Prevalence of atrial fibrillation and associated factors in a population of long-term hemodialysis patients

The Frequency, Causes and Patterns of Asymptomatic Cardiac Arrhythmias in Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis

Background

The knowledge of the incidence of non-severe and clinically significant arrhythmias is limited in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The present study was conducted to determine the incidence, pattern and identify the factors predisposing to cardiac arrhythmias in patients on maintenance hemodialysis.

Materials and Methods

Forty-five patients were included in this prospective observational study conducted between June 2020 and November 2021. Patients ≥ 18 years of age on maintenance hemodialysis (three times/week for at least three months), with no intercurrent illness, uremic symptoms, and not hospitalized in the previous 3 months were included. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were noted. Arrhythmias were recorded by attaching the Holter machine to all study patients undergoing hemodialysis. We estimated the incidence, identified the pattern of cardiac arrhythmias, and explored the factors predisposing to cardiac arrhythmias.

Results

Premature atrial complexes (17.8%), premature ventricular complexes (31.1%), ventricular bigeminy (8.9%), trigeminy (8.9%), and ventricular couplets (22.2%) were observed. The patients with hyperparathyroidism, hyper/hypomagnesemia, and poor blood pressure control had significantly higher percentages of total and ventricular arrhythmias. The patients with hypomagnesemia, reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (<50%), poor blood pressure control, and receiving statins had significantly higher percentages of atrial arrhythmias. There was no statistically significant association between age, gender, diabetes mellitus, ischaemic heart disease, interdialytic weight gain, dialysis vintage, low hemoglobin, serum calcium levels, serum potassium levels, presence of left ventricular hypertrophy, pulmonary hypertension, and diastolic dysfunction with arrhythmias.

Conclusion

A high incidence of cardiac arrhythmias was noted among patients on hemodialysis.

Anticoagulation Strategies for Atrial Fibrillation in CKD Stage G5 and Dialysis Patients: An Updated Scoping Review

Clinical trials of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) often exclude patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), creating uncertainty regarding their safety and efficacy compared with warfarin. This study addresses this gap by providing key insights into anticoagulation in this high-risk population. This study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of DOACs compared to warfarin and no anticoagulation therapy in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with CKD stage G5 or on dialysis. This scoping review followed a six-stage framework and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. An exhaustive search of four databases identified relevant papers published through August 2024. The data extraction process was conducted independently, with subsequent qualitative and quantitative analyses conducted. Among the 33 studies included in the final analysis, DOACs, particularly apixaban, were associated with a 20-30% decreased major bleeding risk compared to warfarin. Stroke incidence was comparable between DOACs and vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), with apixaban showing improved prevention in severe CKD. Observational studies reported slightly lower mortality rates with DOACs, particularly apixaban, including fewer cardiovascular-related deaths than with VKAs. DOACs, particularly apixaban and rivaroxaban, demonstrate a favorable safety profile compared to warfarin, but show inconsistent evidence in balancing thromboembolic prevention and bleeding risks in patients with AF and CKD stage G5 or on dialysis. Future studies should focus on optimizing dosing strategies and evaluating long-term safety and efficacy.

Inverse association between serum chloride levels and the risk of atrial fibrillation in chronic kidney disease patients

Background

Electrolyte abnormalities are common symptoms of chronic kidney disease (CKD), but previous studies have mainly focussed on serum potassium and sodium levels. Chloride is an important biomarker for the prognosis of various diseases. However, the relationship between serum chloride levels and atrial fibrillation (AF) in CKD patients is unclear.

Objective

In this study, we sought to determine the association between serum chloride homeostasis and AF in CKD patients.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, we included patients who met the diagnostic criteria for CKD in China between 2000 and 2021. Competing risk regression for AF was performed. The associations of the baseline serum chloride concentration with heart failure (HF) and stroke incidence were also calculated by competing risk regression. The association of baseline serum chloride levels with all-cause death was determined by a Cox regression model.

Results

The study cohort comprised 20 550 participants. During a median follow-up of 350 days (interquartile range, 123-730 days), 211 of the 20 550 CKD patients developed AF. After multivariable adjustment, every decrease in the standard deviation of serum chloride (5.02 mmol/l) was associated with a high risk for AF [sub-hazard ratio (sHR) 0.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.65-0.94, P = .008]. These results were also consistent with those of the stratified and sensitivity analyses. According to the fully adjusted models, the serum chloride concentration was also associated with a high risk for incident HF (sHR 0.85, 95% CI 0.80-0.91, P < .001), a high risk for incident stroke (sHR 0.87, 95% CI 0.81-0.94, P < .001), and a high risk for all-cause death [hazard ratio (HR) 0.82, 95% CI 0.73-0.91, P < .001].

Conclusion

In this CKD population, serum chloride levels were independently and inversely associated with the incidence of AF. Lower serum chloride levels were also associated with an increased risk of incident HF, stroke, and all-cause death.

Adequacy of Dialysis and Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis

BACKGROUND

Atrial fibrillation (AF) can lead to stroke, heart failure, and mortality and has a greater prevalence in dialysis patients than in the general population. Several studies have suggested that uremic toxins may contribute to the development of AF. However, the association between dialysis adequacy and incident AF has not been well established.

METHODS

In this retrospective nationwide cohort study, we analyzed data from the Korean National Periodic Hemodialysis Quality Assessment from 2013 to 2015 of patients who received outpatient maintenance hemodialysis 3× a week. The main exposure was single pooled Kt/V (spKt/V), which is the dialysis adequacy index, and the primary outcome was the development of AF. For the primary analysis, patients were categorized into quartiles according to baseline spKt/V. The lowest quartile, representing the lowest adequacy, was used as the reference group. Fine-Gray subdistribution hazard models were used, treating all-cause mortality as a competing risk.

RESULTS

Of 25 173 patients, the mean age was 60 (51-69) years, and 14 772 (58.7%) were men. During a median follow-up of 5.7 years, incident AF occurred in a total of 3883 (15.4%) patients. Participants with a higher spKt/V tended to have lower AF incidence. In survival analysis, a graded association was observed between the risk of incident AF and spKt/V quartiles: subdistribution hazard ratios and 95% CIs for the second, third, and the highest quartile compared with the lowest quartile were 0.90 (95% CI, 0.82-0.98), 0.84 (95% CI, 0.77-0.93), and 0.79 (95% CI, 0.72-0.88), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This nationwide cohort study showed that a higher spKt/V is associated with a reduced risk of incident AF. These findings suggests that reducing uremic toxin burden through enhanced dialysis clearance may be associated with a lower risk of AF development in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.

Beyond prevalence: significance and differential impact of echocardiographic abnormalities in dialysis patients

BACKGROUND

Echocardiography is commonly used to assess hydratation status and cardiac function in kidney failure patients, but the impact of structural or functional abnormalities on the prognosis of kidney failure patients was yet to be investigated. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and clinical significance of echocardiographic abnormalities in kidney failure patients.

METHODS

This study included 857 kidney failure patients who underwent echocardiography at dialysis initiation. Patients were followed up for a median of 4.2 years for the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

Among the 857 patients studied, 77% exhibited at least one echocardiographic abnormality. The most common abnormalities were left ventricular hypertrophy and left atrial enlargement, but they were not significantly correlated with poor outcomes. Instead, the primary predictors of both major adverse cardiovascular events and mortality in kidney failure patients were left ventricular systolic function, right ventricular systolic function, left ventricular volume index, and valvular abnormalities. Although diastolic dysfunction was linked to major adverse cardiovascular events, it was not associated with mortality. Furthermore, the study revealed that increased left ventricular volume index and left ventricular systolic dysfunction had a more significant impact on peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients than on hemodialysis (HD) patients.

CONCLUSION

This study provides insights into the echocardiographic abnormalities and their association with adverse outcomes in kidney failure patients, which can help clinicians optimize the management of patients and closely monitor possible high-risk populations.

Anticoagulation for Patients With Concomitant Atrial Fibrillation and End-Stage Renal Disease: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Concomitant atrial fibrillation and end-stage renal disease is common and associated with an unfavorable prognosis. Although oral anticoagulants have been well established to prevent thromboembolism, the applicability in patients under long-term dialysis remains debatable. The study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of anticoagulation in the dialysis-dependent population.

