Increasing trends in hospitalization for atrial fibrillation in the United States, 1985 through 1999: implications for primary prevention

Atrial Fibrillation Treatment Pathway in the Emergency Department Reduces Median 30-Day Health Service Charges

BACKGROUND

The economic burden of atrial fibrillation (AF) continues to increase. AF treatment pathways have been shown to reduce avoidable admissions, but the effects on health care costs are not understood. This study sought to assess the impact of an AF treatment pathway on health service charges and emergency department (ED) discharge rates.

METHODS

An AF treatment pathway was implemented at 7 hospital EDs in North Carolina between 2017 and 2020. Thirty-day health service charges were calculated for ED visits, hospitalizations, and outpatient clinic appointments. A quasi-experimental design was used to assess changes in health service charges and ED discharge rates following implementation of the AF treatment pathway. Adjusted quantile and negative binomial regressions were used to analyze changes in median 30-day health service charges and discharge rates from the ED, respectively.

RESULTS

Among 12 504 patients that met eligibility for study inclusion (preperiod: n=3893; postperiod: n=8611), implementation of the AF treatment pathway significantly reduced 30-day health service charges (preperiod: $11 922; postperiod: $9219; P<0.001). In adjusted models, implementation of the AF treatment pathway was associated with an $834 decrease in median 30-day health service charges (95% CI, -$1630 to $-37; P=0.04). Additionally, the adjusted predicted probability of ED discharge increased from 65.3% to 70.0% after the AF treatment pathway implementation, a 4.7 percentage point increase (95% CI, 1.4-8.0; P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The implementation of an AF treatment pathway in the ED was associated with a decrease in median 30-day health service charges and an increase in ED discharge rate for patients presenting with AF.

Role of primary and secondary care data in atrial fibrillation ascertainment: impact on risk factor associations, patient management, and mortality in UK Biobank

AIMS

Electronic healthcare records (EHR) are at the forefront of advances in epidemiological research emerging from large-scale population biobanks and clinical studies. Hospital admissions, diagnoses, and procedures (HADP) data are often used to identify disease cases. However, this may result in incomplete ascertainment of chronic conditions such as atrial fibrillation (AF), which are principally managed in primary care (PC). We examined the relevance of EHR sources for AF ascertainment, and the implications for risk factor associations, patient management, and outcomes in UK Biobank.

METHODS AND RESULTS

UK Biobank is a prospective study, with HADP and PC records available for 230 000 participants (to 2016). AF cases were ascertained in three groups: from PC records only (PC-only), HADP only (HADP-only), or both (PC + HADP). Conventional statistical methods were used to describe differences between groups in terms of characteristics, risk factor associations, ascertainment timing, rates of anticoagulation, and post-AF stroke and death. A total of 7136 incident AF cases were identified during 7 years median follow-up (PC-only: 22%, PC + HADP: 49%, HADP-only: 29%). There was a median lag of 1.3 years between cases ascertained in PC and subsequently in HADP. AF cases in each of the ascertainment groups had comparable baseline demographic characteristics. However, AF cases identified in hospital data alone had a higher prevalence of cardiometabolic comorbidities and lower rates of subsequent anticoagulation (PC-only: 44%, PC + HADP: 48%, HADP-only: 10%, P < 0.0001) than other groups. HADP-only cases also had higher rates of death [PC-only: 9.3 (6.8, 12.7), PC + HADP: 23.4 (20.5, 26.6), HADP-only: 81.2 (73.8, 89.2) events per 1000 person-years, P < 0.0001] compared to other groups.

CONCLUSION

Integration of data from primary care with that from hospital records has a substantial impact on AF ascertainment, identifying a third more cases than hospital records alone. However, about a third of AF cases recorded in hospital were not present in the primary care records, and these cases had lower rates of anticoagulation, as well as higher mortality from both cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular causes. Initiatives aimed at enhancing information exchange of clinically confirmed AF between healthcare settings have the potential to benefit patient management and AF-related outcomes at an individual and population level. This research underscores the importance of access and integration of de-identified comprehensive EHR data for a definitive understanding of patient trajectories, and for robust epidemiological and translational research into AF.

Diagnosis and Vulnerability Risk Assessment of Atherosclerotic Plaques Using an Amino Acid-Assembled Near-Infrared Ratiometric Nanoprobe

To reduce the risk of atherosclerotic disease, it is necessary to not only diagnose the presence of atherosclerotic plaques but also assess the vulnerability risk of plaques. Accurate detection of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level at plaque sites represents a reliable way to assess the plaque vulnerability. Herein, through a simple one-pot reaction, two near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent dyes, one is ROS responsive and the other is inert to ROS, are coassembled in an amphiphilic amino acid-assembled nanoparticle. In the prepared NIR fluorescent amino acid nanoparticle (named FANP), the fluorescent properties and ROS-responsive behaviors of the two fluorescent dyes are well maintained. Surface camouflage through red blood cell membrane (RBCM) encapsulation endows the finally obtained FANP@RBCM nanoprobe with not only further reduced cytotoxicity and improved biocompatibility but also increased immune escape capability, prolonged blood circulation time, and thus enhanced accumulation at atherosclerotic plaque sites. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that FANP@RBCM not only works well in probing the occurrence of atherosclerotic plaques but also enables plaque vulnerability assessment through the accurate detection of the ROS level at plaque sites in a reliable ratiometric mode, thereby holding great promise as a versatile tool for the diagnosis and risk assessment of atherosclerotic disease.

