Gender and contemporary risk of adverse events in atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The role of gender in decision-making for oral anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) remains controversial. METHODS: The population cohort study used electronic healthcare records of 16 587 749 patients from UK primary care (2005-2020). Primary (composite of all-cause mortality, ischaemic stroke, or arterial thromboembolism) and secondary outcomes were analysed using Cox hazard ratios (HR), adjusted for age, socioeconomic status, and comorbidities. RESULTS: 78 852 patients were included with AF, aged 40-75 years, no prior stroke, and no prescription of oral anticoagulants. 28 590 (36.3%) were women, and 50 262 (63.7%) men. Median age was 65.7 years (interquartile range 58.5-70.9), with women being older and having other differences in comorbidities. During a total follow-up of 431 086 patient-years, women had a lower adjusted primary outcome rate with HR 0.89 vs. men (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.87-0.92; P < .001) and HR 0.87 after censoring for oral anticoagulation (95% CI 0.83-0.91; P < .001). This was driven by lower mortality in women (HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.83-0.89; P < .001). No difference was identified between women and men for the secondary outcomes of ischaemic stroke or arterial thromboembolism (adjusted HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.94-1.07; P = .87), any stroke or any thromboembolism (adjusted HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.96-1.07; P = .58), and incident vascular dementia (adjusted HR 1.13, 95% CI 0.97-1.32; P = .11). Clinical risk scores were only modest predictors of outcomes, with CHA2DS2-VA (ignoring gender) superior to CHA2DS2-VASc for primary outcomes in this population (receiver operating characteristic curve area 0.651 vs. 0.639; P < .001) and no interaction with gender (P = .45). CONCLUSIONS: Removal of gender from clinical risk scoring could simplify the approach to which patients with AF should be offered oral anticoagulation.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and atrial fibrillation: catheter ablation vs. standard medical therapy - a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The latest guidelines advocate for catheter ablation (CA) over standard medical therapy (SMT) for managing atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, significant knowledge gaps exist regarding the effectiveness of CA vs. SMT in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). METHODS: PubMed, Scopus, and Embase until February 2024 were systematically searched. Given the limited number of randomized studies, propensity score-matched observational studies comparing CA with SMT in AF patients with HFpEF were also included. The primary outcome was a composite endpoint of all-cause mortality and HF hospitalization. RESULTS: Eight studies that enrolled 17,717 SMT and 2537 CA patients were included. CA was associated with a significantly lower risk of the composite endpoint of all-cause mortality and HF hospitalization (HR 0.61; 95% CI, 0.43-0.85). The risk of HF hospitalization (HR 0.44; 95% CI, 0.23-0.83), cardiovascular mortality (HR 0.43; 95% CI, 0.22-0.84), and AF recurrence (HR 0.53; 95% CI, 0.39-0.73) were also lower in the CA group. CONCLUSION: CA demonstrated significant cardiovascular morbidity and mortality benefits compared to SMT in the HFpEF population.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy in heart failure based on Strauss criteria for left bundle branch block.

AIMS: The left bundle branch block (LBBB) is a strong predictor of response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). However, a significant number of patients do not respond to the treatment. The study sought to evaluate the impact of the stricter Strauss criteria for left bundle branch block (St-LBBB) on CRT response, hospitalizations, ventricular arrhythmia (VA) events and mortality. METHODS: This study is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on heart failure (HF) patients with LBBB admitted for CRT implantation. Patients were divided into two groups according to the fulfilment or not of St-LBBB criteria. RESULTS: The study included 82 patients with ischaemic (ICM) and non-ischaemic (NICM) cardiomyopathy [46 (56%) with St-LBBB and 36 (44%) with non-St-LBBB]. Patients with St-LBBB showed higher CRT response rates compared with those with non-St-LBBB (P < 0.01), while the group with NICM exhibited the greatest benefit (P < 0.01). St-LBBB CRT responders displayed significantly lower rates of HF hospitalization (P < 0.0001) compared with the non-St-LBBB group. According to Kaplan-Meier time curves, this was primarily evident in patients with NICM (P < 0.0001). CRT responders displayed significantly fewer VA events (P < 0.001) and lower mortality rates (P < 0.0001) than non-responders. Kaplan-Meier estimates demonstrated a significantly lower incidence of VAs in NICM patients with St-LBBB (P = 0.049) compared with ICM patients with St-LBBB (P = 0.25). Lower mortality rates were observed in CRT responders than non-responders (P < 0.0001), with the group of NICM with St-LBBB criteria exhibiting the greatest benefit (P = 0.0238). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with NICM and St-LBBB present the greatest benefit concerning CRT response, HF hospitalizations, VA events and mortality. Although St-LBBB criteria seem to improve patient selection for CRT, more data are needed to elucidate the role of St-LBBB criteria in this setting.