METHODS AND RESULTS

An updated network meta-analysis based on MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library was performed. Studies published up to December 2022 were included. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs, dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban 2.5/5 mg twice daily), vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), and no anticoagulation were compared on safety and efficacy outcomes. The outcomes of interest were major bleeding, thromboembolism, and all-cause death. A total of 42 studies, including 3 randomized controlled trials, with 185 864 subjects were pooled. VKAs were associated with a significantly higher risk of major bleeding than either no anticoagulation (hazard ratio [HR], 1.47; 95% CI, 1.34-1.61) or DOACs (DOACs versus VKAs; HR, 0.74 [95% CI, 0.64-0.84]). For the prevention of thromboembolism, the efficacies of VKAs, DOACs, and no anticoagulation were equivalent. Nevertheless, dabigatran and rivaroxaban were associated with fewer embolic events. There were no differences in all-cause death with the administration of VKAs, DOACs, or no anticoagulation.

CONCLUSIONS

For dialysis-dependent populations, dabigatran and rivaroxaban were associated with better efficacy, while dabigatran and apixaban demonstrated better safety. No anticoagulation was a noninferior alterative, and VKAs were associated with the worst outcomes.

Protocol for a randomised controlled trial comparing warfarin with no oral anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation on chronic dialysis: the Danish Warfarin-Dialysis (DANWARD) trial

INTRODUCTION

Atrial fibrillation is highly prevalent in patients on chronic dialysis. It is unclear whether anticoagulant therapy for stroke prevention is beneficial in these patients. Vitamin K-antagonists (VKA) remain the predominant anticoagulant choice. Importantly, anticoagulation remains inconsistently used and a possible benefit remains untested in randomised clinical trials comparing oral anticoagulation with no treatment in patients on chronic dialysis. The Danish Warfarin-Dialysis (DANWARD) trial aims to investigate the safety and efficacy of VKAs in patients with atrial fibrillation on chronic dialysis. The hypothesis is that VKA treatment compared with no treatment is associated with stroke risk reduction and overall benefit.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The DANWARD trial is an investigator-initiated trial at 13 Danish dialysis centres. In an open-label randomised clinical trial study design, a total of 718 patients with atrial fibrillation on chronic dialysis will be randomised in a 1:1 ratio to receive either standard dose VKA targeting an international normalised ratio of 2.0-3.0 or no oral anticoagulation. Principal analyses will compare the risk of a primary efficacy endpoint, stroke or transient ischaemic attack and a primary safety endpoint, major bleeding, in patients allocated to VKA treatment and no treatment, respectively. The first patient was randomised in October 2019. Patients will be followed until 1 year after the inclusion of the last patient.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study protocol was approved by the Regional Research Ethics Committee (journal number H-18050839) and the Danish Medicines Agency (case number 2018101877). The trial is conducted in accordance with the Helsinki declaration and standards of Good Clinical Practice. Study results will be disseminated to participating sites, at research conferences and in peer-reviewed journals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS

NCT03862859, EUDRA-CT 2018-000484-86 and CTIS ID 2022-502500-75-00.

Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure in Patients with Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation and End-Stage Renal Disease on Hemodialysis: A Case Series

Non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia in the general population, and its prevalence increases among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing hemodialysis. This population presents high risk of both hemorrhagic and thrombotic events, with little evidence regarding the use of oral anticoagulation treatment (OAT) and multiple complications arising from it; however, stroke prevention with percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) is an alternative to be considered. We retrospectively describe the safety and efficacy of percutaneous LAAC in eight patients with NVAF and CKD on hemodialysis during a 12-month follow-up. The mean age was 78.8 years (range 64-86; SD ± 6.7), and seven patients were male. The mean CHA2DS2-VASC and HAS-BLED scores were high, 4.8 (SD ± 1.5) and 3.8 (SD ± 1.3), respectively. Seventy-five percent of the patients were referred for this intervention due to a history of major bleeding, with gastrointestinal bleeding being the most common type, while the remaining twenty-five percent of the patients were referred because of a high risk of bleeding. The percutaneous LAAC procedure was successfully completed in 100% of the patients, with complete exclusion of the appendage without complications or leaks exceeding 5 mm. There was one death not related to the procedure four days after the intervention. Among the other seven patients, no deaths, cardioembolic events or major bleeding were reported during the follow-up period. In our sample, percutaneous LAAC appears to be a safe and effective alternative to anticoagulation in patients with NVAF and CKD on hemodialysis.

Effect of atherosclerosis on the relationship between atrial fibrillation and ischemic stroke incidence among patients on hemodialysis

In patients undergoing hemodialysis, the impact of atrial fibrillation (AF) through cardiac thromboembolism on the development of ischemic stroke may be influenced by the severity of atherosclerosis present. However, there are no large-scale reports confirming whether the severity of atherosclerosis influences the relationship between AF and stroke development in patients requiring hemodialysis. We aimed to investigate the effects of atherosclerotic disease on the relationship between AF and new-onset ischemic stroke. This nationwide longitudinal study based on dialysis facilities across Japan used data collected from the Japanese Renal Data Registry at the end of 2019 and 2020. The exposure was AF at the end of 2019, identified using a resting 12-lead electrocardiography. The primary outcome was the incidence of cerebral infarction (CI) after 1 year. To examine whether the number of atherosclerotic diseases modified the association between AF and the outcome, we estimated the odds ratios (ORs) using a logistic regression model and then assessed the presence of global interaction using Wald test. Following the study criteria, data from 151,350 patients (mean age, 69 years; men, 65.2%; diabetic patients, 48.7%) were included in the final analysis. A total of 9841 patients had AF (prevalence, 6.5%). Between 2019 and 2020, 4967 patients (3.2%) developed ischemic stroke. The adjusted OR of AF for new-onset CI was 1.5, which showed a decreasing trend with an increasing number of atherosclerotic diseases; the interaction was not significant (P = 0.34). While age, diabetes mellitus, smoking, systolic blood pressure, and serum C-reactive protein concentration were positively associated with CI, intradialytic weight gain, body mass index, and serum albumin level were negatively associated. While we demonstrated the association between AF and new-onset CI among Japanese patients on hemodialysis, we failed to demonstrate the evidence that the association was attenuated with an increasing numbers of atherosclerotic complications.

Cardiovascular and renal outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation and stage 4-5 chronic kidney disease receiving direct oral anticoagulants: a multicenter retrospective cohort study

The role of direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and stage 4-5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) is controversial. Electronic medical records from 2012 to 2021 were retrieved for patients with AF and stage 4-5 CKD receiving oral anticoagulants. Patients were separated into those receiving DOACs (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, or edoxaban) or vitamin K antagonists (VKA). Primary outcomes included ischemic stroke (IS), systemic thrombosis (SE), major bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding, hemorrhagic stroke, acute myocardial infarction, cardiovascular death, and all-cause death. Renal outcomes included eGFR declines, creatinine doubling, progression to dialysis, and major adverse kidney events (MAKE). The primary analysis was until the end of follow up and the results at 1-year and 2-year of follow ups were also assessed. 2,382 patients (DOAC = 1,047, VKA = 1,335) between 2012 and 2021 with AF and stage 4-5 CKD were identified. The mean follow-up period was 2.3 ± 2.1 years in DOCAs and 2.6 ± 2.3 years in VKA respectively. At the end of follow up, the DOAC patients had significantly decreased SE (subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR] = 0.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.34-0.73), composite of IS/SE (SHR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.62-0.98), major bleeding (HR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.66-0.90), hemorrhagic stroke (HR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.36-0.76), and composite of bleeding events (SHR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.69-0.92) compared with VKA patients. The IS efficacy outcome revealed neutral between DOAC and VKA patients (HR = 1.05, 95% CI = 0.79-1.39). In addition, DOAC patients had significantly decreased rates of eGFR decline > 50% (SHR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.64-0.87), creatinine doubling (SHR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.67-0.95), and MAKE (SHR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.71-0.93). In patients with AF and stage 4-5 CKD, use of DOAC was associated with decreased rates of a composite of ischemic stroke/systemic embolism, a composite of bleeding events, and renal events compared to VKA. Efficacy and safety benefits associated with apixaban at standard doses were consistent throughout follow-up.

