mortality in Brazil from 1989 to 2010: Gender and Regional Disparities.

BACKGROUND: A significant variation in pulmonary embolism (PE) mortality trends have been documented around the world. We investigated the trends in mortality rate from PE in Brazil over a period of 21 years and its regional and gender differences. METHODS: Using a nationwide database of death certificate information we searched for all cases with PE as the underlying cause of death between 1989 and 2010. Population data were obtained from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). We calculated age-, gender- and region-specific mortality rates for each year, using the 2000 Brazilian population for direct standardization. RESULTS: Over 21 years the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) fell 31% from 3.04/100,000 to 2.09/100,000. In every year between 1989 and 2010, the ASMR was higher in women than in men, but both showed a significant declining trend, from 3.10/100,000 to 2.36/100,000 and from 2.94/100,000 to 1.80/100,000, respectively. Although all country regions showed a decline in their ASMR, the largest fall in death rates was concentrated in the highest income regions of the South and Southeast Brazil. The North and Northeast regions, the lowest income areas, showed a less marked fall in death rates and no distinct change in the PE mortality rate in women. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed a reduction in the PE mortality rate over two decades in Brazil. However, significant variation in this trend was observed amongst the five country regions and between genders, pointing to possible disparities in health care access and quality in these groups.