暂无摘要。

BACKGROUND: The autonomic nervous system plays an important role in atrial fibrillation (AF) and hypertension. Renal denervation (RDN) lowers blood pressure (BP), but its role in AF is poorly understood.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether RDN reduces AF recurrence after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI).
METHODS: This study randomized patients from 8 centers (United States, Germany) with drug-refractory AF for treatment with PVI+RDN vs PVI alone. A multielectrode radiofrequency Spyral catheter system was used for RDN. Insertable cardiac monitors were used for continuous rhythm monitoring. The primary efficacy endpoint was ≥2 minutes of AF recurrence or repeat ablation during all follow-up. The secondary endpoints included atrial arrhythmia (AA) burden, discontinuation of class I/III antiarrhythmic drugs, and BP changes from baseline.
RESULTS: A total of 70 patients with AF (52 paroxysmal, 18 persistent) and uncontrolled hypertension were randomized (RDN+PVI, n = 34; PVI, n = 36). At 3.5 years, 26.2% and 21.4% of patients in RDN+PVI and PVI groups, respectively, were free from the primary efficacy endpoint (log rank P = 0.73). Patients with mean ≥1 h/d AA had less daily AA burden after RDN+PVI vs PVI (4.1 hours vs 9.2 hours; P = 0.016). More patients discontinued class I/III antiarrhythmic drugs after RDN+PVI vs PVI (45% vs 14%; P = 0.040). At 1 year, systolic BP changed by -17.8 ± 12.8 mm Hg and -13.7 ± 18.8 mm Hg after RDN+PVI and PVI, respectively (P = 0.43). The composite safety endpoint was not significantly different between groups.
CONCLUSIONS: In patients with AF and uncontrolled BP, RDN+PVI did not prevent AF recurrence more than PVI alone. However, RDN+PVI may reduce AF burden and antiarrhythmic drug usage, but this needs further prospective validation.

暂无摘要。

BACKGROUND: Anterior-posterior electrode placement is preferred in electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation. However, the optimal anterior-posterior electrode position in relation to the heart is not studied.
RESULTS: We performed a prospective observational study on patients presenting for cardioversion of atrial fibrillation. Electrodes were placed in the anterior-posterior position and shock was delivered in a step-up approach (100 J→200 J→360 J). Fluoroscopic images were obtained, and distances were measured from points A, midanterior electrode; and B, midposterior electrode, to midpoint of the cardiac silhouette. Patients requiring one 100 J shock for cardioversion success (group I) were compared with those requiring >1 shock/100 J (group II). Logistic regression was used to determine the impact of electrode distance on low energy (100 J) cardioversion success. Computed tomography scans from this cohort were analyzed for anatomic landmark correlation to the cardiac silhouette. Of the 87 patients included, 54 (62%) comprised group I and 33 (38%) group II. Group I had significantly lower distances from the mid-cardiac silhouette to points A (5.0±2.4 versus 7.4±3.3 cm; P<0.001) and B (7.3±3.0 versus 10.0±3.8 cm; P=0.002) compared with group II. On multivariate analysis, higher distances from the mid-cardiac silhouette to point A (odds ratio, 1.33 [95% CI, 1.07-1.70]; P=0.01) and B (odds rsatio, 1.24 [95% CI, 1.05-1.50]; P=0.01) were independent predictors of low energy (100 J) cardioversion failure. Based on review of computed tomography scans, we suggest that the xiphoid process may be an easy landmark to guide proximity to the myocardium.
CONCLUSIONS: In anterior-posterior electrode placement, closer proximity to the cardiac silhouette predicts successful 100 J cardioversion irrespective of clinical factors.

BACKGROUND: The long-term impact of weight gain (WG) on cardiovascular outcomes among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is unclear.
RESULTS: We studied 62 871 (mean age, 72±12, 43% women) adult patients with AF evaluated at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center between January 1, 2010, and May 13, 2021. Serial body mass index, risk factors, comorbidities, and subsequent death and hospitalization were ascertained and stratified according to percentage WG (≥0% to <5%, ≥5% to <10%, and ≥10%). Over 4.9±3.19 years of follow-up, 27 114 (43%) patients gained weight (61%, ≥0% to <5%; 23%, ≥5% to <10%; 16%, ≥10%). Patients with progressive WG were incrementally younger (P<0.001) women (40%, 42%, and 47%) with lower median household income (P=0.002) and active smoking (8%, 13% and 13%), and they were less likely to be on a non-vitamin K oral anticoagulant (39%, 37%, and 32%). WG was incrementally associated with a significant increase in risk of hospitalization for AF (≥10% WG; hazard ratio [HR], 1.2 [95% CI, 1.2-1.3]; P<0.0001), heart failure (≥10% WG; HR, 1.44 [95% CI, 1.3-1.6]; P<0.001; ≥5% to <10% WG; HR, 1.17 [95% CI, 1.1-1.2]; P<0.001), myocardial infarction (≥10% WG; HR, 1.2 [95% CI, 1.3-1.6]; P<0.001) and all-cause stroke (4.2%, 4.3%, and 5.6%) despite significantly lower mean CHADS2Vasc score (2.9±1.7, 2.7±1.6, and 2.7±1.7). Patients with more WG were significantly more likely to receive cardiac and electrophysiologic interventions.
CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with AF, WG is incrementally associated with increased hospitalization for cardiovascular causes, particularly heart failure, stroke, myocardial infarction, and AF.