Efficacy and safety of patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing left atrial appendage closure for atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND

The relative safety and efficacy of left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) for atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have not been well defined. To evaluate the results in this cohort, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

METHODS

We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases from inception to January 2023 for all relevant studies. Our inclusion criteria were met by twelve observational studies that included 61324 patients altogether.

RESULTS

Compared with no CKD group, in-hospital mortality (OR: 2.84, 95% CI: 2.12-3.81, p<0.01, I2 = 0%), acute kidney injury (AKI) (OR: 4.39,95% CI:4.00-4.83, P<0.01, I2 = 3%), major bleeding events (OR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.29-1.60, p<0.01 I2 = 0%), and pericardial effusion/tamponade (OR 1.30; 95% CI 1.13-1.51, p < 0.01; I2 = 0%) were more common in the CKD group, especially in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). No significant difference was observed in the occurrence of stroke (OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 0.86-1.78, P = 0.25, I2 = 0%), LAAC success rates (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.33-3.16, p = 0.97, I2 = 58%) and vascular access complications (OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 0.91-1.39, p = 0.28, I2 = 0%) between the two groups. During the follow-up, there was no difference in the risk of stroke between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

CKD patients who receive LAAC have a greater risk of in-hospital mortality, AKI, pericardial effusion/tamponade, and major bleeding events than those without CKD, especially in patients with ESRD. No significant difference in the risk of stroke was found in the long-term follow-up after LAAC between the two groups, demonstrating a similar efficacy of LAAC to prevent stroke in CKD patients.

Atrial Fibrillation Ablation in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Review of Literature

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), which leads to increased cardiovascular complications. Catheter ablation (CA) has emerged as an effective and safe treatment for AF in CKD patients. CA offers tailored treatment strategies and presents a safer alternative with fewer adverse outcomes than anti-arrhythmic agents. Although CKD patients undergoing ablation have similar complication rates to non-CKD patients, they face a higher risk of hospitalization due to heart failure. Furthermore, CA shows promise in improving kidney function, particularly in individuals who maintain sinus rhythm. Future research should address limitations by including advanced CKD patients, conducting longer-term follow-ups, and developing individualized treatment approaches.

Pathophysiological concepts and screening of cardiovascular disease in dialysis patients

Dialysis patients experience 10-20 times higher cardiovascular mortality than the general population. The high burden of both conventional and nontraditional risk factors attributable to loss of renal function can explain higher rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and death among dialysis patients. As renal function declines, uremic toxins accumulate in the blood and disrupt cell function, causing cardiovascular damage. Hemodialysis patients have many cardiovascular complications, including sudden cardiac death. Peritoneal dialysis puts dialysis patients with end-stage renal disease at increased risk of CVD complications and emergency hospitalization. The current standard of care in this population is based on observational data, which has a high potential for bias due to the paucity of dedicated randomized clinical trials. Furthermore, guidelines lack specific guidelines for these patients, often inferring them from non-dialysis patient trials. A crucial step in the prevention and treatment of CVD would be to gain better knowledge of the influence of these predisposing risk factors. This review highlights the current evidence regarding the influence of advanced chronic disease on the cardiovascular system in patients undergoing renal dialysis.

Elzeftawy M, Abdelazeem B. The efficacy and safety of direct factor Xa inhibitors versus vitamin K antagonists for atrial fibrillation in patients on hemodialysis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background

Direct factor Xa inhibitors have been extensively prescribed for multiple indications; however, hemodialysis patients have been excluded from most of the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of direct factor Xa inhibitors. Therefore, the efficacy and safety of direct factor Xa inhibitors versus vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in hemodialysis patients is uncertain.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs was conducted by systematically searching PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and Cochrane through November 25, 2022. We used the fixed-effect model to pool the risk ratio (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). RevMan v5.4 software was used to pool dichotomous outcomes using RR and continuous outcomes using mean difference presented with the corresponding CI.

Results

Three RCTs with a total of 341 patients were included in our analysis. There was no difference between direct factor Xa inhibitors and VKAs regarding all-cause mortality (RR, 0.99; 95% CI [0.76, 1.30]; P = 0.96), cardiovascular mortality (RR, 1.35; 95% CI [0.71, 2.60]; P = 0.36), noncardiovascular mortality (RR, 0.75; 95% CI [0.53, 1.05]; P = 0.09), sudden mortality (RR, 1.33; 95% CI [0.53, 3.33]; P = 0.54), any cerebrovascular event (RR, 0.52; 95% CI [0.21, 1.29]; P = 0.16), ischemic stroke (RR, 0.51; 95% CI [0.19, 1.37]; P = 0.18), and hemorrhagic stroke (RR, 0.61; 95% CI [0.10, 3.70]; P = 0.59).

Conclusion

In patients with atrial fibrillation who are on hemodialysis, direct factor Xa inhibitors and VKAs were similar in terms of efficacy and safety outcomes. However, evidence is still sparse, warranting dedicated RCTs.

Ischemic stroke risk factors not included in the CHADS-VASC score in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND

In patients with atrial fibrillation, the CHA2DS2-VASC score guides stroke prevention using anticoagulants, but it is an imperfect score. Other potential risk factors such as renal failure, the type of atrial fibrillation, active smoking, cancer, sleep apnea or systemic inflammation have less well been investigated.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact of these factors on ischemic stroke risk in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

METHODS

On a population of 248 patients (124 patients with acute ischemic stroke and 124 controls), we performed a logistic regression to assess the impact of multiple non-classic risk factors for the prediction of acute ischemic stroke. Their impact on mortality was assessed by performing a survival analysis.

RESULTS

A high CHA2DS2-VASc score (OR 1.75; 95% CI 1.13-2.70; p = 0.032), treatment with anticoagulants (OR 0.19; 95% CI 0.07-0.51; p < 0.001) and permanent atrial fibrillation (OR 6.31; 95% CI 2.46-16.19; p < 0.001) were independently associated with acute ischemic stroke. Renal failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease predicted a higher mortality. After adjusting for age, sex, the CHA2DS2-VASc score and the use of anticoagulants, the only risk factor predictive for acute ischemic stroke was the permanent type of AF (OR: 8.0 [95% CI 2.5-25.5], p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The CHA2DS2-VASc score, the absence of anticoagulants and the permanent type of atrial fibrillation were the main predictive factors for the occurrence of acute ischemic stroke. Larger studies are necessary for conclusive results about other factors.

The impact of anticoagulation therapy on kidney function in patients with atrial fibrillation and chronic kidney disease

INTRODUCTION

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are closely related. These diseases share common risk factors and are associated with increased risk of thromboembolic events. Choosing the appropriate oral anticoagulant therapy (OAC) in patients with AF and CKD is challenging. Deterioration of renal function is common in patients with AF treated with OACs, although not all OACs affect the kidneys equally.

AREAS COVERED

In this review, we aim to summarize the current knowledge of the prevention of thromboembolic events in patients with AF and CKD, focusing on the impact of specific OAC agents on renal function.

EXPERT OPINION

Consideration of OAC use is mandatory in patients with AF and CKD who are at increased risk of stroke or systemic embolism. Available evidence suggests that the use of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) is associated with slower deterioration of renal function in comparison to Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). Hence, a NOAC should be used in preference to VKAs in all NOAC-eligible patients with AF and CKD. Regarding patients with end-stage renal dysfunction and those on dialysis or renal replacement therapy, the use of NOAC should be considered in line with locally relevant formal recommendations.

Left Atrial Appendage Closure During Coronary Bypass Surgery in Patients on Hemodialysis

BACKGROUND

Patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis (ESRD-HD) have a lifelong risk of atrial fibrillation-related stroke. We compared clinical outcomes in ESRD-HD patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with and without concomitant left atrial appendage (LAA) closure.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Of 2,783 consecutive patients undergoing isolated CABG between 2002 and 2020, 242 patients had ESRD-HD with sinus rhythm. The primary outcome was a composite of death and stroke. An inverse probability (IP)-weighted cohort was created based on the propensity score. The 2 IP-weighted groups had well-balanced baseline and surgical backgrounds, with an equivalent follow-up. Five-year stroke-free survival was significantly higher in patients with LAA closure (log-rank test, P=0.035). The adjusted hazard ratio of LAA closure for death and stroke was 0.43 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.20-0.92; P=0.023). Competing risk analysis showed that LAA closure was significantly associated with a risk reduction of stroke (subhazard ratio 0.26; 95% CI 0.08-0.96; P=0.028). No significant difference was observed in adjusted risk ratios for reoperation for bleeding, new atrial fibrillation, 30-day mortality, and readmission for heart failure.