Implementation of an Atrial Fibrillation Decision Aid Care Pathway in the Emergency Department Reduces Atrial Fibrillation Hospitalizations

BACKGROUND

A straightforward decision aid to guide disposition of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients in the emergency department (ED) was developed for use by ED providers. The implementation of this decision aid in the ED has not been studied.

METHODS

A pragmatic stepped-wedge cluster approach for analysis of retrospectively collected electronic health record data was used in which 5 hospitals were selected to commence the intervention at periodic intervals following an initial 1-year baseline assessment with 5 additional hospitals included in the comparison group (all in North Carolina). The primary end point of analysis was hospitalization rate. Hierarchical multivariable logistic regression analyses for admission as a function of the intervention while controlling for prespecified patient and hospital predictors were performed with clustering done at the hospital level.

RESULTS

Between October 2017 and May 2020, a total of 11 458 patients (mean age, 71.4; 50.5% female) presented to 1 of the 10 hospitals with a primary diagnosis of AF. Absolute admission rate was reduced from 60.5% to 48.3% following the intervention (odds ratio, 0.83 [95% CI, 0.71-0.97]; P=0.016). After adjusting for covariates, the intervention was associated with a small increased rate of return to the ED for AF within 30 days of the initial presentation (1.6% to 2.7%; hazard ratio, 1.70 [95% CI, 1.26-2.31]; P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrate that implementation of a novel decision aid to guide disposition of patients primary diagnosis of AF presenting to the ED was associated with a reduced admission rate independent of patient and hospital factors. Use of the protocol was associated with a small but significant increase in rate of repeat presentations for AF at 30-day follow-up. Use of a decision aid such as the one described here represents an important tool to reduce unnecessary AF hospitalizations.

ANMCO-SIMEU consensus document: appropriate management of atrial fibrillation in the emergency department

Atrial fibrillation (AF) accounts for 2% of the total presentations to the emergency department (ED) and represents the most frequent arrhythmic cause for hospitalization. It steadily increases the risk of thromboembolic events and is often associated with several comorbidities that negatively affect patient's quality of life and prognosis. AF has a considerable impact on healthcare resources, making the promotion of an adequate and coordinated management of this arrhythmia necessary in order to avoid clinical complications and to implement the adoption of appropriate technological and pharmacological treatment options. AF management varies across regions and hospitals and there is also heterogeneity in the use of anticoagulation and electric cardioversion, with limited use of direct oral anticoagulants. The ED represents the first access point for early management of patients with AF. The appropriate management of this arrhythmia in the acute setting has a great impact on improving patient's quality of life and outcomes as well as on rationalization of the financial resources related to the clinical course of AF. Therefore, physicians should provide a well-structured clinical and diagnostic pathway for patients with AF who are admitted to the ED. This should be based on a tight and propositional collaboration among several specialists, i.e. the ED physician, cardiologist, internal medicine physician, anesthesiologist. The aim of this ANMCO-SIMEU consensus document is to provide shared recommendations for promoting an integrated, accurate, and up-to-date management of patients with AF admitted to the ED or Cardiology Department, in order to make it homogeneous across the national territory.

The utility of delta troponin in diagnosing significant coronary artery disease in patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND

Troponin I (cTnI) elevation is common in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) but does not reliably indicate underlying coronary ischemia. We investigated whether dynamic changes in cTnI value (delta troponin) are useful in revealing significant coronary artery disease (sCAD) in patients presenting with symptomatic AF.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective case-control study analyzing serial cTnI values in 231 patients presenting with symptomatic AF who had an objective assessment for underlying CAD within 6 months of the index admission. Diagnostic performance of an elevated cTnI (>0.04 μg/L) only, and elevated cTnI coupled with Youden Index derived cutoffs for absolute and relative changes in troponin, for distinguishing patients with sCAD, was evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 107 patients had an elevated cTnI on serial measurements. In this group, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.69 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.56-0.81] for relative delta troponin and 0.71 (95% CI, 0.59-0.83) for absolute delta troponin. The optimal diagnostic cutoff for relative delta troponin was > -0.42, and > -0.055 μg/L for absolute delta troponin. The specificity of elevated troponin to diagnose sCAD increased from 56 to 77% when relative delta troponin was added, and to 88% with absolute delta troponin. Although the sensitivity of cTnI elevation (57.1%) decreased to 50% for relative and 35.7% for absolute delta troponin, the negative predictive values were high and similar at 86%.

CONCLUSION

When added to the troponin peak, delta troponin is a promising test for the diagnosis of significant coronary artery disease in patients presenting with symptomatic AF with elevated cTnI. This result requires prospective validation in a larger cohort of patients.

Progression of Atrial Fibrillation after Cryoablation or Drug Therapy

BACKGROUND

Atrial fibrillation is a chronic, progressive disorder, and persistent forms of atrial fibrillation are associated with increased risks of thromboembolism and heart failure. Catheter ablation as initial therapy may modify the pathogenic mechanism of atrial fibrillation and alter progression to persistent atrial fibrillation.

