Prognostic Impact of Body Mass Index in Atrial Fibrillation.

Background/Objectives: Contradictory results have been reported regarding the influence of obesity on the prognosis of atrial fibrillation (AF). The present study aimed to explore the potential association of body mass index (BMI) with the clinical outcomes of hospitalized patients with AF. Methods: In this retrospective, post hoc analysis of the MISOAC-AF randomized trial, 1113 AF patients were included and stratified as the following: underweight (BMI < 18 kg/m2), normal weight (BMI 18-24.9 kg/m2), overweight (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m2), and obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2). The primary outcome was all-cause mortality; the secondary composite outcome was any hospitalization related to AF, heart failure (HF), or stroke. Cox regression analysis, survival analysis, and spline curve models were utilized. Results: Of the patients (median age: 76 years (IQR: 13), male: 54.6%), the majority were overweight (41.4%), followed by obese (33%), normal weight (24%), and underweight (1.6%). During a median 31-month follow-up, 436 (39.2%) patients died and 657 (59%) were hospitalized due to AF, HF, or stroke. Underweight, overweight, and obesity groups were significantly associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality (p-values 0.02, 0.001, and <0.001, respectively), while overweight and obesity were significantly associated with the composite endpoint (p-values 0.01, <0.001, respectively) compared to normal weight. The spline curve analyses yielded that BMIs > 26.3 and > 25 were incrementally associated with all-cause mortality and the composite endpoint, respectively. A J-shaped relationship between BMI and AF prognosis was deduced. Conclusions: In conclusion, in recently hospitalized AF patients, BMI values outside the normal range were independently associated with poorer prognosis; therefore, it is essential that AF patients maintain a normal weight.

Use of apixaban in adults with congenital heart disease and atrial arrhythmias: The PROTECT-AR study.

BACKGROUND: Adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) and atrial arrhythmias (AA) face an increased risk of thromboembolic events. Limited data exist on the use of non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants for thromboprophylaxis in ACHD. We aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of apixaban in ACHD patients with AA. METHODS: PROTECT-AR (NCT03854149) was a prospective, multicenter, observational study conducted from 2019 to 2023. ACHD patients with atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, or intra-atrial re-entrant tachycardia on routine apixaban treatment were included. The historical control group consisted of patients previously on vitamin K antagonist (VKA), who were analyzed prior to their transition to apixaban. The primary effectiveness endpoint was the composite of stroke or thromboembolism. The primary safety endpoint was major bleeding. RESULTS: The study enrolled 218 ACHD patients with AA on apixaban, of which 73 were previous VKA users. The analysis covered 527 patient-years of prospective exposure to apixaban and 169 patient-years of retrospective exposure to VKA. The annualized rate of stroke or thromboembolism was 0.6% in the apixaban group and 1.8% in the VKA group (absolute difference - 1.2%; upper limit of one-sided 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.9%, lower than the predefined non-inferiority margin of +1.8%, Pnon-inferiority < 0.001). The annualized rate of major bleeding was 1.5% in the apixaban group and 2.4% in the VKA group (hazard ratio 0.64; 95% CI 0.19-2.10, P = 0.48). CONCLUSION: In ACHD patients with AA, routine apixaban use exhibited a non-inferior rate of stroke or thromboembolism compared to historical VKA use, alongside a similar rate of major bleeding.

Atrial Fibrillation Ablation in Congenital Heart Disease: Therapeutic Challenges and Future Perspectives.

The increasing prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in adults with congenital heart disease raises significant questions regarding its management. The unique underlying anatomic and physiological background further adds to the difficulty in eliminating the AF burden in these patients. Herein, we provide an overview of the current knowledge on the pathophysiology and risk factors for AF in adult congenital heart disease, with a special focus on the existing challenges in AF ablation. Emerging imaging modalities and ablation techniques might have a role to play. Evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of AF ablation in adult congenital heart disease is summarized, especially for patients with an atrial septal defect, Ebstein anomaly of the tricuspid valve, tetralogy of Fallot, and Fontan circulation. Finally, any remaining gaps in knowledge and potential areas of future research are highlighted.