CONCLUSIONS

Concomitant LAA closure during CABG can reduce the risk of death and stroke in ESRD-HD patients with normal sinus rhythm.

Evaluation of the effect of sodium zirconium cyclosilicate on arrhythmia-related cardiovascular outcomes in patients receiving chronic haemodialysis with hyperkalaemia: protocol for the multicentre, randomised, controlled DIALIZE-Outcomes study

INTRODUCTION

Patients with kidney failure receiving chronic haemodialysis have elevated risk of arrhythmias potentially increasing the likelihood of sudden cardiac death, stroke and hospitalisation. The DIALIZE study (NCT03303521) demonstrated that sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (SZC) was an efficacious and well-tolerated treatment for predialysis hyperkalaemia in patients undergoing haemodialysis. The DIALIZE-Outcomes study evaluates the effect of SZC on sudden cardiac death and arrhythmia-related cardiovascular outcomes in patients receiving chronic haemodialysis with recurrent hyperkalaemia.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

International, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted at 357 study sites across 25 countries. Adults (≥18 years) receiving chronic haemodialysis three times per week with recurrent predialysis serum potassium (K+) ≥5.5 mmol/L post long interdialytic interval (LIDI) are eligible. Patients (~2800) will be randomised 1:1 to SZC or placebo, starting at 5 g orally once daily on non-dialysis days and titrated weekly in 5 g increments (maximum 15 g) to target predialysis serum K+ 4.0-5.0 mmol/L post LIDI. The primary objective is to evaluate efficacy of SZC versus placebo in reducing occurrence of the primary composite endpoint of sudden cardiac death, stroke or arrhythmia-related hospitalisation, intervention or emergency department visit. Secondary endpoints include efficacy of SZC versus placebo in maintaining normokalaemia (serum K+ 4.0-5.5 mmol/L post LIDI) at the 12-month visit, preventing severe hyperkalaemia (serum K+ ≥6.5 mmol/L post LIDI) at the 12-month visit and reducing the incidence of individual cardiovascular outcomes. Safety of SZC will be evaluated. The study is event driven, with participants remaining in the study until 770 primary endpoint events have occurred. Average time in the study is expected to be ~25 months.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Approval was obtained from the relevant institutional review board/independent ethics committee from each participating site (approving bodies in supplementary information). The results will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS

EudraCT 2020-005561-14 and clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT04847232.

Effects of Spironolactone on Arrhythmias in Hemodialysis Patients: Secondary Results of the SPin-D Randomized Controlled Trial

Key Points

The effects of spironolactone on arrhythmia in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis are unclear. In these post hoc analyses, spironolactone resulted in a higher frequency of bradycardia and conduction blocks, compared with placebo. Close monitoring may be warranted for patients on maintenance hemodialysis receiving MRAs, while definitive trial results are awaited.

Background

Patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis (HD) have a high incidence of cardiovascular events, including arrhythmia and sudden death. Spironolactone reduces the risk of cardiovascular events and sudden death in patients with heart failure, but the effects of spironolactone on arrhythmic events in patients treated with maintenance HD are unclear.

Methods

The Safety and Cardiovascular Efficacy of Spironolactone in Dialysis-Dependent ESRD (SPin-D) trial was a 36-week randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial comparing three different doses of spironolactone with placebo in maintenance HD patients. We performed a post hoc analysis in a subset (n =57) who underwent extended electrocardiographic monitoring using a wearable device at baseline and follow-up. Generalized estimating equations models were fit to determine the associations of spironolactone (individual doses and combined) versus placebo on the incidence rate of predefined categories of arrhythmic events.

Results

The average age of participants was 55±12 years, 61% were male, and 77% were Black. The overall proportion of patients with at least one arrhythmia event was 43% (15/35) at baseline and 81% (43/53) at the end of follow-up. At the end of follow-up, the rate of bradycardic events or conduction blocks was higher in the combined spironolactone group, compared with placebo (82.4 versus 38.7 events/100 patient-days; P <0.001). Similar findings were noted in adjusted models, but did not meet statistical significance (adjusted rate ratio of 2.04; 95% confidence interval 0.83–5.05).

Conclusions

In a 36-week trial of patients receiving maintenance HD, a higher frequency of bradycardia and conduction blocks was observed among those treated with spironolactone treatment compared with placebo. Larger studies are required to investigate the longer-term effects of spironolactone on cardiac conduction in patients receiving HD.

Application of rivaroxaban in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and end-stage kidney disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Nowadays, the number of patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) complicated by end-stage renal disease (ESKD) is increasing. There are significant challenges in anticoagulation with prescription drugs because of the high risk of bleeding and embolism among these patients. However, no randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of warfarin in combination with any non-vitamin K oral anticoagulant (NOACs) have been performed in patients with baseline creatinine clearance (CrCl) <25 ml/min, which makes it difficult to justify the use of anticoagulants in such patients. Then, we aimed to collect and summarize all evidence to enable the anticoagulation of rivaroxaban, which is less cleared by the kidneys, in patients with severe renal insufficiency and to complement and improve the evidence on the use of rivaroxaban for anticoagulation.

Methods

The present systematic review and meta-analysis searched the databases of PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, CBM, and Google Scholar for relevant studies from inception to 1 June 2022, with the restriction of English and Chinese. Eligible cohort studies and RCTs that reported efficacy outcomes [composite of stroke and systemic embolism (SSE), ischemic stroke (ICS), and systemic embolization] or safety outcomes [major bleeding, intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), and gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB)] of rivaroxaban in NVAF patients with ESKD were enrolled. Two authors completed the data extraction and quality assessment work, respectively. The Cochrane Collaboration tool for assessing the risk of bias was used for RCTs, and the NEW-Castle Ottawa scale was used for study quality assessment for cohort studies. Dichotomous variables were calculated as risk factors with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and meta-analysis was performed to probe the effect of research design, rivaroxaban dose, and controlled drug factors on outcomes.

Results

In total, three studies were included for meta-analysis, involving 6,071 NVAF patients with ESKD, and two studies were included for qualitative analysis. All included studies were at low risk of bias. A meta-analysis demonstrated that mix-dose rivaroxaban caused no statistical discrepancy in the occurrence of thrombotic and bleeding events when compared to the control group (embolism, LogOR: -0.64, 95% CI: -1.05 to -0.23, P:0.25; bleeding, LogOR: -0.33, 95% CI: -0.63 to -0.03, P:0.15), and low-dose rivaroxaban produced similar results (embolism, LogOR: -1.04, 95% CI: -2.15 to 0.07, P:0.61; bleeding, LogOR: -0.81, 95% CI: -1.19 to -0.44, P:0.93).

Conclusion

In this study, low-dose rivaroxaban (10 mg, once a day) may benefit more than warfarin in patients with NVAF and ESKD.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/#recordDetails, identifier CRD42022330973.

Oral Anticoagulation Therapy in Atrial Fibrillation Patients with Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease: CODE-AF Registry

PURPOSE

Advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), including end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on dialysis, increases thromboembolic risk among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). This study examined the comparative safety and efficacy of direct-acting oral anticoagulant (DOAC) compared to warfarin or no oral anticoagulant (OAC) in AF patients with advanced CKD or ESRD on dialysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Using data from the COmparison study of Drugs for symptom control and complication prEvention of AF (CODE-AF) registry, 260 non-valvular AF patients with advanced CKD (defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min per 1.73/m²) or ESRD on dialysis were enrolled from June 2016 to July 2020. The study population was categorized into DOAC, warfarin, and no OAC groups; and differences in major or clinically relevant non-major (CRNM) bleeding, stroke/systemic embolism (SE), myocardial infarction/critical limb ischemia (CLI), and death were assessed.

RESULTS

During a median 24 months of follow-up, major or CRNM bleeding risk was significantly reduced in the DOAC group compared to the warfarin group [hazard ratio (HR) 0.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.01 to 0.93, p=0.043]. In addition, the risk of composite adverse clinical outcomes (major or CRNM bleeding, stroke/SE, myocardial infarction/CLI, and death) was significantly reduced in the DOAC group compared to the no OAC group (HR 0.16, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.91, p=0.039).