METHODS

We report the 3-year follow-up of patients with paroxysmal, untreated atrial fibrillation who were enrolled in a trial in which they had been randomly assigned to undergo initial rhythm-control therapy with cryoballoon ablation or to receive antiarrhythmic drug therapy. All the patients had implantable loop recorders placed at the time of trial entry, and evaluation was conducted by means of downloaded daily recordings and in-person visits every 6 months. Data regarding the first episode of persistent atrial fibrillation (lasting ≥7 days or lasting 48 hours to 7 days but requiring cardioversion for termination), recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmia (defined as atrial fibrillation, flutter, or tachycardia lasting ≥30 seconds), the burden of atrial fibrillation (percentage of time in atrial fibrillation), quality-of-life metrics, health care utilization, and safety were collected.

RESULTS

A total of 303 patients were enrolled, with 154 patients assigned to undergo initial rhythm-control therapy with cryoballoon ablation and 149 assigned to receive antiarrhythmic drug therapy. Over 36 months of follow-up, 3 patients (1.9%) in the ablation group had an episode of persistent atrial fibrillation, as compared with 11 patients (7.4%) in the antiarrhythmic drug group (hazard ratio, 0.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.09 to 0.70). Recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmia occurred in 87 patients in the ablation group (56.5%) and in 115 in the antiarrhythmic drug group (77.2%) (hazard ratio, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.38 to 0.67). The median percentage of time in atrial fibrillation was 0.00% (interquartile range, 0.00 to 0.12) in the ablation group and 0.24% (interquartile range, 0.01 to 0.94) in the antiarrhythmic drug group. At 3 years, 8 patients (5.2%) in the ablation group and 25 (16.8%) in the antiarrhythmic drug group had been hospitalized (relative risk, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.14 to 0.66). Serious adverse events occurred in 7 patients (4.5%) in the ablation group and in 15 (10.1%) in the antiarrhythmic drug group.

CONCLUSIONS

Initial treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation with catheter cryoballoon ablation was associated with a lower incidence of persistent atrial fibrillation or recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmia over 3 years of follow-up than initial use of antiarrhythmic drugs. (Funded by the Cardiac Arrhythmia Network of Canada and others; EARLY-AF ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02825979.).

Cardiovascular Complications in Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is accountable for high mortality in both pediatric and adult populations worldwide, about one-third of hospitalized patients pass away within a year of being discharged from the facility. The high mortality and morbidity rates are closely related to cardiovascular complications that are consequent or concomitant to the acute episode of pneumonia. An updated perspective on the major pathophysiological mechanisms, prevalence, risk factors, outcomes, and relevant treatments of cardiovascular events in CAP patients is provided in the current study. It is possible to evaluate the pathophysiology of cardiac disease in this population based on plaque-related events, such as acute myocardial infarction, or events unrelated to plaque, such as arrhythmias and heart failure. With an absolute rate of cardiovascular problems ranging broadly from 10% to 30%, CAP raises the risk of both plaque-related and plaque-unrelated events. Both in- and out-patients may experience these issues at admission, throughout hospitalization, or even up to a year following discharge. At long-term follow-up, cardiac events account for more than 30% of deaths in CAP patients, making them a significant cause of mortality. If patients at risk for cardiac events are stratified, diagnostic tools, monitoring, and preventive measures may be applied to these patients. A prospective evaluation of cardioprotective treatments is urgently required from a research point of view.

Cryoablation as a first-line therapy for atrial fibrillation: current status and future prospects

INTRODUCTION

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common chronic and progressive heart rhythm disorder. For those in whom sinus rhythm is desired, contemporary clinical practice guidelines recommend antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) as the initial therapy. However, these medications have modest efficacy and are associated with significant adverse effects.

AREAS COVERED

The current article reviews the evidence surrounding first line catheter ablation, particularly the emerging evidence surrounding the use of cryoballoon ablation as a first-line therapy. The focus of the review is on the outcomes of arrhythmia freedom, quality of life, healthcare utilisation and safety. In addition, the article will review novel cryoablation systems.

EXPERT OPINION

: Recent evidence suggests that cryoballoon ablation significantly improves arrhythmia outcomes (e.g., freedom from any atrial tachyarrhythmia or symptomatic atrial tachyarrhythmia, reduction in arrhythmia burden), patient-reported outcomes (e.g., symptoms and quality of life), and healthcare resource utilization (e.g., hospitalization), without increasing the risk of adverse events. These findings are relevant to patients, providers, and healthcare systems, as it helps inform the decision-making regarding the initial choice of rhythm-control therapy in patients with treatment-naïve AF.

Temporal Trends for Patients Hospitalized With Atrial Fibrillation in the United States: An Analysis From the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) Database 2011-2018

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) has historically been a growing burden on the global public health system. Previously, literature on the trends associated with AF-related hospitalizations has been published. However, there seems to be a gap in up-to-date information, notably within the last decade.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the trends, outcomes, and factors associated with AF hospitalization and the continued impact of AF on the United States health system.