The use of Intracardiac Echocardiography in Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation.

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW: Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) provides real-time, fluoroless imaging of cardiac structures, allowing optimal catheter positioning and energy delivery during ablation procedures. This review summarizes the use of ICE in catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). RECENT FINDINGS: Growing evidence suggests that the use of ICE improves procedural safety and facilitates radiofrequency and cryoballoon AF ablation. ICE-guided catheter ablation is associated with reduced procedural duration and fluoroscopy use. Recent studies have examined the role of ICE in guiding novel ablation techniques, such as pulsed field ablation. Finally, the use of ICE allows for early detection and timely management of potentially serious procedural complications. Intracardiac echocardiography offers significant advantages during AF ablation procedures and its use should be encouraged to improve procedural safety and efficacy.

Diagnostic yield of implantable loop recorders: results from the hellenic registry.

OBJECTIVE: Implantable loop recorders (ILRs) are increasingly being used for long-term cardiac monitoring in different clinical settings. The aim of this study was to investigate the real-world performance of ILRs-including the time to diagnosis-in unselected patients with different ILR indications. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this multicenter, observational study, 871 patients with an indication of pre-syncope/syncope (61.9%), unexplained palpitations (10.4%), and atrial fibrillation (AF) detection with a history of cryptogenic stroke (CS) (27.7%) underwent ILR implantation. The median follow-up was 28.8 ± 12.9 months. In the presyncope/syncope group, 167 (31%) received a diagnosis established by the device. Kaplan-Meier estimates indicated that 16.9% of patients had a diagnosis at 6 months, and the proportion increased to 22.5% at 1 year. Of 91 patients with palpitations, 20 (22%) received a diagnosis based on the device. The diagnosis was established in 12.2% of patients at 6 months, and the proportion increased to 13.3% at 1 year. Among 241 patients with CS, 47 (19.5%) were diagnosed with AF. The diagnostic yield of the device was 10.4% at 6 months and 12.4% at 1 year. In all cases, oral anticoagulation was initiated. Overall, ILR diagnosis altered the therapeutic strategy in 26.1% of the presyncope/syncope group, 2.2% of the palpitations group, and 3.7% of the CS group in addition to oral anticoagulation initiation. CONCLUSION: In this real-world patient population, ILR determines diagnosis and initiates new therapeutic management for nearly one-fourth of patients. ILR implantation is valuable in the evaluation of patients with unexplained presyncope/syncope, CS, and palpitations.

2024 European Heart Rhythm Association/Heart Rhythm Society/Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society/Latin American Heart Rhythm Society expert consensus statement on catheter and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation.

In the last three decades, ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) has become an evidence-based safe and efficacious treatment for managing the most common cardiac arrhythmia. In 2007, the first joint expert consensus document was issued, guiding healthcare professionals involved in catheter or surgical AF ablation. Mounting research evidence and technological advances have resulted in a rapidly changing landscape in the field of catheter and surgical AF ablation, thus stressing the need for regularly updated versions of this partnership which were issued in 2012 and 2017. Seven years after the last consensus, an updated document was considered necessary to define a contemporary framework for selection and management of patients considered for or undergoing catheter or surgical AF ablation. This consensus is a joint effort from collaborating cardiac electrophysiology societies, namely the European Heart Rhythm Association, the Heart Rhythm Society, the Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society, and the Latin American Heart Rhythm Society.

