Atrial fibrillation and heart failure in cardiology practice: reciprocal impact and combined management from the perspective of atrial fibrillation: results of the Euro Heart Survey on atrial fibrillation

Exploring the Prognostic Performance of MECKI Score in Heart Failure Patients with Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation Treated with Edoxaban

INTRODUCTION

Risk stratification in heart failure (HF) is essential for clinical and therapeutic management. The Metabolic Exercise test data combined with Cardiac and Kidney Indexes (MECKI) score is a validated prognostic model for assessing cardiovascular risk in HF patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). From the validation of the score, the prevalence of HF patients treated with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), such as edoxaban, for non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) has been increasing in recent years. This study aims to evaluate the reliability of the MECKI score in HFrEF patients treated with edoxaban for NVAF.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study included consecutive outpatients with HF and NVAF treated with edoxaban (n = 83) who underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). They were matched by propensity score with a retrospective group of HFrEF patients with NVAF treated with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) from the MECKI score registry (n = 844). The study endpoint was the risk of cardiovascular mortality, urgent heart transplantation, or Left Ventricle Assist Device (LVAD) implantation.

RESULTS

Edoxaban patients were treated with a more optimized HF therapy and had different clinical characteristics, with a similar MECKI score. After propensity score, 77 patients treated with edoxaban were successfully matched with the MECKI-VKA control cohort. In both groups, MECKI accurately predicted the composite endpoint with similar area under the curves (AUC = 0.757 vs. 0.829 in the MECKI-VKA vs. edoxaban-treated group, respectively, p = 0.452). The two populations' survival appeared non-significantly different at the 2-year follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

this study confirms the prognostic accuracy of the MECKI score in HFrEF patients with NVAF treated with edoxaban, showing improved predictive power compared to VKA-treated patients.

Epicardial adipose tissue, obesity and the occurrence of atrial fibrillation: an overview of pathophysiology and treatment methods

INTRODUCTION

Obesity is a chronic disease, which has significant health consequences and is a staggering burden to health care systems. Obesity can have harmful effects on the cardiovascular system, including heart failure, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and atrial fibrillation (AF). One of the possible substrates might be epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), which can be the link between AF and obesity. EAT is a fat deposit located between the myocardium and the visceral pericardium. Numerous studies have demonstrated that EAT plays a pivotal role in this relationship regarding atrial fibrillation.

AREAS COVERED

This review will focus on the role of obesity and the occurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and examine the connection between these and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT). The first part of this review will explain the pathophysiology of EAT and its association with the occurrence of AF. Secondly, we will review bariatric and metabolic surgery and its effects on EAT and AF.

EXPERT COMMENTARY

In this review, the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatments methods of AF are explained. Secondly the effects on EAT were elucidated. Due to the complex pathophysiological link between EAT, AF, and obesity, it is still uncertain which treatment strategy is superior.

Interactions Between Atrial Fibrillation and Natriuretic Peptide in Predicting Heart Failure Hospitalization or Cardiovascular Death

Background Natriuretic peptides are routinely quantified to diagnose heart failure (HF). Their concentrations are also elevated in atrial fibrillation (AF). To clarify their value in predicting future cardiovascular events, we measured natriuretic peptides in unselected patients with cardiovascular conditions and related their concentrations to AF and HF status and outcomes. Methods and Results Consecutive patients with cardiovascular conditions presenting to a large teaching hospital underwent clinical assessment, 7-day ECG monitoring, and echocardiography to diagnose AF and HF. NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) was centrally quantified. Based on a literature review, four NT-proBNP groups were defined (<300, 300-999, 1000-1999, and ≥2000 pg/mL). Clinical characteristics and NT-proBNP concentrations were related to HF hospitalization or cardiovascular death. Follow-up data were available in 1616 of 1621 patients (99.7%) and analysis performed at 2.5 years (median age, 70 [interquartile range, 60-78] years; 40% women). HF hospitalization or cardiovascular death increased from 36 of 488 (3.2/100 person-years) in patients with neither AF nor HF, to 55 of 354 (7.1/100 person-years) in patients with AF only, 92 of 369 (12.1/100 person-years) in patients with HF only, and 128 of 405 (17.7/100 person-years) in patients with AF plus HF (P<0.001). Higher NT-proBNP concentrations predicted the outcome in patients with AF only (C-statistic, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.77-0.86; P <0.001) and in other phenotype groups (C-statistic in AF plus HF, 0.66; [95% CI, 0.61-0.70]; P <0.001). Conclusions Elevated NT-proBNP concentrations predict future HF events in patients with AF irrespective of the presence of HF, encouraging routine quantification of NT-proBNP in the assessment of patients with AF.

OUP accepted manuscript

Atrial tachyarrhythmias often occur in patients with worsening heart failure (HF), and the development of atrial tachyarrhythmias in acute decompensated HF (ADHF) causes an uncontrolled heart rate (HR) and leads to further exacerbation of HF and persistence of a decompensated HF state. Landiolol, a short-acting intravenous beta-1 blocker, shows very high cardiac beta-1 selectivity and has a very short elimination half-life of approximately 4 min. As shown in several reports, the benefit of intravenous landiolol is that it lowers the ventricular rate early after the start of use without markedly deteriorating haemodynamics. After the cardiac status is stabilized by rapid control of HR, subsequent basic HF pharmacotherapy and rhythm control therapies will be effective for improving outcomes. Because of the pharmacokinetic properties of landiolol, if the patient suffers an adverse reaction such as hypotension or bradycardia, such effects can be quickly reversed by tapering the dose or discontinuing use altogether. Based on several clinical studies, this review discusses the efficacy, safety and role of intravenous landiolol in acute HR control in patients with atrial tachyarrhythmias and ADHF.

OUP accepted manuscript

Rate and rhythm control are still considered equivalent strategies for symptom control using the Atrial Fibrillation Better Care algorithm recommended by the recent atrial fibrillation guideline. In acute situations or critically ill patients, a personalized approach should be used for rapid rhythm or rate control. Even though electrical cardioversion is generally indicated in haemodynamically unstable patients or for rapid effective rhythm control in critically ill patients, this is not always possible due to the high percentage of failure or relapses in such patients. Rate control remains the background therapy for all these patients, and often rapid rate control is mandatory. Short and rapid-onset-acting beta-blockers are the most suitable drugs for acute rate control. Esmolol was the classical example; however, landiolol a newer very selective beta-blocker, recently included in the European atrial fibrillation guideline, has a more favourable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile with less haemodynamic interference and is better appropriate for critically ill patients.