Methods: Patient data were collected from the years 2011 to 2018 from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 and ICD-10 codes. We selected patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of AF. Descriptive statistics, statistical analysis, and Mann-Whitney U testing were employed to compare continuous dichotomous variables. After respective adjustments, multivariate hierarchical logistic regression was used to establish mortality rates, length of stay (LOS), and hospital charges.

Results: The study included 509,305 patients hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of unspecified AF. The mean age of patients hospitalized with AF was 71 years. AF hospitalizations were slightly higher in women as compared to men (51.7% vs. 48.2%). The predominant race involved was Caucasians at 77.9% followed by African Americans and Hispanics at 7.4% and 5.4%, respectively. The three most frequent coexisting conditions noted were hypertension (69.9%), diabetes mellitus (24.3%), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (16.4%). Medicare/Medicaid was the primary payer associated with the majority of AF hospitalizations at 72.6%. Overall in-hospital mortality associated with AF hospitalizations was 0.96%. Comorbid conditions conferring the highest mortality risks included coagulopathies (644%) and cerebral vascular accidents (597%). Mean LOS was found to be 3.35 days. Hospitalization charges increased year-over-year and correlated with an increase in the national burden of cost for these patients of $3.6 billion.

Conclusions: Our study investigates the national trends surrounding AF hospitalizations. Overall in-hospital mortality rates appear to be stable as compared to prior years and past literature. Comorbid conditions conferring significantly higher mortality rates included coagulopathies, cerebral vascular accidents, acute kidney injury, and end-stage renal disease. Additionally, suboptimal insurance status was also associated with increased mortality risk. The cost of hospitalization in AF patients has increased steadily, conferring a $3.6 billion burden on the US healthcare system.

Rhythm control versus rate control in a contemporary ambulatory atrial fibrillation cohort: Post-hoc analysis of the IMPACT-AF Trial

Background

We examined the characteristics and outcomes in a contemporary ambulatory population of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), comparing rate control with rhythm control.

Methods

This is a post hoc analysis of a cluster-randomized trial (Integrated Management Program Advancing Community Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation [IMPACT-AF]) in ambulatory AF patients from 2016 to 2018, which compared use of a clinical decision support tool for general practitioners to usual care. This analysis compared patients managed with rate vs rhythm control, at entry into the study. Outcomes included AF-related emergency department (ED) visits, unplanned cardiovascular hospitalizations, and bleeding events at 12 months.

Results

A total of 870 patients were included in this analysis, 99 (11.4%) in the rhythm-control group, and 40% women. In the rhythm-control group, the mean age was younger (70 ± 11.4 vs 72.7 ± 9.5 years, P = 0.03), a higher number were paroxysmal (80% vs 43%, P < 0.001), and CHADS₂ scores were lower. The rate of AF-related ED visits was higher in the rhythm-control group (17.2 vs 7.3%, P = 0.003), and repeat visits (rate ratio 3.03, 95% confidence interval [1.99-4.52], P < 0.001). The number of repeat ED visits was independently associated with female sex and being in the rhythm-control group.

Conclusions

Both rate- and rhythm-control patients have recurrent ED visits, with a higher rate in patients treated with rhythm control. These findings are observational, but taken in the context of current guidelines could help develop further therapies aimed at improving symptom burden in both rhythm- and rate-control patients to broadly improve healthcare utilization in the AF population.

NT Pro-BNP can be used as a risk predictor of clinical atrial fibrillation with or without left atrial enlargement

Background

NT Pro‐BNP is a blood marker secreted by cardiomyocytes. Myocardial stretch is the main factor to stimulate NT Pro‐BNP secretion in cardiomyocytes. NT Pro‐BNP is an important risk factor for cardiac dysfunction, stroke, and pulmonary embolism. So does atrial myocyte stretching occur when patients have atrial fibrillation (AF)? Whether atrial muscle stretch induced by AF leads to increased NT Pro‐BNP remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between NT Pro‐BNP and AF.

Hypothesis

AF can cause changes in myocardial tension. Changes in myocardial tension may lead to increased secretion of NT Pro‐BNP. We hypothesize that NT Pro‐BNP may increase in AF with or without LAD enlargement.

Methods

This clinical study is an observational study and has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University. Ethical approval documents is attached. The study retrospectively reviewed 1345 patients with and without AF. After excluding 102 patients who were not eligible, the final total sample size was 1243 cases: AF group 679 patients (378, 55.7% males) and non‐AF group 564 patients (287, 50.8% males). NT Pro‐BNP was observed in AF group and non‐AF group with or without LAD. After adjusting for age, gender, BMI, left atrial diameter, hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, and cerebral infarction, NT Pro‐BNP remains statistically significant with AF.

Conclusion

NT Pro‐BNP can be used as a risk predictor of AF with or without left atrial enlargement.

Mortality benefit of catheter ablation versus medical therapy in atrial fibrillation: An RCT only meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) in comparison to medical therapy alone is known to improve freedom from arrhythmia and quality of life, but the benefit regarding mortality is unclear. The publication of several recent large randomized controlled trials (RCT) comparing ablation with medical therapy has warranted an updated meta-analysis.

