Epidemiological characteristics, management, and outcomes of atrial fibrillation in TUNISIA: Results from the National Tunisian Registry of Atrial Fibrillation (NATURE-AF).

BACKGROUND: Contemporary registries on atrial fibrillation (AF) are scare in North African countries. HYPOTHESIS: In the context of the epidemiological transition, prevalence of valvular AF in Tunisia has decreased and the quality of management is still suboptimal. METHODS: NATURE-AF is a prospective Tunisian registry, involving consecutive patients with AF from March 1, 2017 to May 31, 2017, with a one-year follow-up period. All the patients with an Electrocardiogram-documented AF, confirmed in the year prior to enrolment were eligible. The epidemiological characteristics and outcomes were described. RESULTS: A total of 915 patients were included in this study, with a mean age of 64.3 ± 22 years and a male/female sex ratio of 0.93. Valvular AF was identified in 22.4% of the patients. The mean CHA2 DS2 VASC score in nonvalvular AF was 2.4 ± 1.6. Monotherapy with antiplatelet agents was prescribed for 13.8% of the patients. However, 21.7% of the subjects did not receive any antithrombotic agent. Oral anticoagulants were prescribed for half of the patients with a low embolic risk score. In 341 patients, the mean time in therapeutic range was 48.87 ± 28.69%. Amiodarone was the most common antiarrhythmic agent used (52.6%). During a 12-month follow-up period, 15 patients (1.64%) had thromboembolism, 53 patients (5.8%) had major hemorrhage, and 52 patients (5.7%) died. CONCLUSIONS: NATURE-AF has provided systematic collection of contemporary data regarding the epidemiological and clinical characteristics as well as the management of AF by cardiologists in Tunisia. Valvular AF is still prevalent and the quality of anticoagulation was suboptimal.

Design and Rationale of the National Tunisian Registry of Atrial Fibrillation: Protocol for a Prospective, Multicenter Trial.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an important health problem in Tunisia. A significant change in the epidemiological pattern of heart disease has been seen in the last 3 decades; however, no large prospective multicenter trial reflecting national data has been published so far. Robust data on the contemporary epidemiological profile and management of AF patients in Tunisia are limited. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to analyze, follow, and evaluate patients with AF in a large multicenter nationwide trial. METHODS: A total of 1800 consecutive patients with AF by electrocardiogram, reflecting all populations of all geographical regions of Tunisia, will be included in the study, with the objective of describing the epidemiological pattern of AF. Patients will be officially enrolled in the National Tunisian Registry of Atrial Fibrillation (NATURE-AF) only if an electrocardiogram diagnosis (12-lead, 24-hour Holter, or other electrocardiographic documentation) confirming AF is made. The qualifying episode of AF should have occurred within the last year, and patients do not need to be in AF at the time of enrollment. Patients will be followed for 1 year. Incidence of stroke or transient ischemic attack, thromboembolic events, and cardiovascular death will be recorded as the primary end point, and hemorrhagic accidents, measurement of international normalized ratio, and time in therapeutic range will be recorded as secondary end points. RESULTS: Results will be available at the end of the study; the demographic profile and general risk profile of Tunisian AF patients, frequency of anticoagulation, frequency of effective treatment, and risks of thromboembolism and bleeding will be evaluated according to the current guidelines. Major adverse events will be determined. NATURE-AF will be the largest registry for North African AF patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study would add data and provide a valuable opportunity for real-world clinical epidemiology in North African AF patients with insights into the uptake of contemporary AF management in this developing region. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03085576; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03085576 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6zN2DN2QX). REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER: RR1-10.2196/8523.

[Use of catecholamines for shock. A continuous debate!]. / L'utilisation des Catecholamines dans les etats de choc. Le debat continue!

BACKGROUND: Hypotension and shocks are frequently observed in patients requiring admission in ICU. However, the optimal adrenergic support in shock is controversial. AIM: To perform a descriptive approach of the current use of catecholamine in a medico-surgical ICU in patients with schoks. METHODS: Our study is prospective over 3 month period. Were included all patients admitted in our ICU during the study period's. We compared the populations with and without catecholamine, we analysed the catecholamine selected in various clinical settings and we studied the impact of the use of catecholamine on the patient outcomes. RESULTS: During the study's period, 226 patients were hospitalized in our service and were the subject of this study. The median age (± SD) was of 47± 24 years. During their hospitalization in the ICU, 132 patients (58.4%) presented a shock. The cardiogenic shock and the hypovolemic shock were the most observed (37.8% and 35.6% respectively). Hundred thirty patients (57.5%) received catecholamines during their stay in ICU. Eighty four patients (64.6% of the patients having received catecholamines) had received dopamine. Sixty two patients (47.7% of the patients having received catecholamines) had received dobutamine, 63 patients (48.5%) had received epinephrine and 22 patients (16.9%) had received norepinephrine. The mean's period of catecholamines use was 5 ± 4 days. Among drugs proposed in order to manage patients with cardiogenic shock, dobutamine was chosen as the first choice agent in 62% of the cases. Among drugs proposed in order to manage patients with septic shock, Dopamine was chosen as the first choice agent in 85.7 % of the cases. In our study the patients of the class C or D in the Knauss classification are significantly predisposed to receive catecholamines during their ICU stay (OR: 5.3 ; IC 95% : 1.7 - 5.7).Moreover, the needing of catecholamine use is strongly associated with high mortality (OR: 16,8; IC 95% : 16.4 - 49.2). CONCLUSION: The choice of catecholamines is a matter of debate for critically ill patients. The use of catecholamines is a clinical marker of severity and provider of mortality.

Use of heptaminol hydrochloride for catecholamine weaning in septic shock.

We analyze in the current study the impact of heptaminol hydrochloride (Heptamyl) administration in patients with septic shock requiring adrenergic support on the duration of vasopressor infusion and on catecholamine delay weaning. In this prospective study were included 49 nonconsecutive patients with septic shock requiring vasopressor infusion and with stable hemodynamic parameters during more than 24 hours. All these patients were included in a random way to receive or not heptaminol hydrochloride. The primary end point was the effect of heptaminol hydrochloride administration on duration of weaning, defined as cessation of vasopressor support. There were 32 males (65%) and 17 females (35%). The mean age (± standard deviation) was 53.9 ± 22.2 years. Norepinephrine was the most commonly used vasopressor agent (73.4%). The comparison between two groups (with and without heptaminol hydrochloride) showed that two groups had the same epidemiologic, clinical, and biologic findings on intensive care unit admission. In our study, we found that the introduction of Heptamyl was associated with a quick decrease of dose of dopamine and norepinephrine in comparison with the Heptamyl-free group. By comparing the two groups, we found that the delay of catecholamine weaning was significantly faster for the dopamine (P = 0.008) and noradrenalin (P = 0.001) in the Heptamyl group. Finally, the intensive care unit mortality rate and the hospital mortality rate were significantly lower in the Heptamyl group. Our study shows a reduction in norepinephrine and dopamine weaning duration in septic patients enrolled in the heptaminol hydrochloride group.