2024 European Heart Rhythm Association/Heart Rhythm Society/Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society/Latin American Heart Rhythm Society expert consensus statement on catheter and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation.

In the last three decades, ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) has become an evidence-based safe and efficacious treatment for managing the most common cardiac arrhythmia. In 2007, the first joint expert consensus document was issued, guiding healthcare professionals involved in catheter or surgical AF ablation. Mounting research evidence and technological advances have resulted in a rapidly changing landscape in the field of catheter and surgical AF ablation, thus stressing the need for regularly updated versions of this partnership which were issued in 2012 and 2017. Seven years after the last consensus, an updated document was considered necessary to define a contemporary framework for selection and management of patients considered for or undergoing catheter or surgical AF ablation. This consensus is a joint effort from collaborating cardiac electrophysiology societies, namely the European Heart Rhythm Association, the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), the Asia Pacific HRS, and the Latin American HRS.

Management of patients with an electrical storm or clustered ventricular arrhythmias: a clinical consensus statement of the European Heart Rhythm Association of the ESC-endorsed by the Asia-Pacific Heart Rhythm Society, Heart Rhythm Society, and Latin-American Heart Rhythm Society.

Electrical storm (ES) is a state of electrical instability, manifesting as recurrent ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) over a short period of time (three or more episodes of sustained VA within 24 h, separated by at least 5 min, requiring termination by an intervention). The clinical presentation can vary, but ES is usually a cardiac emergency. Electrical storm mainly affects patients with structural or primary electrical heart disease, often with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Management of ES requires a multi-faceted approach and the involvement of multi-disciplinary teams, but despite advanced treatment and often invasive procedures, it is associated with high morbidity and mortality. With an ageing population, longer survival of heart failure patients, and an increasing number of patients with ICD, the incidence of ES is expected to increase. This European Heart Rhythm Association clinical consensus statement focuses on pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and acute and long-term management of patients presenting with ES or clustered VA.

2024 European Heart Rhythm Association/Heart Rhythm Society/Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society/Latin American Heart Rhythm Society expert consensus statement on catheter and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation.

In the last three decades, ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) has become an evidence-based safe and efficacious treatment for managing the most common cardiac arrhythmia. In 2007, the first joint expert consensus document was issued, guiding healthcare professionals involved in catheter or surgical AF ablation. Mounting research evidence and technological advances have resulted in a rapidly changing landscape in the field of catheter and surgical AF ablation, thus stressing the need for regularly updated versions of this partnership which were issued in 2012 and 2017. Seven years after the last consensus, an updated document was considered necessary to define a contemporary framework for selection and management of patients considered for or undergoing catheter or surgical AF ablation. This consensus is a joint effort from collaborating cardiac electrophysiology societies, namely the European Heart Rhythm Association, the Heart Rhythm Society, the Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society, and the Latin American Heart Rhythm Society .

Atrial fibrillation post CABG and the risk of arrhythmia recurrence: the AFRODITE study.

BACKGROUND: New-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) occurs with an incidence of 20-40%. The clinical relevance of POAF remains a concern, and the need for further studies regarding the clinical management of POAF is necessary. AIM: The AFRODITE study, a prospective multicenter cohort study, had as its primary endpoint the evaluation of AF recurrence in patients post CABG over a one-year period. METHODS: Two hundred twenty-eight patients aged >50 years who underwent isolated CABG were included in the study. Patients were stratified into two groups, POAF and non-POAF, and followed for 12 months for AF recurrence, hospitalizations, and death. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-eight patients (mean age 67 years, 88.6% male) were included in the study. 28.5% of patients experienced at least one episode of POAF during index hospitalization (POAF group) and were compared with the non-POAF group (n = 163). Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that the strongest prognostic parameter for POAF was the CHA2DS2-VASc score (odds ratio = 1.61, p < 0.001). POAF patients had a worse in-hospital outcome, but the incidence of long-term AF recurrence was not statistically different (3.6% vs. 4.8%, p = 0.9). CONCLUSION: Interestingly, a one-year prospective follow-up of patients in the study did not reveal significant differences between POAF and non-POAF patients. A notable finding was that patients with a higher CHA2DS2-VASc score were more likely to develop POAF.