METHODS

We sought to compare the effectiveness of catheter ablation versus medical therapy only in patients with AF. MEDLINE, Cochrane, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were searched from inception until 04/30/2021. Relevant RCTs comparing catheter ablation versus medical therapy in patients with AF were selected.

RESULTS

A total of 24 RCTs involving 5730 adult patients were included (2992 in catheter ablation and 2738 in medical therapy). There was a reduction in all-cause mortality with catheter ablation compared with medical therapy only (risk ratio (RR) 0.70 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.55-0.89]; p = .003). Catheter ablation also demonstrated a reduction in hospitalizations (RR 0.50 [95% CI 0.36-0.70]; p < .001), improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (mean difference [MD] + 5.94% [95% CI 0.40-11.48] p = .04), greater freedom from atrial arrhythmia (RR 2.23 [95% CI 1.79-2.76]; p < .001), and AF (RR 1.95 [95% CI 1.44-2.66]; p < .001). In subgroup analysis, catheter ablation demonstrated a significant reduction in mortality and hospitalizations among patients with reduced LVEF, and when ablation was compared with antiarrhythmic drug use.

CONCLUSIONS

In comparison to medical therapy only, catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation reduces mortality, hospitalizations, and increases freedom from arrhythmia.

Cryoballoon Ablation as Initial Treatment for Atrial Fibrillation: JACC State-of-the-Art Review

Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common sustained arrhythmia observed in clinical practice, is a chronic and progressive disorder characterized by exacerbations and remissions. Guidelines recommend antiarrhythmic drugs as the initial therapy for the maintenance of sinus rhythm; however, antiarrhythmic drugs have modest efficacy to maintain sinus rhythm and can be associated with significant adverse effects. An initial treatment strategy of cryoballoon catheter ablation in patients with treatment-naïve AF has been shown to significantly improve arrhythmia outcomes (freedom from any, or symptomatic atrial tachyarrhythmia), produce clinically meaningful improvements in patient-reported outcomes (symptoms and quality of life), and significantly reduce subsequent health care resource use (hospitalization), and it does not increase the risk of serious or any adverse events compared with initial antiarrhythmic drug therapy. These findings are relevant to inform patients, providers, and health care systems regarding the initial choice of rhythm-control therapy in patients with treatment-naïve AF.

Quality indicators for the care and outcomes of adults with atrial fibrillation

AIMS

To develop quality indicators (QIs) that may be used to evaluate the quality of care and outcomes for adults with atrial fibrillation (AF).

METHODS AND RESULTS

We followed the ESC methodology for QI development. This methodology involved (i) the identification of the domains of AF care for the diagnosis and management of AF (by a group of experts including members of the ESC Clinical Practice Guidelines Task Force for AF); (ii) the construction of candidate QIs (including a systematic review of the literature); and (iii) the selection of the final set of QIs (using a modified Delphi method). Six domains of care for the diagnosis and management of AF were identified: (i) Patient assessment (baseline and follow-up), (ii) Anticoagulation therapy, (iii) Rate control strategy, (iv) Rhythm control strategy, (v) Risk factor management, and (vi) Outcomes measures, including patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). In total, 17 main and 17 secondary QIs, which covered all six domains of care for the diagnosis and management of AF, were selected. The outcome domain included measures on the consequences and treatment of AF, as well as PROMs.

CONCLUSION

This document defines six domains of AF care (patient assessment, anticoagulation, rate control, rhythm control, risk factor management, and outcomes), and provides 17 main and 17 secondary QIs for the diagnosis and management of AF. It is anticipated that implementation of these QIs will improve the quality of AF care.

Association between acute heart failure and major cardiovascular events in atrial fibrillation patients presenting at the emergency department: an EMERG-AF ancillary study

BACKGROUND

There is little evidence concerning the impact of acute heart failure (AHF) on the prognosis of atrial fibrillation patients attending the emergency department (ED).

OBJECTIVE

To know the influence of AHF on adverse long-term outcomes in patients presenting with atrial fibrillation in ED.

DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Secondary analysis of a prospective, multicenter, observational cohort of consecutive atrial fibrillation patients, performed in 62 Spanish EDs.

EXPOSURE

Patients presenting with atrial fibrillation in ED were divided by the presence or absence of AHF at arrival.

OUTCOME MEASURES AND ANALYSIS

Primary outcome: combination of 1-year all-cause mortality, major bleeding, stroke and other major cardiovascular events (MACE). Secondary outcomes: each of these events analyzed separately. Cox and logistic regression were used to investigate adjusted significant associations between AHF and outcomes.

MAIN RESULTS

Totally, 1107 consecutive ED patients with atrial fibrillation attending ED were analyzed, 262 (23.7%) with AHF. The primary outcome occurred in 433 patients (39.1%), 1-year all-cause mortality in 151 patients (13.6%), major bleeding in 47 patients (4.2 %), stroke in 31 patients (2.8 %) and other MACE in 333 patients (30.1%). AHF was independently related to the primary outcome [odds ratio (OR), 1.422; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.020-1.981; P = 0.037)] and 1-year MACE (OR, 1.797; 95% CI, 1.285-2.512; P = 0.001), but not to 1-year all-cause mortality, stroke or bleeding.