Catheter Ablation for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation in Class IV Systolic Heart Failure: A Single-Center Case Series

Questions remain as to how aggressively catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation may be applied to patients with advanced systolic congestive heart failure, owing to a historic under-representation in multicenter clinical ablation trials. We sought to describe the experience of catheter ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation in Class IV systolic heart failure patients at our institution. All Class IV systolic heart failure patients (left ventricular assist device patients excluded) between 2017 and 2020 referred for radiofrequency ablation were included. Out of 10 patients, 7 agreed to proceed, had restoration of normal sinus rhythm upon completion of the catheter ablation procedure, and of which five (71%) remain in normal rhythm at a mean follow-up of 23 months. Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in patients with Class IV chronic systolic heart failure, even on advanced heart failure therapies, is feasible, and can improve heart failure status with maintenance of NSR.

Meta-Analysis of Catheter Ablation versus Medical Therapy for Heart Failure Complicated with Atrial Fibrillation

Objective

To compare the efficacy of catheter ablation and medical therapy in patients with heart failure and atrial fibrillation.

Methods

We searched randomized controlled trials comparing catheter ablation versus medical therapy for heart failure and atrial fibrillation through PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Clinical Trials Database, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. Articles were investigated for their methodological quality using the Cochrane Collaboration risk of the bias assessment tool. Forest plots, funnel plots, and sensitivity analysis were also performed on the included articles. Results were expressed as risk ratio (RR) and mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals.

Results

Nine (9) studies were included in this study with 1131 patients. Meta-analysis showed a reduction in all-cause mortality from catheter ablation compared with medical therapy (RR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.37 to 0.76; P=0.0007) and improved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (MD = 6.45, 95% CI = 3.49 to 9.41; P < 0.0001), 6-minute walking time (6MWT) (MD = 28.32, 95% CI = 17.77 to 38.87; P < 0.0001), and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) score (MD = 8.19, 95% CI = 0.30 to 16.08; P=0.04).

Conclusion

Catheter ablation had a better improvement than medical treatment in left ventricular ejection fraction, cardiac function, and exercise ability for atrial fibrillation and heart failure patients.

Temporal Relationship between Atrial Fibrillation and Heart Failure Development Analysis from a Nationwide Database

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) often co-exist and are closely intertwined, each condition worsening the other. The temporal relationships between these two disorders have not yet been fully explored. We aimed to address the outcomes of patients hospitalized with HF and AF based on the chronology of the onset of the two disorders. Methods From the administrative database for the whole French population, we identified 1,349,638 patients diagnosed with both AF and HF between 2010 and 2018; 956,086 of these AF patients developed HF first (prevalent HF), and 393,552 developed HF after AF (incident HF). The outcome analysis (all-cause death, cardiovascular (CV) death, ischemic stroke or hospitalization for HF) was performed with follow-up starting at the time of last event between AF or HF in the whole cohort and in 427,848 propensity score-matched patients. Results During follow-up (mean follow-up 1.6 ± 1.9 year), matched patients with prevalent HF had a higher risk of all-cause death (21.6 vs. 19.3%/year, hazard ratio (HR) 1.10, 95% CI 1.08–1.11), CV death (7.7 vs. 6.5%/year, HR 1.14, 95% CI 1.12–1.16) as well as re-hospitalization for HF (19.4 vs. 13.2%/year, HR 1.44, 95% CI 1.41–1.46) than those with incident HF. The risk for ischemic stroke was lower in prevalent HF than in incident HF (1.2 vs. 2.4%/year, HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.48–0.52). Conclusions We identified two distinct clinical entities: patients in whom HF preceded AF (prevalent HF) had higher mortality and higher risk of re-hospitalization for HF.

The role of atrial fibrillation catheter ablation in patients with heart failure

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) frequently coexist, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Therapeutic options for patients with AF and HFrEF are limited due to few antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) choices and historically equivocal effects of procedural interventions on mortality. However, recent randomized trials examining catheter ablation (CA) in AF patients with HFrEF have shown a beneficial effect on arrhythmic burden and HF symptoms, as well as an improvement in mortality. This review focuses on the role of CA for AF patients with HFrEF.

Prevalence, management and impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 4,200,000 patients

AIM

Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients is unclear, and its association with adverse outcomes is often overlooked. Our aim was to estimate the prevalence of COPD, its impact on clinical management and outcomes in patients with AF, and the impact of beta-blockers (BBs) on outcomes in patients with COPD.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted according to international guidelines. All studies reporting the prevalence of COPD in AF patients were included. Data on comorbidities, BBs and oral anticoagulant prescription, and outcomes (all-cause death, cardiovascular (CV) death, ischaemic stroke, major bleeding) were compared according to COPD and BB status. Among 46 studies, pooled prevalence of COPD was 13% [95% confidence intervals (CI) 10-16%, 95% prediction interval 2-47%]. COPD was associated with higher prevalence of comorbidities, higher CHA2DS2-VASc score and lower BB prescription [odds ratio (OR) 0.77, 95% CI 0.61-0.98]. COPD was associated with higher risk of all-cause death (OR 2.22, 95% CI 1.93-2.55), CV death (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.39-2.43), and major bleeding (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.17-1.80); no significant differences in outcomes were observed according to BB use in AF patients with COPD.

CONCLUSION

COPD is common in AF, being found in 13% of patients, and is associated with increased burden of comorbidities, differential management, and worse outcomes, with more than a two-fold higher risk of all-cause death and increased risk of CV death and major bleeding. Therapy with BBs does not increase the risk of adverse outcomes in patients with AF and COPD.

Optimizing prognosis in atrial fibrillation: A call to action in Portugal

Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common arrhythmia in the adult population worldwide, represents a significant burden in terms of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity and has repercussions on health economics. Oral anticoagulation (OAC) is key to stroke prevention in AF and, in recent years, results from landmark clinical trials of non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOAC) have triggered a paradigm shift in thrombocardiology. Despite these advances, there is still a significant residual vascular risk associated with silent AF, bleeding, premature sudden death and heart failure. The authors review AF epidemiologic data, the importance of new tools for early AF detection, the current role of catheter ablation for rhythm control in AF, the state-of-the-art in periprocedural OAC, the optimal management of major bleeding, the causes of residual premature death and future strategies for improvements in AF prognosis.