CONCLUSION

Among AF patients with advanced CKD or ESRD on dialysis, DOAC was associated with a lower risk of major or CRNM bleeding compared to warfarin and a lower risk of composite adverse clinical outcomes compared to no OAC. ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02786095).

Anticoagulation for Stroke Prevention of Concomitant Atrial Fibrillation and End-Stage Renal Disease: Insights of Cardiologists and Nephrologists From India

Introduction Patients with concomitant atrial fibrillation (AF) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are at increased risk of thrombosis and bleeding. Diligent anticoagulant therapy that prevents major bleeding is essential for stroke prevention. There is a dearth of evidence and guidance on anticoagulation in this patient subset. Methods A validated questionnaire was sent to 500 physicians across India. Anonymized responses from 353 consenting physicians (275 cardiologists and 78 nephrologists) were analyzed. Results Most physicians opined that the risk of progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 2-4 to ESRD was 1-5%, and that >10% of patients with ESRD had concomitant AF. Most physicians perceived that the risk of ischemic stroke, major bleeding, and mortality was 30-40%, <15%, and >40% respectively in patients with concomitant AF and ESRD. The first critical goal for the management of these patients was 'reduction of thrombotic risk', followed by 'prevention of bleeding' and finally 'prevention of ESRD progression' (72.0%, 68.0%, and 67.1% participants, respectively). Most participating physicians (93.8%) preferred non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) over warfarin for stroke prevention, and most of the participating physicians (94.9%) preferred an adjusted dose rather than the standard dose of the NOAC. Most of the responses were similar between cardiologists and nephrologists. Conclusion According to the survey response, patients with concomitant AF and ESRD have an increased risk of thrombosis, bleeding, and mortality. NOACs with dose adjustment are the preferred modality for stroke prevention among cardiologists and nephrologists in India, with the primary goal of preventing thrombotic events.

Uremic toxins in chronic kidney disease highlight a fundamental gap in understanding their detrimental effects on cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmogenesis

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) have an estimated 700-800 and 523 million cases worldwide, respectively, with CVD being the leading cause of death in CKD patients. The pathophysiological interplay between the heart and kidneys is defined as the cardiorenal syndrome (CRS), in which worsening of kidney function is represented by increased plasma concentrations of uremic toxins (UTs), culminating in dialysis patients. As there is a high incidence of CVD in CKD patients, accompanied by arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death, knowledge on electrophysiological remodeling would be instrumental for understanding the CRS. While the interplay between both organs is clearly of importance in CRS, the involvement of UTs in pro-arrhythmic remodeling is only poorly investigated, especially regarding the mechanistic background. Currently, the clinical approach against potential arrhythmic events is mainly restricted to symptom treatment, stressing the need for fundamental research on UT in relation to electrophysiology. This review addresses the existing knowledge of UTs and cardiac electrophysiology, and the experimental research gap between fundamental research and clinical research of the CRS. Clinically, mainly absorbents like ibuprofen and AST-120 are studied, which show limited safe and efficient usability. Experimental research shows disturbances in cardiac electrical activation and conduction after inducing CKD or exposure to UTs, but are scarcely present or focus solely on already well-investigated UTs. Based on UTs data derived from CKD patient cohort studies, a clinically relevant overview of physiological and pathological UTs concentrations is created. Using this, future experimental research is stimulated to involve electrophysiologically translatable animals, such as rabbits, or in vitro engineered heart tissues.

Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis. Should dialysis patients with atrial fibrillation receive oral anticoagulation?

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an independent risk factor for presenting atrial fibrillation (AF), which conditions an increased risk already present in CKD of suffering a thromboembolic event. And this risk is even higher in the hemodialysis (HD) population. On the other hand, in CKD patients and even more so in HD patients, the probability of suffering serious bleeding is also higher. Therefore, there is no consensus on whether or not to anticoagulate this population. Taking as a model what is advised for the general population, the most common attitude among nephrologists has been to opt for anticoagulation, even though there is no randomized studies to support it. Classically, anticoagulation has been done with vitamin K antagonists, at high cost for our patients: severe bleeding events, vascular calcification, and progression of nephropathy, among other complications. With the emergence of direct-acting anticoagulants, a hopeful outlook was opened in the field of anticoagulation, as they were postulated as more effective and safer drugs than antivitamin K. However, in clinical practice, this has not been the case. In this paper we review various aspects of AF and its anticoagulant treatment in the HD population.

Improvement in Quality of Life via Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis Therapy

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Association between atrial fibrillation and risk of end-stage renal disease among adults with diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an important risk factor in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). DM is associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases, such as atrial fibrillation (AF), due to poor glycemic control. However, few studies have focused on the risk of developing ESRD among DM patients with and without AF. This study evaluated ESRD risk among DM patients with and without AF in Taiwan. Data were retrieved from one million patients randomly sampled from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, including 6,105 DM patients with AF propensity score-matched with 6,105 DM patients without AF. Both groups were followed until death, any dialysis treatment, or December 31, 2013, whichever occurred first. AF was diagnosed by a qualified physician according to the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM), using the diagnostic code 427.31. Patients aged <20 years or diagnosed with ESRD before the index date were excluded. A Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to calculate the relative ESRD risk. Among DM patients, those with AF have more comorbidities than those without AF. We also found a 1.18-fold (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.46) increase in ESRD risk among patients with AF compared with those without AF. In addition, DM patients with hypertension, chronic kidney disease (CKD), or higher Charlson Comorbidity Index scores also have significantly increased ESRD risks than those without these complications. A 1.39-fold (95% CI: 1.04-1.86) increase in risk was observed for patients with AF among the non-CKD group. Our findings suggest that patients with DM should be closely monitored for irregular or rapid heart rates.

Protective Effect of Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation on the Renal Function in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and is associated with renal function deterioration. The protective effects of catheter ablation (CA) of AF on renal function in patients with HCM remain unsolved. From 2009 to 2020, a total of 169 consecutive patients with HCM and AF (age 70 ± 12, 87 males) were retrospectively evaluated. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was evaluated at the study enrollment or 1 month before the CA and reevaluated 3 and 12 months later. In the 169 patients, 63 underwent CA of AF (ablation group), and the remaining 106 did not (control group). After propensity score matching, 45 pairs were matched. The baseline eGFR was similar between the 2 groups (p = 0.83). During a mean follow-up period of 34 ± 27 months, sinus rhythm was maintained in 36 patients (80%) after 1.7 ± 0.8 ablation procedures. The eGFR significantly decreased from baseline to 3 months (p <0.01) and from baseline to 1 year (p <0.01) in the control group, whereas the eGFR in the ablation group was maintained both from baseline to 3 months (p = 0.94) and from baseline to 1 year (p = 1.00) after the CA. The change in the eGFR between baseline and 12 months was significantly smaller in the ablation group than in the control group (p <0.01). After logistic regression analysis, CA of AF was the independent predictor of an improvement of eGFR (odds ratio 2.81, 95% confidence interval 1.08 to 7.36, p = 0.04). In conclusion, CA of AF had a protective effect on renal function in patients with HCM.

Efficacy and safety of warfarin in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and CKD G3-G5D

Background

Observational data comparing warfarin with no treatment for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and severely reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) are conflicting and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are lacking. Most studies do not provide information on warfarin treatment quality, making them difficult to compare.

Methods

This national cohort study investigates the risk of ischaemic stroke and major bleeding during warfarin treatment compared with no oral anticoagulants in patients with NVAF, GFR category 3-5 (G3-G5) or on dialysis (G5D), with kidney transplant recipients excluded, between 2009 and 2018. Data extracted from high-quality Swedish national healthcare registries, including the Swedish Renal Registry, AuriculA-the Swedish national quality registry for atrial fibrillation and anticoagulation-and the Stroke Registry.

Results

At enrolment of 12 106 patients, 21.4% were G3, 43.5% were G4, 11.6% were G5 and 23.6% were G5D. The mean time in the therapeutic range was 70%. Warfarin compared with no treatment showed a lower risk for ischaemic stroke for G3 {hazard ratio [HR] 0.37 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.18-0.76]}, G4 [0.53 (0.38-0.74)] and G5 [0.49 (0.30-0.79)] and an increased risk of major bleeding in G4 [HR 1.22 (1.02-1.46)], G5 [1.52 (1.15-2.01)] and G5D [1.23 (1.00-1.51)]. All-cause mortality was more than halved on warfarin compared with no treatment in all GFR categories.