CONCLUSIONS

The coexistence of AHF in patients presenting with atrial fibrillation in ED is associated to a worse 1-year outcome mainly due to MACE, but does not impact in overall mortality.

A randomized ablation-based atrial fibrillation rhythm control versus rate control trial in patients with heart failure and high burden atrial fibrillation: The RAFT-AF trial rationale and design

Heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are 2 cardiac conditions that are increasing in prevalence and incidence. The 2 conditions frequently coexist, and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Catheter ablation of AF has been successfully performed in patients with HF, with an improvement in HF and AF, when compared to amiodarone, but further data is required to compare this to rate control. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective is to determine whether AF treated by catheter ablation, with or without antiarrhythmic drugs reduces all-cause mortality and hospitalizations for HF as compared with rate control in patients with HF and a high burden AF. METHODS: This is a multi-center prospective randomized open blinded endpoint (PROBE) study. Patients with NYHA class II-III HF (HF with reduced ejection fraction (<35%) or HF with preserved ejection fraction), and high burden AF are included in the trial. Patients are randomized to either rate control or catheter ablation-based AF rhythm control in a 1:1 ratio. Patients in the rate control group receive optimal HF therapy and rate control measures to achieve a resting hazard ratio (HR) < 80 bpm and 6-minute walk HR < 110 bpm. Patients randomized to catheter ablation-based AF rhythm control group receive optimal HF therapy and one or more aggressive catheter ablation, which include PV antral ablation and LA substrate ablation with or without adjunctive antiarrhythmic drug. The primary outcome is a composite of all-cause mortality and hospitalization for heart failure defined as an admission to a health care facility. The sample size is 600. Enrolment has been completed.

Clinical efficacy of "ICE-FIRE" ablation for non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

PURPOSE

Catheter ablation is less successful for non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (NPAF) according to numerous follow-up studies. The choice of ablation strategy for patients with NPAF remains controversial. The objective of the study was to explore the clinical efficacy of the "ICE-FIRE" ablation.

METHODS

Ninety NPAF patients were enrolled. Patients were randomly divided into RF (treated with circumferential pulmonary vein isolation (CPVI) and additional substrate modification by radiofrequency ablation) group and I-F (treated with CPVI by cryoablation and additional substrate modification by radiofrequency ablation) group. After CPVI and cardioversion to sinus rhythm, high-density mapping was performed. Eight-one of 90 participants restored to sinus rhythm. Seventy-four of 81 NPAF patients showed low-voltage zone. Substrates with low-voltage zone were targeted for further modification. Participants were followed at baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the initial ablation.

RESULTS

The I-F group shared more X-ray exposure (I-F, 264.4 ± 97.4 mGy; RF, 224.9 ± 62.0 mGy; P = 0.039) and less duration of the procedure (I-F, 150.3 ± 27.5 min; RF, 174.2 ± 38.5 min; P = 0.003) compared to RF group. The freedom from atrial arrhythmia recurrence at 12 months post-ablation was similar between the RF and I-F groups (RF, 57.1%; I-F, 71.8%; P = 0.197). However, I-F group experienced lower rehospitalization rate of AF recurrence (RF, 42.9%; I-F, 20.5%; P = 0.038).

CONCLUSIONS

In NPAF patients requiring substrate mapping and modification, the "ICE-FIRE" ablation demonstrated non-inferior clinical efficacy and lower rehospitalization rate of AF recurrence when compared with pure radiofrequency ablation strategy.

Quality indicators in the management of atrial fibrillation: the BALKAN-AF survey

BACKGROUND

The implementation of quality indicators in the atrial fibrillation (AF) care should be considered to improve quality of management and patient outcome.

METHODS

In the post-hoc analysis of the BALKAN-AF dataset, we assessed concordance with quality indicators for AF management. Available domains for AF management [patient assessment (baseline), anticoagulation, rate control strategy, rhythm control strategy and risk factor management] were identified and assessed at baseline visit.

RESULTS

Among 132 patients with a CHA₂DS₂-VASc score of 0 (men) or 1 (women), 75 (56.8%) were prescribed oral anticoagulation (OAC). Of 2539 patients with a CHA₂DS₂-VASc score ≥ 1 for men and ≥ 2 for women, 1890 (74.4%) were prescribed OAC. Among 1088 patients with permanent AF, 110 (10.1%) individuals were prescribed antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs). Of 1616 patients with structural heart disease, 37 (2.2%) were prescribed class IC AADs. Of 1624 patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF, 59 (3.6%) were offered catheter ablation. Among 2712 AF patients, 2121 (78.2%) had hypertension, 671 (24.7%) were obese, 53 (2.0%) had obstructive sleep apnoea, 110 (4.0%) had alcohol abuse and 340 (12.5%) were smokers.

CONCLUSIONS

In the BALKAN-AF cohort, the use of OAC for stroke prevention was poorly associated with patients stroke risk. The use of AADs in patients with permanent AF was low. The prescription of class IC AADs to patients with structural heart disease was infrequent. A large proportion of AF patients had their modifiable risk factors identified.