In-hospital Heart Rate Reduction With Beta Blockers and Ivabradine Early After Recovery in Patients With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure Reduces Short-Term Mortality and Rehospitalization

Objective: In the past years, heart rate (HR) has emerged as a highly relevant modifiable risk factor for heart failure (HF) patients. However, most of the clinical trials so far evaluated the role of HR in stable chronic HF cohorts. The aim of this multi-center, prospective observational study was to assess the association between HR and therapy with HR modulators (beta blockers, ivabradine, or a combination of ivabradine and beta blockers) at hospital discharge with patients' cardiovascular mortality and re-hospitalization at 6 months in acutely decompensated HF patients.

Materials and Methods: We recruited 289 HF patients discharged alive after admission for HF decompensation from 10 centers in northern Italy over 9 months (from April 2017 to January 2018). The primary endpoint was the combination of cardiovascular mortality or re-hospitalizations for HF at 6 months.

Results: At 6 months after discharge, 64 patients were readmitted (32%), and 39 patients died (16%). Multivariate analysis showed that HR at discharge ≥ 90 bpm (OR = 8.47; p = 0.016) independently predicted cardiovascular mortality, while therapy with beta blockers at discharge was found to reduce the risk of the composite endpoint. In patients receiving HR modulators the event rates for the composite endpoint, all-cause mortality, and cardiovascular mortality were lower than in patients not receiving HR modulators.

Conclusions: Heart rate at discharge ≥90 bpm predicts cardiovascular mortality, while therapy with beta blockers is negatively associated with the composite endpoint of cardiovascular mortality and hospitalization at 6 months in acutely decompensated HF patients. Patients receiving a HR modulation therapy at hospital discharge showed the lowest rate of cardiovascular mortality and re-hospitalization.

Hemodynamic Management of Patients with Ejection Fraction < 50% Undergoing Pulmonary Vein Ablation

There is no consensus regarding optimal methodology forblood pressure monitoring inpatients with a depressed ejection fraction undergoingcatheter ablationfor atrial fibrillation. Our goalswere to determine ifhemodynamicmanagementdifferences exist during radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation in patients with and without an ejection fraction< 50%, and whether management was influenced by the utilization of invasive arterial blood pressure monitoring. This single-center trial retrospectively compared blood pressure management during catheterablation of atrial fibrillationin all patients with an ejection fraction< 50% over a 2-year span (n=44), and compared to an age-matched cohort with preserved ejection fraction ablated over the same span in time (n=44). Blood pressure was not significantly managed differently between the groups, and did not appear to be influenced by the use of invasive arterial blood pressure monitoring.Hemodynamic management is similar across the spectrum of ejection fraction, regardless of invasive arterial blood pressure monitoring, which challenges the need for invasive arterial blood pressure monitoringduringcatheter ablation ofatrial fibrillationin left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation patients with heart failure: GARFIELD-AF

Aims

Heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) may coexist and influence each other. However, characteristics, anticoagulant treatment, and outcomes of contemporary AF patients with concurrent HF are ill‐defined. This study analyses characteristics, treatment, and 2 year outcomes in newly diagnosed Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD‐Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD‐AF) patients with vs. without HF.

Methods and results

GARFIELD‐AF is the world's largest observational AF patient study. At enrolment, 11 758 of 52 072 patients (22.6%) had HF; 76.3% were New York Heart Association class II–III. Patients with HF had comparable demographics, blood pressure, and heart rate but more likely had permanent (15.6% vs. 11.9%) or persistent AF (18.9% vs. 13.8%), acute coronary syndromes (16.7% vs. 8.9%), vascular disease (40.8% vs. 20.2%), and moderate‐to‐severe chronic kidney disease (14.6% vs. 9.0%) than those without. Anticoagulant prescription was similar between the two groups. At 2 year follow‐up, patients with HF showed a greater risk of all‐cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR), 2.06; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.91–2.21; P < 0.0001], cardiovascular mortality (HR, 2.91; 95% CI, 2.58–3.29; P < 0.0001), acute coronary syndromes (HR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.02–1.52; P = 0.03), and stroke/systemic embolism (HR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.07–1.43; P = 0.0044). Major bleeding rate was comparable (adjusted HR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.84–1.18; P = 0.968). Among patients without HF at baseline, incidence of new HF was low [0.69 (95% CI, 0.63–0.75) per 100 person‐years], whereas propensity to develop worsening HF was higher in those with HF [1.62 (95% CI, 1.45–1.80) per 100 person‐years].

Conclusions

Patients with AF and HF have a high risk of all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality and stroke/systemic embolism and may develop worsening HF.

The Euro Heart Survey and EURObservational Research Programme (EORP) in atrial fibrillation registries: contribution to epidemiology, clinical management and therapy of atrial fibrillation patients over the last 20 years

Management of atrial fibrillation (AF) may be challenging in clinical practice. Given the complexity of AF patients and the continuous advances in AF clinical management, there is a need for standardized programmes aimed at collecting so-called 'real-world clinical practice data' regarding the epidemiology, diagnostic/therapeutic/management practices and assessing adherence to guidelines. Over the past 20 years, the number of registries and surveys based on real-world AF patients has been dramatically increased. In Europe, based on the Euro Heart Survey (EHS) and the EURObservational Research Programme (EORP), a large series of studies based on these prospective, observational, large-scale multicentre registries on AF have been published. This narrative review gives an overview of these two projects on AF led by the European Society of Cardiology, focusing mainly on the contribution that these studies have provided to AF management and patient outcomes. Both the EHS and the EORP registries have collected a large amount of data regarding contemporary clinical practice, and despite some limitations, mainly related to their observational nature, these registries have contributed to our knowledge and clinical management of AF patients.

Major bleeding risk with non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant vs. aspirin in heart failure: network meta-analysis

Aims

Relative bleeding risks of different antithrombotic agents in heart failure (HF) patients is an important consideration in treatment decision making, making detailed comparative analysis desirable. The aim of this study was to conduct a network meta‐analysis to investigate the major bleeding risk for individual novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) vs. aspirin among patients with HF.

Methods and results

We searched Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane Collaboration Central Register of Controlled Clinical Trials, and Clinicaltrials.gov from 1966 to November 2019 to identify relevant randomized clinical trials. Studies comparing individual NOACs vs. aspirin were analysed using direct study‐level meta‐analysis. Studies comparing aspirin to warfarin and NOACs to warfarin were then additionally added using network (direct and indirect) study‐level meta‐analysis. Primary endpoint was major bleeding. Final analysis included nine trials with 34 367 participants, including one direct comparison trial (apixaban vs. aspirin) and eight indirect comparison trials against the shared warfarin comparator (four aspirin trials and one trial each of apixaban, dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and edoxaban). For apixaban, network meta‐analysis combing direct and indirect comparison showed that major bleeding risk might not be different between apixaban and aspirin (odds ratio, 1.18 [95% confidence interval, 0.38 to 3.65]) in HF patients. In contrast, indirect‐comparison meta‐analysis showed dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and edoxaban compared with aspirin might be associated with a higher risk of major bleeding in HF patients.