Conclusions

Warfarin treatment is associated with a lower risk of ischaemic stroke for patients with NVAF and G3, G4 and G5D at the cost of a higher risk of major bleeding for G4-G5D. Existing observational data are conflicting, stressing the need for RCTs on warfarin compared with no treatment in G4-G5D. Awaiting RCTs, it seems reasonable to treat selected patients on dialysis and NVAF with warfarin.

Left atrial appendage closure using WATCHMAN device in chronic kidney disease and end stage renal disease patients

BACKGROUND

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and End Stage renal Disease are considered independent risk factors for developing atrial fibrillation (AF). Percutaneous occlusion of left atrial appendage (LAAC) using WATCHMAN device is a widely accepted alternative to anticoagulation therapy to prevent ischemic stroke in AF in patients who are not candidates for anticoagulation. There is limited data regarding the utilization and periprocedural safety of this intervention in patients with CKD/ESRD.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed all hospitalization from 2016 to 2017 with (ICD-10) procedure diagnosis code of LAA closure using WATCHMAN procedure with and without a secondary diagnosis of CKD/ESRD in acute-care hospitals across the United States using the national inpatient sample. Demographic variables (gender, race, income, hospital characteristics, medical comorbidities) were collected and compared. The primary outcomes were inpatient mortality, hospital length and cost of stay.

RESULTS

There were over 71 million discharges included in the combined 2016 and 2017 NIS database. 16,505 hospitalizations were for adult patients with a procedure code for LAA closure via watchman procedure. Of 16,505 patients 3,245 (19.66%) had CKD and ESRD. There was no statistically significant difference in mortality, length and cost of stay in patients with and without CKD/ESRD. There were no statistically significant differences in periprocedural cerebrovascular accidents in both groups.

CONCLUSION

Patients with and without ESRD/CKD who undergo LAA occlusion with Watchman have similar procedure related, in-hospital mortality and complications. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Left atrial reservoir strain is an outstanding predictor of adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis: Assessment via three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography

Background

There is a paucity of literature focusing left atrium (LA) in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD).

Hypothesis

We used three‐dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3DSTE) to evaluate LA in MHD patients and to explore its predictive value for adverse outcomes.

Methods

Echocardiography was performed on 130 consecutively enrolled MHD patients without previous cardiac diseases. Conventional and 3DSTE parameters of LA were obtained. The MHD cohort was then followed and the end point was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). LA strain indices, including reservoir strain (LASr), conduit strain (LAScd), and contractile strain (LASct), were measured and compared between patients with and without MACEs.

Results

Patients were prospectively followed up for a median of 40.5 (interquartile range: 26.3–48.0) months. During follow‐up, 43 patients met the end point. These patients had larger LA size and reduced LA strains (LA maximal volume indexed: 45.1 ± 11.9 vs. 33.8 ± 6.9ml/m²; LASr: 20.2 ± 3.5 vs. 27.2 ± 3.3%; LAScd: −12.3 ± 5.2 vs. −14.5±4.0%; LASct: −8.0 ± 4.2 vs. −13.2 ± 3.7%; all p<.05), compared with those without MACEs. Multivariable regression analysis showed LASr was the strongest predictor of MACEs (hazard ratio, 0.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.54–0.89; p=.004). Univarite Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed the incidence of MACEs in the impaired LASr (<24.2%) group was significantly higher than in the normal LASr group (log rank p<.001).

Conclusions

LASr derived from 3DSTE is an independent predictor of MACEs and cardiac death in MHD patients, superior to LV parameters and LA volume indices.

U-Shaped Association of the Heart Rate Variability Triangular Index and Mortality in Hemodialysis Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common in hemodialysis patients and contributes to increased mortality. We aimed to examine heart rate variability triangular index (HRVI) in hemodialysis patients with AF as it has recently been reported to predict mortality in AF patients without kidney disease. Methods: A total of 88 patients on hemodialysis with a medical history of AF or newly diagnosed AF underwent 24-h electrocardiography recordings. The primary endpoint of cardiovascular mortality was recorded during a median follow up of 3.0 years. Risk prediction was assessed by Cox regression, both unadjusted and adjusted for the Charlson Comorbidity Index and the Cardiovascular Mortality Risk Score. Results: Median age was 76 years, median dialysis vintage was 27 months. Altogether, 22 and 44 patients died due to cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular causes. In 55% of patients AF was present during the recording. Kaplan-Meier plots of HRVI quartiles suggested a non-linear association between HRVI, cardiovascular, and all-cause mortality which was confirmed in non-linear Cox regression analysis. Adjusted linear Cox regression revealed a hazard ratio of 6.2 (95% CI: 2.1-17.7, p = 0.001) and 2.2 (95% CI: 1.3-3.8, p = 0.002) for the outer quartiles (combined first and fourth quartile) for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, respectively. Patients in the first quartile were more likely to have sinus rhythm whereas patients in the fourth quartile were more likely to have AF. Conclusions: We found a U-shaped association between HRVI and mortality in hemodialysis AF patients. The results might contribute to risk stratification independent of known risk scores in hemodialysis AF patients.

Characteristics and Prognosis of Stroke in Living Donor Renal Transplant Recipients

Aims: We aimed to determine the characteristics and vascular outcomes of stroke in renal transplant (RT) recipients and compare them with those in patients on hemodialysis (HD) and those with no renal replacement therapy (RRT).

Methods: In this prospective observational study, 717 patients (mean age, 70.8 years; male, 60.5%) with acute ischemic stroke within one week of onset were consecutively enrolled and followed for one year. The patients were classified into three groups: (1) living donor RT recipients (n=27); (2) patients on maintenance HD before the index stroke (n=39); and (3) those with no history of RRT (n=651). The primary outcome was a composite of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

Results: Diabetic nephropathy was the most common reason for RRT in both RT and HD patients. RT patients were more likely to have embolic stroke of undetermined source (33.3%) than others, whereas HD patients more often had cardioembolism (51.3%). No difference was observed in the MACE risk between the patients in RT and non-RRT groups (annual rate, 11.3% vs. 13.1%; log-rankP=0.82; hazard ratio [95% confidence interval], 0.92 [0.29-2.98]). In contrast, HD patients had a greater risk of MACE than those with no RRT (annual rate, 28.2% vs. 13.1%; log-rankP=0.019; hazard ratio [95% confidence interval], 2.24 [1.16-4.3]).

Conclusions: The underlying etiologies of stroke differed in RT and HD patients. The one-year risk of MACE for stroke patients who had received an RT was lower than that for patients undergoing HD and comparable with that of patients with no RRT.

Atrial fibrillation, end-stage renal disease and hemorrhagic pleural-pericarditis

Pericarditis is the most common pericardial disease found in clinical practice, with an incidence of acute pericarditis reported in 27.7 cases per 100,000 subjects per year. Hemodialysis in end stage renal disease (ESRD) is associated with frequent cardiovascular modifications, mostly because of the highly fluctuating levels of potassium, magnesium, ionized calcium, sodium and volume status. The risk of arrhythmias is increased and chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) can be found among approximately 14% of patients. The renal disease combined with arrhythmias increases the risk of systemic thromboembolism but also of bleeding events. Here we present the case of a male patient, with ESRD, recently diagnosed with intradialytic paroxysmal AF for which oral anticoagulation therapy is initiated, but it’s early complicated with hemorrhagic pleural-pericarditis.

Safety and Efficacy of Apixaban, Rivaroxaban, and Warfarin in End-Stage Renal Disease With Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

The use of warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) has been implicated with efficacy and safety concerns. Evidence on the role of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in this population is limited.

METHODS

Electronic databases were searched and articles comparing the safety and efficacy of warfarin with apixaban or rivaroxaban were identified. Pooled hazard ratios (HR) were computed using a random-effects model.