暂无摘要。

BACKGROUND: There is a considerable amount of literature available on well-known risk factors for atrial fibrillation (AF); however, available data specifically focused on the ninth decade are scarce. The main objective of this study was to assess the demographic and clinical characteristics of AF and sinus rhythm in a nonagenarian population.
METHODS: All individuals aged >90 years who were admitted to the Cardiology outpatient clinic between April 2018 and January 2019 were enrolled in the study. The demographic and clinical characteristics of all patients were recorded. All deaths that occurred during the two-year follow-up period were recorded.
RESULTS: In total, 112 nonagenarian individuals were included in the study. Of these patients, 50 (44.6%) had AF. The groups showed similarities in demographic and clinical characteristics. During a mean follow-up period of 596±44 days, 39 patients (78%) in the AF group and 35 patients (56.5%) in the sinus group died. Patients with AF showed a lower overall survival distribution than those with sinus rhythm (P=0.005, log-rank test χ2=7.734). AF was associated with an increased risk of mortality (P=0.002, hazard ratio [HR] =2.104, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.326-3.339) in multivariate Cox regression analysis, while waist circumference and total cholesterol (P=0.003, HR=0.969, 95% CI=0.949-0.989 and P=0.046, HR=0.993, 95% CI=0.986-1.000, respectively) showed a decreased risk of mortality.
CONCLUSIONS: Atrial fibrillation is very common in individuals over the age of 90 years (44.6%). Well-known risk factors do not appear to be effective in this age group, and AF is associated with a 2.1-fold increase in the risk of mortality.

OBJECTIVE: Wild-type transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTRwt-CM) is often accompanied by atrial fibrillation (AF), atrial flutter (AFL), and atrial tachycardia (AT), which are difficult to control because beta-blockers and antiarrhythmic drugs can worsen heart failure (HF). This study aimed to investigate the outcomes of catheter ablation (CA) for AF/AFL/AT in patients with ATTRwt-CM and propose a treatment strategy for CA.
RESULTS: A cohort study was conducted on 233 patients diagnosed with ATTRwt-CM, including 54 who underwent CA for AF/AFL/AT. The background of each arrhythmia and the details of the CA and its outcomes were investigated. The recurrence-free rate of AF/AFL/AT overall in ATTRwt-CM patients with multiple CA was 70.1% at 1-year, 57.6% at 2-year, and 44.0% at 5-year follow-up, but CA significantly reduced all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR): 0.342, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.133-0.876, P = 0.025], cardiovascular mortality (HR: 0.378, 95% CI: 0.146-0.981, P = 0.045), and HF hospitalization (HR: 0.488, 95% CI: 0.269-0.889, P = 0.019) compared with those without CA. There was no recurrence of the cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI)-dependent AFL, non-CTI-dependent simple AFL terminated by one linear ablation, and focal AT originating from the atrioventricular (AV) annulus or crista terminalis eventually. Twelve of 13 patients with paroxysmal AF and 27 of 29 patients with persistent AF did not have recurrence as AF. However, all three patients with non-CTI-dependent complex AFL not terminated by a single linear ablation and 10 of 13 cases with focal AT or multiple focal ATs originating beyond the AV annulus or crista terminalis recurred even after multiple CA.
CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes of CA for ATTRwt-CM were acceptable, except for multiple focal AT and complex AFL. Catheter ablation may be aggressively considered as a treatment strategy with the expectation of improving mortality and hospitalization for HF.

Cor triatriatum is a rare congenital heart abnormality in which a membrane separates the left atrium (LA; sinister) or the right atrium (dexter) into two compartments. It is also a long-forgotten cause of atrial fibrillation (AF) and substantially higher rates of blood stagnation, particularly proximal to the additional septum in the LA. In this case report, we faced a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 1 in patients with non-valvular AF due to Cor triatriatum sinister (CTS). The decision to start anticoagulants in this particular case was controversial, so we reviewed the literature to assess and address it. We present our case and discuss the indication of anticoagulants in this unique clinical scenario, accompanied by a literature review. Facing this dilemma of starting anticoagulants in special cases of CTS and AF should be individualized and need more investigation. However, till this moment, based on similar reports, it seems to be rational to consider CTS Per se as an additional risk stratification marker beyond the CHA2DS2-VASc score start anticoagulant until the surgical resection. Considering CTS as the sole indication of anticoagulant in patients with normal sinus rhythm is a complex matter that needs further investigation.

UNASSIGNED: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) represents the gold standard in the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) and the use of single-shot techniques, such as cryoballoon ablation (CBA) and pulsed field ablation (PFA) using a pentaspline catheter, has gained prominence. Recent studies hypothesize that PFA might be superior to CBA, although procedural efficacy and safety data are inconsistent. A meta-analysis was conducted to compare both energy sources for the treatment of AF.
UNASSIGNED: A structured systematic database search and meta-analysis were performed on studies investigating outcomes, periprocedural complications, and/or procedural parameters of AF patients treated by either CBA or PFA. Eleven studies reporting data from 3805 patients were included. Pulmonary vein isolation by PFA was associated with a significantly lower recurrence of atrial fibrillation/atrial tachycardia [odds ratio (OR) = 0.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.54-0.98, I2 = 20%] and fewer periprocedural complications (OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.40-0.96, I2 = 6%) compared to CBA. The lower complication rate following PFA was mainly driven by fewer phrenic nerve injuries (OR = 0.19, 95% CI = 0.08-0.43, I2 = 0%). However, there were more cases of cardiac tamponades after PFA (OR = 2.56, 95% CI = 1.01-6.49, I2 = 0%). Additionally, using PFA for PVI was associated with shorter total procedure times [mean difference (MD) = -9.68, 95% CI = -14.92 to -4.43 min, I2 = 92%] and lower radiation exposure (MD = -148.07, 95% CI = -276.50 to -19.64 µGy·mI2 = 7%).
UNASSIGNED: Our results suggest that PFA for PVI, compared to CBA, enables shorter procedure times with lower arrhythmia recurrence and a reduced risk of periprocedural complications. Randomized controlled trials need to confirm our findings.