Conclusions

In network meta‐analysis, apixaban might be associated with a comparable risk of major bleeding compared with aspirin in patients with HF, while other NOACs might be associated with a higher risk. However, such results were not strongly convincing because of lack of direct comparison in an original trial and small sample size of trials and participants. A clinical trial directly comparing apixaban vs. aspirin in patients with HF and sinus rhythm may be worth undertaking.

Novel rate control strategy with landiolol in patients with cardiac dysfunction and atrial fibrillation

While patients with acute heart failure often have tachycardia with atrial fibrillation, there have been no established medical tools that control tachycardia safely and definitely. Digoxin has been recommended as a first choice in the former guidelines, but it takes time to affect and has a risk of adverse events particularly for those with chronic kidney disease. Landiolol is a recently innovated ultra‐short‐acting beta‐blocker with 251‐fold β1/β2 selectivity, which was originally indicated only to control peri‐operative supra‐ventricular tachyarrhythmia by 2013 in Japan. We aimed to review how to use landiolol in patients with cardiac dysfunction and tachycardia due to atrial fibrillation. We reviewed recently conducted randomized control trials using landiolol, recently updated guidelines, as well as current practical use of landiolol. Japan landiolol vs. Digoxin (J‐Land) study demonstrated that landiolol was more effective to control tachycardia than digoxin in atrial fibrillation patients with left ventricular dysfunction in 2013. Given the result, the revised Japanese heart failure guideline recommends landiolol for rate control during atrial fibrillation in acute heart failure patients as Class IIa with evidence level B. Currently in Japan, landiolol is used for rate control, even in patients with advanced heart failure receiving continuous infusion of inotropes. The clinical use of landiolol in patients with cardiac dysfunction and tachycardia due to atrial fibrillation is increasing. Further studies are warranted to investigate the implication of faster and safer rate control using landiolol.

Long-term impact of new-onset atrial fibrillation complicating acute myocardial infarction on heart failure

Aims

New‐onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) complicating acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been associated with poor survival, but the clinical implication of NOAF on heart failure (HF) is still not well characterized. We aimed to investigate the relationship between NOAF complicating AMI and HF hospitalization.

Methods and results

Adult AMI patients identified in the New‐Onset Atrial Fibrillation Complicating Acute Myocardial Infarction in Shanghai registry who, discharged alive, had complete echocardiography and follow‐up data from February 2014 to March 2018 were included. Patients were divided according to the presence of NOAF. The outcome measures were HF hospitalization and death during the observational period (until 10 April 2019). Cox proportional hazard models were performed in the whole population and propensity score‐matched (PSM) cohort to assess the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Overall, 2075 patients (mean age: 65.2 ± 12.3 years, 77.3% were men) with AMI were analysed, of whom 228 (11.0%) developed NOAF. Advanced age, admission HF (Killip II–IV), impaired renal function, decreased left ventricular ejection fraction, increased heart rate, and left atrial enlargement were independent predictors of NOAF. Over a median observational period of 2.7 years, the annual incidence rates of HF hospitalization were 18.4% and 2.8% for patients with NOAF and sinus rhythm, respectively. After adjustment for confounders, NOAF was significantly associated with HF hospitalization (HR: 3.14, 95% CI: 2.30–4.28, P < 0.001). Similar results were obtained when accounting for the competing risk of all‐cause death (subdistribution HR: 3.06, 95% CI: 2.18–4.30, P < 0.001) or from the PSM cohort (HR: 2.82, 95% CI: 1.99–4.00, P < 0.001). Patients with persistent NOAF (HR: 5.81, 95% CI: 3.59–9.41) were at significantly higher risk of HF hospitalization when compared with those with transient one (HR: 2.61, 95% CI: 1.84–3.70, P interaction = 0.008). Although post‐MI NOAF was significantly related to cardiovascular death (annual incidence rates for NOAF and sinus rhythm were 9.4% and 2.3%, respectively; HR: 1.97, 95% CI: 1.36–2.85, P < 0.001), such an association was attenuated when HF hospitalization (modelled as a time‐varying covariate) and antithrombotic treatment were adjusted (HR: 1.37, 95% CI: 0.92–2.02, P = 0.121).

Conclusions

In patients with AMI, NOAF is strongly associated with an increased long‐term risk of HF hospitalization. Our findings suggest that strengthened secondary prevention of HF should be considered in this high‐risk population.

Frailty and Anticoagulant Therapy in Patients Aged 65 Years or Older with Atrial Fibrillation

Background: Elderly adults with atrial fibrillation (AF) are at increased risk of frailty and thromboembolic complications. However, studies on the prevalence of frailty in AF patients and data on the relationship between frailty and the use of anticoagulants are limited.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 500 participants. Patients aged 65 years or older were consecutively selected from the Chinese Atrial Fibrillation Registry study. The patient’s frailty status was assessed with use of the Canadian Study of Health and Aging Clinical Frailty Scale. We assessed the prevalence of and factors associated with frailty, and how frailty affects anticoagulant therapy.Results: In 500 elderly adults with AF (age 75.2±6.7 years; 51.6% female), 201 patients (40.2%) were frail. The prevalence of frailty was higher in females (P=0.002) and increased with age and CHA2DS2-VASc score (P for trend less than 0.001 for both). The factors associated with frailty were a history of heart failure (odds ratio [OR] 2.40, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.39‐4.14), female sex (OR 2.09, 95% CI 1.27‐3.43), and advanced age (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.09‐1.17). Frail patients were significantly less likely to have ever been prescribed anticoagulants compared with nonfrail patients (81.7 vs. 54.9%, P<0.001).Conclusions: Frailty is prevalent in elderly adults with AF, especially in females, those of advanced age, and those with heart failure. Frailty status has a significant impact on prescription of anticoagulants for high-risk AF patients.