RESULTS

A total of eight articles consisting of 30,806 patients; (rivaroxaban 2196, apixaban 2745 and warfarin 25,865) were identified. The pooled HR for major bleeding events favored apixaban over warfarin (0.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.33-0.84, p = 0.008). Apixaban was similar to warfarin in terms of clinically relevant non-major bleeding (HR 1.08, 95% CI 0.64-1.84, p = 0.77) and stroke events (HR 1.09, 95% CI 0.85, 1.39, p = 0.99). There was no significant difference in the risk of major bleeding events (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.50-1.81, p = 0.88) and stroke between rivaroxaban (HR 1.39, 95% CI, 0.59-3.29, p = 0.09) and warfarin. The combined results of major bleeding in the apixaban group were not affected by the sensitivity analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Apixaban may have a lower risk of major bleeding and comparable risk of stroke when compared with warfarin in AF patients with ESRD.

Effectiveness and safety of rivaroxaban versus warfarin in Taiwanese patients with end-stage renal disease and nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: A real-world nationwide cohort study

BACKGROUND

The optimal anticoagulant for end-stage renal disease patients for stroke prophylaxis is unknown. The efficacy and safety of warfarin in this population are debatable. In addition, real-world evidence of direct oral anticoagulants in patients with end-stage renal disease is limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of rivaroxaban compared with warfarin in Taiwanese patients with end-stage renal disease with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation in a real-world setting.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This was a retrospective population-based cohort study conducted using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. Patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and end-stage renal disease who started on rivaroxaban or warfarin between February 2013 and September 2017 were eligible to participate in the study. The inverse probability of treatment weighting approach was used to balance baseline characteristics. Bleeding and thromboembolic outcomes were compared using competing risk analyses. The study population consisted of 3358 patients (173 and 3185 patients on rivaroxaban and warfarin, respectively). In the rivaroxaban group, 50.8%, 38.7%, and 10.4% of the patients received 10, 15, and 20 mg of the drug, respectively. The cumulative incidence of major bleeding was similar between the two groups; however, the gastrointestinal bleeding rate was lower in the rivaroxaban group (adjusted subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR]: 0.56, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.34-0.91) than in the warfarin group. Furthermore, the composite risk of ischemic stroke or systemic embolism was significantly lower in the rivaroxaban group (adjusted SHR: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.17-0.79). Similar findings were observed for patients who received 10 mg of rivaroxaban.

CONCLUSIONS

In Taiwanese patients with end-stage renal disease and nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, rivaroxaban may be associated with a similar risk of major bleeding but a lower risk of thromboembolism compared with warfarin. The potential benefit of 10 mg of rivaroxaban in this population requires further investigation.

The Clinical Outcomes of Different eGFR Strata and Time in Therapeutic Range in Atrial Fibrillation Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Nationwide Cohort Study

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with increased risk of stroke, major bleeding, morbidity and overall mortality in atrial fibrillation patients. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the effect of different eGFR strata and the TTR on clinical outcomes in AF patients with CKD.NVAF patients were consecutively enrolled from hospitals across Thailand. eGFR were categorized into three different eGFR categories; eGFR >60, 30-59 and <30 mL/min/1.73 m². TTR values were also categorized into TTR >75%, TTR 60-75 and TTR <60%. We identified 1,739 patients who received warfarin. Among patients who acquired TTR<60, those with eGFR <30 ml/min/1.73 m² demonstrated the highest stroke/SSE rate of 8.5% (P<0.001). Patients with eGFR <30 ml/min/1.73 m², in addition to the presence of TTR<60, were at the highest risk to developing major bleeding with the rate of 17.9% (p <0.001). However, intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) appeared towards increasing rate with the combination of eGFR at even <60 ml/min/1.73 m² and TTR <60. Death was also considerably high with the rate of 17.9% in patients with the combination of TTR <60 and eGFR <30 ml/min/1.73 m². Severe CKD resulted in higher risks of stroke/SSE, major bleeding and death in patients with low TTR. Patients with TTR >60, especially TTR >75%, is associated with reduced risk of stroke/SSE, major bleeding and death irrespective of eGFR level. The combination of low TTR <60 and eGFR level less than 60 ml/min/1.73 m² substantially increased risks of all cardiovascular outcomes.

Efficacy and Safety of Direct Oral Anticoagulants vs Warfarin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or dialysis patients are lacking. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of DOACs and warfarin in patients with CKD requiring anticoagulation therapy.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of six randomized controlled trials and 19 observational studies, with the inclusion criteria being a comparative study between DOACs and warfarin in patients with CKD or dialysis patients from database inception until August 2020. The efficacy outcomes were stroke, systemic embolism (SE), or venous thromboembolism (VTE), and the safety outcome was major bleeding.

RESULTS

Compared with warfarin, DOACs significantly reduced the risk of stroke/SE/VTE by 22% (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.64-0.95) and major bleeding by 17% (HR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.71-0.97). On comparing factor Xa inhibitors and dabigatran with warfarin separately, factor Xa inhibitors significantly reduced the risk of stroke/SE/VTE (HR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.62-0.98) and major bleeding (HR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.64-0.91) overall in patients. Comparing each DOACs with warfarin separately, apixaban was associated with a significantly better risk reduction of stroke/SE/VTE (25% risk reduction) and major bleeding (35% risk reduction) than warfarin. Compared with warfarin, DOACs significantly reduced the risk of stroke, SE, or VTE by 19% (HR = 0.81, 95% CI 0.68-0.97) in patients with CKD stage 3 and significantly lowered the risk of major bleeding by 31% (HR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.56-0.85) in patients with CKD stages 4-5.

CONCLUSIONS

In pooled, analyzed randomized controlled trials and observational studies, DOACs were associated with better efficacy in early CKD, as well as similar efficacy and safety outcomes to warfarin in patients with CKD stages 4-5 or dialysis patients. The results of patients with CKD stages 4-5 and dialysis patients were from observational studies. Well-designed randomized controlled trials focused on DOAC use in patients with CKD and dialysis patients are needed. PROSPERO register number: CRD42020150599, 6 February, 2020.

Renal Disease and Atrial Fibrillation

Incidence and prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and chronic kidney disease are increasing, and the two conditions commonly coexist. Renal impairment further increases the risk of ischemic stroke and systemic thromboembolism in patients with AF but also paradoxically predisposes to bleeding. Renal function should be monitored closely in patients with AF requiring oral anticoagulation therapy, particularly those receiving direct oral anticoagulants. Vitamin K antagonists can be used as part of a dose-adjusted anticoagulation regimen in patients with mild to moderate renal dysfunction. Dialysis-dependent patients taking vitamin K antagonists are at increased risk of sustaining major hemorrhage.

Comparison between cryoballoon ablation and radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in patients on hemodialysis

Background

Difficulties are often encountered while controlling atrial fibrillation (AF), especially in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Previous data revealed that cryoballoon ablation (CBA) for treating paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) was not inferior to radiofrequency ablation (RFA); however, HD patients were excluded in this prior trial. Thus, the efficacy of CBA for HD patients is still unknown.

Methods

This retrospective study analyzed HD patients who underwent catheter ablation (CA) for AF from August 2011 to June 2019. Patients who received CBA (CBA group) and those who received RFA (RFA group) were compared. The primary endpoint was defined as freedom from a composite outcome (a documented recurrence of any atrial tachyarrhythmia or a prescription of antiarrhythmic drugs) at one year after CA.

Results

The RFA and CBA groups were composed of 21 and 23 patients, respectively. Freedom from a composite outcome was 58.4% in the RFA group and 68.2% in the CBA group (Log-rank: p = 0.571).

Conclusion

Our results suggest that patients on HD with AF who were treated with CBA tended to have better outcomes than patients treated with RFA. Therefore, CBA could be a suitable ablation method for HD patients.

Procalcitonin as a Marker of Comorbid Atrial Fibrillation in Chronic Kidney Disease and History of Sepsis

Cardiovascular disease and infection are the leading causes of mortality in patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis (CKD5-HD). Inflammation is a large component in the pathogenesis of both atrial fibrillation (AF) and sepsis and may link these conditions in CKD5-HD. Procalcitonin (PCT) is an inflammatory biomarker elevated in systemic infection and CKD5-HD, yet its value with regard to comorbid AF has not been thoroughly investigated. The aim of this study sought to evaluate circulating inflammatory markers, including PCT, Angiopoietin-1, Angiopoetin-2, CD40-L, C-reactive protein, d-dimer, and von Willebrand factor in relation to these conditions. Plasma levels of inflammatory markers were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay method in CKD5-HD (n = 97) patients and controls (n = 50). Procalcitonin levels were significantly elevated (P = .0270) in CKD5-HD with comorbid AF compared to those without AF. Further analysis of patients with a history of sepsis demonstrated significantly elevated levels of PCT (P = .0405) in those with comorbid AF (160.7 ± 39.5 pg/mL) compared to those without AF (117.4 ± 25.3 pg/mL). This study demonstrates that the inflammatory biomarker PCT is further elevated in the presence of both AF and a history of sepsis in hemodialysis patients and suggests that underlying chronic inflammation following sepsis resolution may place these patients at greater risk of developing AF.