Catheter Ablation vs. Medical Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation has become the most commonly seen cardiac arrhythmia in clinical practice affecting almost 5.6 million Americans with that number expected to rise in the near future. The current literature review is aimed to assess the efficacy of catheter ablation in the treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation when compared to standard medical therapy. A PubMed search for studies of "Atrial Fibrillation" found 83,251 articles. Following the application of inclusion/exclusion criteria, we identified 44 articles of relevance that compared catheter ablation and medical therapy in the treatment of atrial fibrillation. These 44 articles included 20 Observational studies, eight randomized clinical trials, three clinical trials, five cohort studies, and eight review articles. Our review determined that catheter ablation was associated with a much lower rate of reoccurrence of atrial fibrillation when compared to medical therapy, as well as decreased cardiovascular outpatient visits and thromboembolic complications. The effect of quality on life when compared to medical treatment, however, was found to be inconclusive.

Modified Frailty as a Novel Factor in Predicting the Maintenance of the Sinus Rhythm After Electrical Cardioversion of Atrial Fibrillation in the Elderly Population

Introduction

Frailty is a common geriatric syndrome that causes an elevated risk of catastrophic declines in the health and function among older adults – we hypothesized that frailty may be related to the maintenance of sinus rhythm after cardioversion.

Methods

The study sample was a group of 199 consecutive patients over 60 (average age 71.41 ± 6.99; 40.2% women) with AF who were hospitalized in order to perform electrical cardioversion. The Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI) was used to assess frailty before cardioversion. The six-month visit after the electrical cardioversion was a follow-up. The follow-up period for the maintenance of sinus rhythm after electrical cardioversion was 180 ± 14 days.

Results

Patients in whom cardioversion was effective had a statistically significantly lower severity of frailty syndrome (3.44 ± 1.83 vs 5.87 ± 1.12; p=0.000) and its components: physical components (2.14 ± 1.33 vs 3.62 ± 1.05 p=0.000); emotional components (0.92 ± 0.79 vs 1.29 ± 0.86 p=0.037) and social components (0.37 ± 0.56 vs 0.96 ± 0.46; p=0.000) compared to those patients in which cardioversion was ineffective. In the logistic regression, frailty (OR: 0.65, 95% CI:0.5010–0.8330; p=0.000) was observed to be an independent predictor for maintaining sinus rhythm.

Conclusion

Frailty is a novel, independent factor that can be used to predict the effectiveness of electrical cardioversion and the maintenance of sinus rhythm in the elderly population. Modifying the level of recognition in the Tilburg Frailty Indicator to a 4 improved the prediction of the effectiveness of electrical cardioversion as well as the maintenance of sinus rhythm.

Temporal Trends in Population Rates of Incident Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Flutter Hospitalizations, Stroke Risk, and Mortality Show Decline in Hospitalizations

BACKGROUND

Hospitalization for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) is common and results in substantial cost burden. Current national data trends for the incidence, stroke risk profiles, and mortality of hospitalization for NVAF and atrial flutter (AFL) are sparse.

METHODS

The Canadian Institute of Health Information Discharge Abstract Database was used to identify patients ≥ 20 years with incident NVAF/AFL (NVAF, ICD-9 code 427.3 or ICD-10 I48) in any diagnosis field from 2006 to 2015 in Canada, except Québec. National and provincial trends in rate over time (rate ratio, 95% confidence interval [CI]) were calculated for age-sex standardized hospitalizations. Trends in stroke risk profiles and in-hospital mortality rates adjusted for stroke risk factors were also calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 578,947 patients were hospitalized with incident NVAF/AFL. The median age was 77 years (interquartile range: 68-84), 82% were ≥ 65 years, 54% were men, 54% had a CHADS2 ≥ 2, and 69% had a CHA2DS2-Vasc ≥ 3. The overall age- and sex-standardized rate of NVAF/AFL hospitalization was 315 per 100,000 population and declined by 2% per year (P < 0.001). There was an annual rate decline in NVAF/AFL hospitalizations in every province. The majority of hospitalized patients are at high risk of stroke, and this risk remained unchanged. The average adjusted in-hospital mortality was 8.80 per 100 patients 95% CI, 8.80-8.81 with a 2% annual decline in rate (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Between 2006 and 2015, we found national and provincial hospitalization rates for incident NVAF/AFL are declining. The majority of patients are at high risk for stroke. In-hospital mortality has declined but remains substantial.

The Pathogenic Role of Very Low Density Lipoprotein on Atrial Remodeling in the Metabolic Syndrome

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common persistent arrhythmia, and can lead to systemic thromboembolism and heart failure. Aging and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are major risks for AF. One of the most important manifestations of MetS is dyslipidemia, but its correlation with AF is ambiguous in clinical observational studies. Although there is a paradoxical relationship between fasting cholesterol and AF incidence, the benefit from lipid lowering therapy in reduction of AF is significant. Here, we reviewed the health burden from AF and MetS, the association between two disease entities, and the metabolism of triglyceride, which is elevated in MetS. We also reviewed scientific evidence for the mechanistic links between very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), which primarily carry circulatory triglyceride, to atrial cardiomyopathy and development of AF. The effects of VLDL to atria suggesting pathogenic to atrial cardiomyopathy and AF include excess lipid accumulation, direct cytotoxicity, abbreviated action potentials, disturbed calcium regulation, delayed conduction velocities, modulated gap junctions, and sarcomere protein derangements. The electrical remodeling and structural changes in concert promote development of atrial cardiomyopathy in MetS and ultimately lead to vulnerability to AF. As VLDL plays a major role in lipid metabolism after meals (rather than fasting state), further human studies that focus on the effects/correlation of postprandial lipids to atrial remodeling are required to determine whether VLDL-targeted therapy can reduce MetS-related AF. On the basis of our scientific evidence, we propose a pivotal role of VLDL in MetS-related atrial cardiomyopathy and vulnerability to AF.