Regional collaboration to improve atrial fibrillation care: Preliminary data from the Netherlands heart network

BACKGROUND

Guideline non-adherence and variations in therapeutic and diagnostic trajectories result in suboptimal atrial fibrillation (AF) treatments. Large academic and referral hospitals demonstrated positive effects of dedicated outpatient AF clinics. Although similar results have not been indicated in (small) non-academic hospitals yet, ample opportunities are present when collaboration is initiated on a regional level. Therefore, this study assesses the effectiveness of outpatient AF clinics in a collaborative region in the Netherlands.

METHODS

For this study baseline and 6 months follow-up data of a prospective cohort including newly or recently diagnosed AF-patients of 4 hospitals involved in the Netherlands Heart Network are used. From January'15 to March'16 patient relevant outcome measures (ie EHRA score, stroke, major bleedings, hospitalizations, serious adverse effects of medication, and mortality) are gathered. Descriptive and regression analyses are performed to assess the effectiveness of outpatient AF clinics.

RESULTS

In the analyses 448 AF-patients were included. After 6 months, significant improvements regarding EHRA score (P < 0.01), hypertension (P < 0.01), and type of AF (P < 0.01) were indicated. Results of the patient relevant outcomes showed that AF-patients were hospitalized 23 times, no major bleedings and 2 strokes occurred. Furthermore, 0 AF-patients reported serious adverse effects of medication and no AF-patients deceased.

CONCLUSIONS

Collaboration between cardiologists in a regional setting permits further improvement of AF care. Therefore, such quality targets are not exclusively reserved to large academic or referral hospitals. Although promising, future research should put effort in measuring the effectiveness of the outpatient AF clinics also on the long run.

Effects of Intravenous Landiolol on Heart Rate and Outcomes in Patients with Atrial Tachyarrhythmias and Acute Decompensated Heart Failure: A Single-Center Experience

Objective

Atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATAs) lead to clinical deterioration and worsening heart failure (HF) in patients with acute decompensated HF (ADHF). We evaluated the effects of the ultrashort-acting intravenous β1-blocker landiolol on the heart rate, hemodynamics, and outcome in patients with ATAs and ADHF.

Methods

A total of 67 consecutive hospitalized patients with ATAs and ADHF who were treated with landiolol (36 males, 67 ± 12 years) were included in this single-center retrospective study. The primary endpoints were changes in heart rate and systolic blood pressure from baseline during intravenous landiolol administration. The secondary endpoints included restoration of sinus rhythm and outcomes.

Results

The median maintenance dose of intravenous landiolol was 3.0 (range 1.0–12.0) μg/kg/min and the median treatment duration was 5 (range 1–24) days. Intravenous landiolol reduced heart rate (141 ± 17 beats/min at baseline to 99 ± 20 beats/min at 6 h, P < 0.001) without a marked reduction in blood pressure or deterioration of HF. During landiolol treatment, 15 (22%) patients had spontaneously restored sinus rhythm. Eight patients experienced in-hospital death, and 41 (69%) were discharged with sinus rhythm. During the follow-up of 16 ± 12 months, patients with sinus rhythm showed a lower frequency of rehospitalization due to worsening HF than patients with ATAs (5/41 vs. 7/18, P = 0.019).

Conclusions

Our results showed that intravenous landiolol reduces the heart rate without markedly decreasing blood pressure in patients with ATAs and ADHF. Approximately 70% of the discharged patients were in sinus rhythm, and these patients showed a lower frequency of rehospitalization due to worsening HF (UMIN-CTR no. UMIN000033650).

Clinical characteristics and thromboembolic risk of atrial fibrillation patients with and without congestive heart failure. Results from the CRATF study

Congestive heart failure (CHF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) frequently coexist and are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events.To compare baseline characteristics, comorbidities and pharmacotherapy in AF patients with concomitant CHF to those without CHF.The study included 3506 real-life AF patients with (37.1%) and without CHF - participants of the multicentre, retrospective MultiCenter expeRience in AFib patients Treated with OAC (CRAFT) trial (NCT02987062).All patients were treated with non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOAC) or vitamin K antagonists (VKA). The frequency of NOAC among patients with and without CHF was 45.6% and 43.2%, respectively (P = .17). Patients with CHF were older (73.3 vs 64.7 years, P <.001), less likely to be women (37.4% vs 42%, P = .007), had higher CHA2DS2-VASc score (3.8 ± 1.7 vs 2.6 ± 1.8, P <.001), more often had permanent AF (53.0% vs 13.4%, P <.001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (16.7% vs 4.9%, P <.001), coronary artery disease (64.3% vs 29.8%, P <.001), peripheral vascular disease (65.3% vs 31.4%, P <.001), chronic kidney disease (43.1% vs 10.0%, P <.001), liver fibrosis (5.7% vs 2.6%, P <.001), neoplasm (9.6% vs 7.3%, P = .05), history of composite of stroke, transient ischemic attack or systemic embolization (16.2% vs 10.7%, P <.001), pacemaker (27.4% vs 22.1%, P = .004), implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (22.7% vs 0.8%, P <.001) or transaortic valve implantation (4.0% vs 0.8%, P <.001), cardiac resynchronization therapy (8.7% vs 0.3%, P <.001), composite of kidney transplantation, hemodialysis or creatinine level > 2.26 mg/dL (3.6% vs 0.8%, P <.001) and had less often hypertension (69.4% vs 72.5%, P = .05).Patients with AF and CHF had a higher thromboembolic risk and had more concomitant diseases.

Is extensive atrial fibrosis in the setting of heart failure associated with a reduced atrial fibrillation burden?

Atrial fibrillation (AF) affects 10-50% of patients with chronic heart failure (HF) and is associated with poor long-term prognosis. AF is commonly associated with atrial structural remodeling (ASR), principally characterized by atrial dilatation and fibrosis. However, the occurrence of AF in the full spectrum of ASR encountered in patients with HF is poorly defined. Experimental studies have presented evidence that extensive ASR can be accompanied with a reduced burden of AF, secondary to a prominent depression of atrial excitability. This reduction in AF burden is associated with severe atrial fibrosis rather than with dilatation. Clinical studies of patients with HF point to the possibility that advanced ASR is associated with a less frequent AF occurrence than moderate ASR. Our goal in this review is to introduce the hypothesis that AF is less likely to occur in severe versus moderate atrial ASR in the setting of HF and that it is severe atrial fibrosis-associated depression of atrial excitability that reduces AF burden.

Sustained atrial fibrillation increases the risk of anticoagulation-related bleeding in heart failure

BACKGROUND

Oral anticoagulation therapy in individuals with atrial fibrillation (AF) reduces the risk of thromboembolic events at cost of an increased bleeding risk. Whether anticoagulation-related outcomes differ between patients with paroxysmal and sustained AF receiving anticoagulation is controversially discussed.