Management of acute intradialytic cardiovascular complications: Updated overview (Review)

An increasing number of patients require renal replacement therapy through dialysis and renal transplantation. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects a large percentage of the world's population and has evolved into a major public health concern. Diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure and a family history of kidney failure are all major risk factors for CKD. Patients in advanced stages of CKD have varying degrees of cardiovascular damage. Comorbidities of these patients, include, on the one hand, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, hyperuricemia and, on the other hand, the presence of mineral-bone disorders associated with CKD and chronic inflammation, which contribute to cardiovascular involvement. Acute complications occur quite frequently during dialysis. Among these, the most important are cardiovascular complications, which influence the morbidity and mortality rates of this group of patients. Chronic hemodialysis patients manifest acute cardiovascular complications such as intradialytic hypotension, intradialytic hypertension, arrhythmias, acute coronary syndromes and sudden death. Thus, proper management is extremely important.

Chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation: European Society of Hypertension project - ESH A Fib

Our aim was to analyze characteristics of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) from the Croatian cohort of the ESH A Fib survey and to determine the association of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with cardiovascular (CV) mortality after 24 months of follow-up.Consecutive sample of 301 patients with AF were enrolled in the period 2014 to 2018. Hypertension was defined as BP > 140/90 mm Hg and/or antihypertensive drugs treatment, CKD was defined as eGFR (CKD Epi) < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 which was confirmed after 3 months.CKD was diagnosed in 45.2% of patients (13.3% in CKD stage > 3b). CKD patients were older than non-CKD and had significantly more frequent coronary heart disease, heart failure and valvular disease. CKD patients had significantly higher CHA2DS2-VASc score and more CKD than non-CKD patients had CHA2DS2-VASc > 2. Crude CV mortality rate per 1000 population at the end of the first year of the follow-up was significantly higher in CKD vs non-CKD group who had shorter mean survival time. CV mortality was independently associated with eGFR, male gender, CHA2DS2VASc and R2CHA2DS2VASc scores.Prevalence of CKD, particularly more advanced stages of CKD, is very high in patients with AF. Observed higher CV mortality and shorter mean survival time in CKD patients could be explained with higher CHA2DS2VASc score which is a consequence of clustering of all score components in CKD patients. However, eGFR was independently associated with CV mortality. In our cohort, R2CHA2DS2VASc score was not associated significantly more with CV mortality than CHA2DS2VASc score.

Thromboembolic and Bleeding Risk in Atrial Fibrillation Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: Role of Anticoagulation Therapy

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are strictly related; several independent risk factors of AF are often frequent in CKD patients. AF prevalence is very common among these patients, ranging between 15% and 20% in advanced stages of CKD. Moreover, the results of several studies showed that AF patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) have a higher mortality rate than patients with preserved renal function due to an increased incidence of stroke and an unpredicted elevated hemorrhagic risk. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are currently contraindicated in patients with ESRD and vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), remaining the only drugs allowed, although they show numerous critical issues such as a narrow therapeutic window, increased tissue calcification and an unfavorable risk/benefit ratio with low stroke prevention effect and augmented risk of major bleeding. The purpose of this review is to shed light on the applications of DOAC therapy in CKD patients, especially in ESRD patients.

A systematic review and external validation of stroke prediction models demonstrates poor performance in dialysis patients

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to systematically review and externally assess the predictive performance of models for ischemic stroke in incident dialysis patients.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

Two reviewers systematically searched and selected ischemic stroke models. Risk of bias was assessed with the PROBAST. Predictive performance was evaluated within The Netherlands Cooperative Study on the Adequacy of Dialysis (NECOSAD), a large prospective multicenter cohort of incident dialysis patients. For discrimination, c-statistics were calculated; calibration was assessed by plotting predicted and observed probabilities for stroke, and calibration-in-the-large.

RESULTS

Seventy-seven prediction models for stroke were identified, of which 15 were validated. Risk of bias was high, with all of these models scoring high risk in one or more domains. In NECOSAD, of the 1,955 patients, 127 (6.5%) suffered an ischemic stroke during the follow-up of 2.5 years. Compared with the original studies, most models performed worse with all models showing poor calibration and discriminative abilities (c-statistics ranging from 0.49 to 0.66). The Framingham showed reasonable calibration; however, with a c-statistic of 0.57 (95% CI 0.50-0.63), the discrimination was poor.

CONCLUSION

This external validation demonstrates the weak predictive performance of ischemic stroke models in incident dialysis patients. Instead of using these models in this fragile population, either existing models should be updated, or novel models should be developed and validated.

Apixaban Versus Warfarin in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease

Background:

Compared with the general population, patients with advanced chronic kidney disease have a >10-fold higher burden of atrial fibrillation. Limited data are available guiding the use of nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants in this population.

Methods:

We compared the safety of apixaban with warfarin in 269 patients with atrial fibrillation and advanced chronic kidney disease (defined as creatinine clearance [CrCl] 25 to 30 mL/min) enrolled in the ARISTOTLE trial (Apixaban for Reduction in Stroke and Other Thromboembolic Events in Atrial Fibrillation). Cox proportional models were used to estimate hazard ratios for major bleeding and major or clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding. We characterized the pharmacokinetic profile of apixaban by assessing differences in exposure using nonlinear mixed effects models.

Results:

Among patients with CrCl 25 to 30 mL/min, apixaban caused less major bleeding (hazard ratio, 0.34 [95% CI, 0.14–0.80]) and major or clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding (hazard ratio, 0.35 [95% CI, 0.17–0.72]) compared with warfarin. Patients with CrCl 25 to 30 mL/min randomized to apixaban demonstrated a trend toward lower rates of major bleeding when compared with those with CrCl >30 mL/min ( P interaction=0.08) and major or clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding ( P interaction=0.05). Median daily steady-state areas under the curve for apixaban 5 mg twice daily were 5512 ng/(mL·h) and 3406 ng/(mL·h) for patients with CrCl 25 to 30 mL/min or >30 mL/min, respectively. For apixaban 2.5 mg twice daily, the median exposure was 2780 ng/(mL·h) for patients with CrCl 25 to 30 mL/min. The area under the curve values for patients with CrCl 25 to 30 mL/min fell within the ranges demonstrated for patients with CrCl >30 mL/min.

Conclusions:

Among patients with atrial fibrillation and CrCl 25 to 30 mL/min, apixaban caused less bleeding than warfarin, with even greater reductions in bleeding than in patients with CrCl >30 mL/min. We observed substantial overlap in the range of exposure to apixaban 5 mg twice daily for patients with or without advanced chronic kidney disease, supporting conventional dosing in patients with CrCl 25 to 30 mL/min. Randomized, controlled studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of apixaban are urgently needed in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease, including those receiving dialysis.

Registration:

URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT00412984.

Stroke Prophylaxis in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and End-Stage Renal Disease

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an important comorbidity in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing dialysis that portends increased health care utilization, morbidity, and mortality in this already high-risk population. Patients with ESRD have a particularly high stroke risk, which is further compounded by AF. However, the role of anticoagulation for stroke prophylaxis in ESRD and AF is debated. The ESRD population presents a unique challenge because of the combination of elevated stroke and bleeding risks. Warfarin has been traditionally used in this population, but it is associated with significant risks of minor and major bleeding, particularly intracranial, thus leading many clinicians to forgo anticoagulation altogether. When anticoagulation is prescribed, rates of adherence and persistence are poor, leaving many patients untreated. The direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) may offer an alternative to warfarin in ESRD patients, but these agents have not been extensively studied in this population and uncertainties regarding comparative effectiveness (versus warfarin, each other, and no treatment) remain. In this review, we discuss the current evidence on the risk and benefits of anticoagulants in this challenging population and comparisons between warfarin and DOACs, and review future directions including options for non-pharmacologic stroke prevention.