Progress in atrial fibrillation ablation during 25 years of Europace journal.

The first edition of Europace journal in 1999 came right around the time of the landmark publication of the electrophysiologists from Bordeaux, establishing how elimination of ectopic activity from the pulmonary veins (PVs) resulted in a marked reduction of atrial fibrillation (AF). The past 25 years have seen an incredible surge in scientific interest to develop new catheters and energy sources to optimize durability and safety of ablation, as well as study the mechanisms for AF and devise ablation strategies. While ablation in the beginning was performed with classic 4 mm tip catheters that emitted radiofrequency (RF) energy to create tissue lesions, this evolved to using irrigation and contact force (CF) measurement while increasing power. Also, so-called single-shot devices were developed with balloons and arrays to create larger contiguous lesions, and energy sources changed from RF current to cryogenic ablation and more recently pulsed field ablation with electrical current. Although PV ablation has remained the basis for every AF ablation, it was soon recognized that this was not enough to cure all patients, especially those with non-paroxysmal AF. Standardized approaches for additional ablation targets have been used but have not been satisfactory in all patients so far. This led to highly technical mapping systems that are meant to unravel the drivers for the maintenance of AF. In the following sections, the development of energies, strategies, and tools is described with a focus on the contribution of Europace to publish the outcomes of studies that were done during the past 25 years.

The burden of atrial fibrillation and heart failure in hospitalized patients: A real-world survey in a nationwide snapshot.

PURPOSE: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) are common and commonly coexisting cardiovascular diseases in hospitalized patients. We report the absolute number and interrelation between AF and HF, assess the daily burden of both diseases on the healthcare system, and describe the medical treatment in a real-world, nationwide conducted snapshot survey. METHODS: A questionnaire was equally distributed to various healthcare institutions. Data on the baseline characteristics, prior hospitalizations, and medical treatments of all hospitalized patients with AF and HF at a predefined date were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Seventy-five cardiological departments participated in this multicenter Greek nationwide study. A total of 603 patients (mean age, 74.5 ± 11.4 years) with AF, HF, or the combination of both were nationwide admitted. AF, HF, and the combination of both were registered in 122 (20.2%), 196 (32.5%), and 285 (47.3%) patients, respectively. First-time hospital admission was recorded in 273 (45.7%) of 597 patients, whereas 324 (54.3%) of 597 patients had readmissions in the past 12 months. Of the entire population, 453 (75.1%) were on beta-blockers (BBs), and 430 (71.3%) were on loop diuretics. Furthermore, 315 patients with AF (77.4%) were on oral anticoagulation, of whom 191 (46.9%) were on a direct oral anticoagulant and 124 (30.5%) were on a vitamin K antagonist. CONCLUSION: Hospitalized patients with AF and/or HF have more than one admission within a year. Coexistence of AF and HF is more common. BBs and loop diuretics are the most commonly used drugs. More than three-quarters of the patients with AF were on oral anticoagulation.

Ablation of residual potentials along the circumferential line reduces acute pulmonary vein reconnection.