METHODS

In the present analysis of the prospective multi-center cohort study thrombEVAL, the incidence of anticoagulation-related adverse events was analyzed according to the AF phenotype. Information on outcome was centrally recorded over 3 years, validated via medical records and adjudicated by an independent review panel. Study monitoring was provided by an independent institution.

RESULTS

Overall, the sample comprised 1089 AF individuals, of whom n = 398 had paroxysmal AF and n = 691 experienced sustained AF. In Cox regression analysis with adjustment for potential confounders, sustained AF indicated an independently elevated risk of clinically relevant bleeding compared to paroxysmal AF [hazard ratio (HR) 1.40 (1.02; 1.93); P = 0.038]. For clinically relevant bleeding, a significant interaction of the pattern of AF type with concomitant heart failure (HF) was detected: HR_HF 2.45 (1.51, 3.98) vs. HR_{no HF} 0.85 (0.55, 1.34); P_interaction = 0.003. In HF patients, sustained AF indicated also an elevated risk of major bleeding [HR 2.25 (1.26, 4.20); P = 0.006]. A simplified HAS-BLED score incorporating only information on age (> 65 years), bleeding history, and HF with sustained AF demonstrated better discriminative performance for clinically relevant bleeding than the original version: AUC_HAS-BLED: 0.583 vs. AUC_{simplifiedHAS-BLED}: 0.642 (P = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

In HF patients receiving oral anticoagulation, sustained AF indicates a substantially elevated risk of bleeding.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

https://clinicaltrials.gov , identifier: NCT01809015.

Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation with Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

Mortality and morbidity are higher among patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure than among those with heart failure alone. Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation has been proposed as a means of improving outcomes among patients with heart failure who are otherwise receiving appropriate treatment.

METHODS

We randomly assigned patients with symptomatic paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation who did not have a response to antiarrhythmic drugs, had unacceptable side effects, or were unwilling to take these drugs to undergo either catheter ablation (179 patients) or medical therapy (rate or rhythm control) (184 patients) for atrial fibrillation in addition to guidelines-based therapy for heart failure. All the patients had New York Heart Association class II, III, or IV heart failure, a left ventricular ejection fraction of 35% or less, and an implanted defibrillator. The primary end point was a composite of death from any cause or hospitalization for worsening heart failure.

RESULTS

After a median follow-up of 37.8 months, the primary composite end point occurred in significantly fewer patients in the ablation group than in the medical-therapy group (51 patients [28.5%] vs. 82 patients [44.6%]; hazard ratio, 0.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.43 to 0.87; P=0.007). Significantly fewer patients in the ablation group died from any cause (24 [13.4%] vs. 46 [25.0%]; hazard ratio, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.32 to 0.86; P=0.01), were hospitalized for worsening heart failure (37 [20.7%] vs. 66 [35.9%]; hazard ratio, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.37 to 0.83; P=0.004), or died from cardiovascular causes (20 [11.2%] vs. 41 [22.3%]; hazard ratio, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.29 to 0.84; P=0.009).

CONCLUSIONS

Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure was associated with a significantly lower rate of a composite end point of death from any cause or hospitalization for worsening heart failure than was medical therapy. (Funded by Biotronik; CASTLE-AF ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00643188 .).

Impact of Renal Denervation on Atrial Arrhythmogenic Substrate in Ischemic Model of Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

Myocardial infarction increases the risk of heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation. Renal denervation (RDN) might suppress the development of atrial remodeling. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism of RDN in the suppression of atrial fibrillation in a HF model after myocardial infarction.

METHODS AND RESULTS

HF rabbits were created 4 weeks after coronary ligation. Rabbits were classified into 3 groups: normal control (n=10), HF (n=10), and HF-RDN (n=6). Surgical and chemical RDN were approached through midabdominal incisions in HF-RDN. Left anterior descending coronary artery in HF and HF-RDN was ligated to create myocardial infarction. After electrophysiological study, the rabbits were euthanized and the left atrial appendage was harvested for real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis and Trichrome stain. Left atrial dimension and left ventricular mass were smaller in HF-RDN by echocardiography compared with HF. Attenuated atrial fibrosis and tyrosine hydroxylase levels were observed in HF-RDN compared with HF. The mRNA expressions of Cav1.2, Nav1.5, Kir2.1, KvLQT1, phosphoinositide 3-kinase, AKT, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase in HF-RDN were significantly higher compared with HF. The effective refractory period and action potential duration of HF-RDN were significantly shorter compared with HF. Decreased atrial fibrillation inducibility was noted in HF-RDN compared with HF (50% versus 100%, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

RDN reversed atrial electrical and structural remodeling, and suppressed the atrial fibrillation inducibility in an ischemic HF model. The beneficial effect of RDN may be related to prevention of the downregulation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT/endothelial nitric oxide synthase signaling pathway.

Landiolol for rate control management of atrial fibrillation in patients with cardiac dysfunction

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is frequently associated with heart failure. Guidelines for AFib management have been recently updated and include an algorithm for acute heart rate control based on left ventricular ejection fraction and haemodynamics. Landiolol is an injectable ultra-short beta-blocker with very high beta-1 selectivity, listed in Japanese Guidelines for AFib management as potential option for rate control of patient with heart failure. Landiolol is now available in Europe with indication of controlling heart rate in AFib and supraventricular tachycardia. This review discusses existing clinical data in Japan and perspectives of landiolol use for acute rate control of AFib patients with cardiac dysfunction.

Causes of Death and Influencing Factors in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

BACKGROUND

Atrial fibrillation is associated with a higher mortality, but causes of death of atrial fibrillation patients and their specific predictors have been less well defined. We aimed to identify the causes of death among atrial fibrillation patients and secondly, clinical predictors for the different modes of deaths.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation in a four-hospital institution between 2000 and 2010 were identified. During a follow-up of 929 ± 1082 days (median 456, interquartile 10-1584), 1253 deaths were recorded (yearly rate 5.5%).

RESULTS

Cardiovascular deaths accounted for 54% and noncardiovascular for 43%. The three main causes of death were heart failure (29%), infection (18%), and cancer (12%). Fatal stroke or fatal bleeding each accounted for 7% of all deaths. On multivariate analysis, the strongest predictors of death were permanent atrial fibrillation, heart failure (whether with decreased or with preserved ejection fraction), previous bleeding, and renal failure, which were independently associated with an increase in the risk of all-cause mortality (35%, 78%, 42%, and 79%, respectively), cardiovascular mortality (43%, 129%, 46%, and 93%, respectively), and noncardiovascular mortality (21%, 45%, 40%, and 50%, respectively). Oral anticoagulant use was independently associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 0.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.54-0.71; P <.0001), cardiovascular mortality (HR 0.60; 95% CI, 0.49-0.72; P <.0001), and noncardiovascular mortality (HR 0.60; 95% CI, 0.49-0.74; P <.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of deaths were related to a cardiovascular origin, and heart failure was the most common cause of death in atrial fibrillation patients. Despite the high risk of stroke associated with atrial fibrillation, only 7% died from stroke. Optimization of management of any underlying heart disease and associated comorbidities should be a relevant therapeutic target to reduce total mortality in atrial fibrillation patients.

Clinical characteristics and prognostic impact of atrial fibrillation in patients with chronic heart failure

AIM

To assess the prevalence, clinical characteristics and independent prognostic impact of atrial fibrillation (AF) in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients, and the potential protective effect of disease-modifying medications, particularly beta-blockers (BB).

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the charts of patients referred to our center since January 2004, and collected all clinical information available at their first visit. We assessed mortality to the end of June 2015. We compared patients with and without AF, and assessed the association between AF and all-cause mortality by multivariate Cox regression and Kaplan-Meyer analysis, particularly accounting for ongoing treatment with BB.

RESULTS

A total of 903 patients were evaluated (mean age 68 ± 12 years, 73% male). Prevalence of AF was 19%, ranging from 10% to 28% in patients ≤ 60 and ≥ 77 years, respectively. Besides the older age, patients with AF had more symptoms (New York Heart Association II-III 60% vs 44%), lower prevalence of dyslipidemia (23% vs 37%), coronary artery disease (28% vs 52%) and left bundle branch block (9% vs 16%). On the contrary, they more frequently presented with an idiopathic etiology (50% vs 24%), a history of valve surgery (13% vs 4%) and received overall more devices implantation (31% vs 21%). The use of disease-modifying medications (i.e., BB and ACE inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers) was lower in patients with AF (72% vs 80% and 71% vs 79%, respectively), who on the contrary were more frequently treated with symptomatic and antiarrhythmic drugs including diuretics (87% vs 69%) and digoxin (51% vs 11%). At a mean follow-up of about 5 years, all-cause mortality was significantly higher in patients with AF as compared to those in sinus rhythm (SR) (45% vs 34%, P value < 0.05 for all previous comparisons). However, in a multivariate analysis including the main significant predictors of all-cause mortality, the univariate relationship between AF and death (HR = 1.49, 95%CI: 1.15-1.92) became not statistically significant (HR = 0.98, 95%CI: 0.73-1.32). Nonetheless, patients with AF not receiving BB treatment were found to have the worst prognosis, followed by patients with SR not receiving BB therapy and patients with AF receiving BB therapy, who both had similarly worse survival when compared to patients with SR receiving BB therapy.

CONCLUSION

AF was highly prevalent and associated with older age, worse clinical presentation and underutilization of disease-modifying medications such as BB in a population of elderly patients with CHF. AF had no independent impact on mortality, but the underutilization of BB in this group of patients was associated to a worse long-term prognosis.

Mortality After Atrioventricular Nodal Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation With Permanent Ventricular Pacing in Atrial Fibrillation

Background—

Atrioventricular nodal radiofrequency ablation (AVNA) with permanent ventricular pacing can be used to control rate in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, long-term outcomes after AVNA are uncertain, especially in light of irreversible pacemaker dependence.

Methods and Results—

We examined 9122 consecutive patients with AF. The outcomes in 453 patients with AVNA (26% of whom underwent an implantable cardiac defibrillator implant and 37% underwent cardiac resynchronization therapy implant) were compared with AF patients without AVNA after propensity score 1:1 matching. During follow-up in the propensity-matched cohort (2.41±3.23 years, median 1.23, quartiles 0.33–3.12), 100 patients died (yearly rate of death 6.6%). Mode of death was available in 86% of patients, which was cardiovascular in 67% of the patients (related to heart failure in 38%, sudden death in 5%, and other cardiovascular reason in 24%) and noncardiovascular in 33%. AVNA in patients with AF was associated with a lower risk of mortality (odds ratio 0.47, 95% confidence interval, 0.29–0.77; P =0.003), a lower risk of cardiovascular mortality (odds ratio =0.41, 95% confidence interval 0.23–0.73; P =0.003), and nonsignificant lower risk of stroke and thromboembolic events (odds ratio =0.61, 95% confidence interval 0.36–1.06; P =0.08).

Conclusions—

In sick AF patients with multiple comorbidities, AVNA with permanent ventricular pacing for rate control seems safe during follow-up and may be associated with lower mortality.

Real-world characteristics of hospitalized frail elderly patients with atrial fibrillation: can we improve the current prescription of anticoagulants?

BACKGROUND

In elderly patients, especially those older than 80 years, atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with an almost 25% increased risk of stroke. Stroke prophylaxis with anticoagulants is therefore highly recommended. The prevalence of factors that have been associated with a lower rate of prescription and adherence to anticoagulant therapy in these patients is little known. The objective of this study was to explore the clinical characteristics of elderly subjects, with and without AF, consecutively admitted to an acute geriatric unit, discussing factors that may decrease the persistence on stroke prophylaxis therapy. We also highlight possible strategies to overcome the barriers conditioning the current underuse of oral anticoagulants in this segment of the population.

METHODS

A retrospective observational study was performed on a cohort of elderly patients with and without AF admitted to the Acute Geriatric Unit of San Gerardo Hospital (Monza, Italy).

RESULTS

Compared to patients without AF (n = 1216), those with AF (n = 403) had a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (3 vs. 2, P < 0.001), number of administered drugs (4 vs. 3, P < 0.001), rate of heart failure (36.5% vs. 12%, P < 0.001) and chronic kidney disease (20.6 vs. 13.2, P < 0.001). Many patients with AF were frail (54%) or pre-frail (29%).

CONCLUSIONS

Elderly patients with AF have higher rates of conditions that affect adherence to traditional anticoagulant therapy (vitamin K antagonists, VKA). New direct oral anticoagulants (DOAs) can help overcome this problem. In order to prescribe the most appropriate VKA or DOAs, with the best efficacy/safety profile and the highest compliance, a comprehensive geriatric assessment should always accompany the scores for thrombotic and hemorrhagic risk stratification.