INTRODUCTION: Acute pulmonary vein (PV) reconnection is frequently encountered in patients undergoing PV isolation (PVI) procedure for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. In this study, we investigated whether the identification and ablation of residual potentials (RPs), after the initial achievement of PVI, reduces acute PV reconnection rate. METHODS: Following PVI in 160 patients, mapping along the ablation line was performed to identify RPs, defined as bipolar amplitude ≥0.2 mV or 0.1-0.19 mV combined with a negative component of the unipolar electrogram. Ipsilateral PV sets with RPs were randomized to either no further ablation (Group B) or to additional ablation of the identified RPs (Group C). The primary study endpoint was spontaneous or adenosine-mediated acute PV reconnection after a 30-min waiting period and was also evaluated in ipsilateral PV sets without RPs (Group A). RESULTS: After isolation of 287 PV pairs, 135 had no RPs (Group A), whereas the remaining PV pairs were randomized to either Group B (n = 75) or Group C (n = 77). Ablation of RPs resulted in a reduction of spontaneous or adenosine-mediated PV reconnection rate (16.9% in Group C vs 48.0% in Group B; p < 0.001). Group A was associated with a significantly lower percentage of acute PV reconnection as compared to Group B (5.9% vs 48.0%; p < 0.001) and Group C (5.9% vs 16.9%; p = 0.016). CONCLUSION: After PVI achievement, the absence of RPs along the circumferential line is associated with a low likelihood of acute PV reconnection rate. Ablation of RPs significantly reduces spontaneous or adenosine-mediated acute PV reconnection rate.

European Society of Cardiology quality indicators for the management of patients with ventricular arrhythmias and the prevention of sudden cardiac death.

To develop a suite of quality indicators (QIs) for the management of patients with ventricular arrhythmias (VA) and the prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD). The Working Group comprised experts in heart rhythm management including Task Force members of the 2022 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Clinical Practice Guidelines for the management of patients with VA and the prevention of SCD, members of the European Heart Rhythm Association, international experts, and a patient representative. We followed the ESC methodology for QI development, which involves (i) the identification of the key domains of care for the management of patients with VA and the prevention of SCD by constructing a conceptual framework of care, (ii) the development of candidate QIs by conducting a systematic review of the literature, (iii) the selection of the final set of QIs using a modified-Delphi method, and (iv) the evaluation of the feasibility of the developed QIs. We identified eight domains of care for the management of patients with VA and the prevention of SCD: (i) structural framework, (ii) screening and diagnosis, (iii) risk stratification, (iv) patient education and lifestyle modification, (v) pharmacological treatment, (vi) device therapy, (vii) catheter ablation, and (viii) outcomes, which included 17 main and 4 secondary QIs across these domains. Following a standardized methodology, we developed 21 QIs for the management of patients with VA and the prevention of SCD. The implementation of these QIs will improve the care and outcomes of patients with VA and contribute to the prevention of SCD.

Predictors of recurrence after catheter ablation and electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation: an umbrella review of meta-analyses.

AIMS: The recurrence rates after catheter ablation (CA) and direct current (DC) cardioversion remain high, although they have been established treatments of rhythm control of atrial fibrillation (AF). This umbrella review systematically appraises published meta-analyses of both observational and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for the association of risk and protective factors for arrhythmia recurrence after CA and DC cardioversion of AF. METHODS AND RESULTS: Three bibliographic databases were searched up to June 2021. Evidence of association was rated as convincing, highly suggestive, suggestive, weak, or not significant with respect to observational studies and as high, moderate, low, or very low with respect to RCTs, according to established criteria. Thirty-one meta-analyses were included. Of the 28 associations between CA and the risk of arrhythmia recurrence, none presented convincing evidence, and only the time from diagnosis to ablation over 1 year provided highly suggestive evidence. The association between hypertension and metabolic profile provided suggestive evidence. The associations of Class IC and III antiarrhythmic drugs use with the recurrence after DC cardioversion were supported by an intermediate level of evidence. CONCLUSION: Although AF is a major health issue, few risk- and protective factors for AF recurrence have been identified. None of these factors examined were supported by convincing evidence, whereas established factors such as female gender and left atrial volume showed only weak association. An early CA strategy combined with treatment of metabolic syndrome and hypertension prior to CA may reduce the risk of arrhythmia recurrence. The use of antiarrhythmics can increase the success rate of DC cardioversion. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registry number: CRD42021270613.