Is there a heart rate paradox in acute heart failure?

BACKGROUND

Higher heart rate predicts higher mortality in chronic heart failure (HF). We studied the prognostic impact of admission heart rate in acute HF and analysed the importance of its change during hospitalization.

METHODS

Acute HF patients were studied. Endpoint was all-cause death. Patients were followed-up for 12 months from hospital admission. Cox-regression analysis was used to study the association of heart rate (both as a continuous and as a categorical variable) with mortality. Analysis was stratified according to admission rhythm and to systolic dysfunction. Multivariate models were built. Patients surviving hospitalization were additionally cross-classified attending to admission and discharge heart rates – cut-offs: 100 and 80 beats per minute (bpm), respectively.

RESULTS

We analysed 564 patients. Median age was 78 years and median admission heart rate 87 bpm. In a 12-month period 205 patients died, 23 in-hospital. Mortality increased steadily with heart rate decrease. Patients with heart rate ≥ 100 bpm had a multivariate-adjusted HR of 12-month death of 0.57 (95%CI: 0.39-0.81), and the HR was 0.92 (0.85-0.98) per 10 bpm increase in heart rate. Association of heart rate with mortality was stronger in patients in sinus rhythm (SR) and in those with systolic dysfunction. Eighty-seven patients had admission heart rate ≥ 100 and discharge heart rate < 80 bpm. In them, death rate was 14.9%; in the remaining patients it was 37.7%.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher admission heart rate predicted survival advantage in acute HF. Patients presenting with tachycardia and discharged with a controlled heart rate had better outcome than those admitted non-tachycardic or discharged with a non-controlled heart rate.

Prognostic role of atrial fibrillation in patients affected by chronic heart failure. Data from the MECKI score research group

BACKGROUND

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common in heart failure (HF). It is unclear whether AF has an independent prognostic role in HF. The aim of the present study was to assess the prognostic role of AF in HF patients with reduced ejection fraction (EF).

METHODS

HF patients were followed in 17 centers for 3.15years (1.51-5.24). Study endpoints were the composite of cardiovascular (CV) death and heart transplant (HTX) and all-cause death. Data analysis was performed considering the entire population and a 1 to 1 match between sinus rhythm (SR) and AF patients. Match process was done for age±5, gender, left ventricle EF±5, peakVO2±3 (ml/min/kg) and recruiting center.

RESULTS

A total of 3447 patients (SR=2882, AF=565) were included in the study. Considering the entire population, CV death and HTX occurred in 114 (20%) AF vs. 471 (16%) SR (p=0.026) and all-cause death in 130 (23%) AF vs. 554 (19.2%) SR patients (p=0.039). At univariable Cox analysis, AF was significantly related to prognosis. Applying a multivariable model based on all variables significant at univariable analysis (EF, peakVO2, ventilation/carbon dioxide relationship slope, sodium, kidney function, hemoglobin, beta-blockers and digoxin) AF was no longer associated with adverse outcomes. Matching procedure resulted in 338 couples. CV death and HTX occurred in 63 (18.6%) AF vs. 74 (21.9%) SR (p=0.293) and all-cause death in 71 (21%) AF vs. 80 (23.6%) SR (p=0.406), with no survival differences between groups.

CONCLUSION

In systolic HF AF is a marker of disease severity but not an independent prognostic indicator.

Atrial fibrillation in heart failure: drug therapies for rate and rhythm control

Pharmacological treatment of atrial fibrillation in the context of heart failure poses numerous challenges. Management decisions are limited by contraindications to several drugs and the paucity of robust clinical trials that provide evidence-based guidance. This review proposes a structured action plan for managing atrial fibrillation coexisting with heart failure that considers published clinical guidelines and integrates recent data derived from substudies of randomized trials, including the atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure (AF-CHF) trial. Areas of uncertainty, such as target heart rates in atrial fibrillation and upstream therapies, are also discussed.

Atrial fibrillation in heart failure: The sword of Damocles revisited

Heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) frequently coexist and have emerged as major cardiovascular epidemics. There is growing evidence that AF is an independent prognostic marker in HF and affects patients with both reduced as well as preserved LV systolic function. There has been a general move in clinical practice from a rhythm control to a rate control strategy in HF patients with AF, although recent data suggests that rhythm control strategies may provide better outcomes in selected subgroups of HF patients. Furthermore, various therapeutic modalities including pace and ablate strategies with cardiac resynchronisation or radiofrequency ablation have become increasingly adopted, although their role in the management of AF in patients with HF remains uncertain. This article presents an overview of the multidimensional impact of AF in patients with HF. Relevant literature is highlighted and the effect of various therapeutic modalities on prognosis is discussed. Finally, while novel anticoagulants usher in a new era in thromboprophylaxis, research continues in a variety of new pathways including selective atrial anti-arrhythmic agents and genomic polymorphisms in AF with HF.

Dabigatran compared with warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation and symptomatic heart failure: a subgroup analysis of the RE-LY trial

AIMS

We evaluated the effects of dabigatran compared with warfarin in the subgroup of patients with previous symptomatic heart failure (HF) in the RE-LY trial.

METHODS AND RESULTS

RE-LY compared two fixed and blinded doses of dabigatran (110 and 150 mg twice daily) with open-label warfarin in 18 113 patients with AF at increased risk for stroke. Among 4904 patients with HF, annual rates of stroke or systemic embolism (SE) were 1.92% for patients on warfarin compared with 1.90% for dabigatran 110 mg [hazard ratio (HR) 0.99, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.69-1.42] and 1.44% for dabigatran 150 mg (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.51-1.10). Annual rates of major bleeding were 3.90% for the group on warfarin, compared with 3.26% for dabigatran 110 mg (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.64-1.09) and 3.10% for dabigatran 150 mg (HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.60-1.03). Rates of intracranial bleeding were significantly lower for both dabigatran dosages compared with warfarin in patients with HF (dabigatran 110 mg vs. warfarin, HR 0.34, 95% CI 0.14-0.80; dabigatran 150 mg vs. warfarin, HR 0.39, 95% CI 0.17-0.89). The relative effects of dabigatran vs. warfarin on the occurrence of stroke or SE and major bleeding were consistent among those with and without HF and those with low (≤40%) or preserved (>40%) LVEF (P interaction not significant).

CONCLUSIONS

The overall benefits of dabigatran for stroke/SE prevention, and major and intracranial bleeding, relative to warfarin in the RE-LY trial were consistent in patients with and without HF.