Prevalence, risk factors, and type of sleep apnea in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

Background

Recent studies have suggested an association between sleep apnea (SA) and atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to study the prevalence, characteristics, risk factors and type of sleep apnea (SA) in ablation candidates with paroxysmal AF.

Methods/Results

We prospectively studied 579 patients with paroxysmal AF, including 157 women (27.1%) and 422 men (72.9%). Mean age was 59.9 ± 9.6 years and mean body mass index (BMI) 28.5 ± 4.5 kg/m². SA was diagnosed using polygraphy for two nights at home. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), STOP-Bang Questionnaire, and Berlin Questionnaire (BQ) assessed the degree of SA symptoms. A total of 479 (82.7%) patients had an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 5, whereas moderate-severe SA (AHI ≥ 15) was diagnosed in 244 patients (42.1%). The type of SA was predominantly obstructive, with a median AHI of 12.1 (6.7–20.6) (range 0.4–85.8). The median central apnea index was 0.3 (0.1–0.7). AHI increased with age, BMI, waist and neck circumference, body and visceral fat. Using the Atrial Fibrillation Severity Scale and the SF-36, patients with more severe SA had a higher AF burden, severity and symptom score and a lower Physical-Component Summary score. Age, male gender, BMI, duration of AF, and habitual snoring were independent risk factors in multivariate analysis (AHI ≥ 15). We found no association between ESS and AHI (R² = 0.003, p = 0.367).

Conclusions

In our AF population, SA was highly prevalent and predominantly obstructive. The high prevalence of SA detected in this study may indicate that SA is under-recognized in patients with AF. None of the screening questionnaires predicted SA reliably.

Impact of pre-existing hypertension and control status before atrial fibrillation onset on cardiovascular prognosis in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation: A real-world database analysis in Japan

Hypertension is an important risk factor for non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and its prognosis. However, there is no study to clarify the impact of pre-existing hypertension and BP control status before the onset of AF on the prognosis after the onset of AF. This retrospective real-world cohort analysis used data from the Japan Medical Data Center Co., Ltd database. The presence of NVAF and hypertension, plus the occurrence of adverse events, was based on ICD-10 codes in the database. The primary composite AF-related cardiovascular event end point included ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and acute myocardial infarction. Of the 21 523 patients identified as having new-onset NVAF between January 2005 and June 2016, 7885 had blood pressure (BP) data before the onset of NVAF available and were included in the analysis (4001 with pre-existing hypertension and 3884 without pre-existing hypertension). The rate of primary composite end point events was 10.3 and 4.4 per 1000 patient-years in patients with and without hypertension, respectively (P < .001). In addition, lower systolic BP (<120 mm Hg) before the onset of NVAF was associated with a lower incidence of cardiovascular events after the development of NVAF (P < .001). This highlights the importance of earlier and tighter 24-hour BP control before the onset of NVAF in patients with hypertension, not only for reducing the occurrence of new-onset of NVAF, but also for reducing both hemorrhagic and ischemic cardiovascular events after the onset of NVAF.

Impact of a Multidisciplinary Treatment Pathway for Atrial Fibrillation in the Emergency Department on Hospital Admissions and Length of Stay: Results of a Multi-Center Study

Background

Variability in the management of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the emergency department (ED) leads to avoidable hospital admissions and prolonged length of stay (LOS). In a retrospective single‐center study, a multidisciplinary AF treatment pathway was associated with a reduced hospital admission rate and reduced LOS. To assess the applicability of the AF pathway across institutions, we conducted a 2‐center study.

Methods and Results

We performed a prospective, 2‐stage study at 2 tertiary care hospitals. During the first stage, AF patients in the ED received routine care. During the second stage, AF patients received care according to the AF pathway. The primary study outcome was hospital admission rate. Secondary outcomes included ED LOS and inpatient LOS. We enrolled 104 consecutive patients in each stage. Patients treated using the AF pathway were admitted to the hospital less frequently than patients who received routine care (15% versus 55%; P<0.001). For admitted patients, average hospital LOS was shorter in the AF pathway cohort than in the routine care cohort (64 versus 105 hours, respectively; P=0.01). There was no significant difference in the average ED LOS between AF pathway and routine care cohorts (14 versus 12 hours, respectively; P=0.32).

Conclusions

In this prospective 2‐stage, 2‐center study, utilization of a multidisciplinary AF treatment pathway resulted in a 3.7‐fold reduction in admission rate and a 1.6‐fold reduction in average hospital LOS for admitted patients. Utilization of the AF pathway was not associated with a significant change in ED LOS.

Antiarrhythmics for maintaining sinus rhythm after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND

Atrial fibrillation is the most frequent sustained arrhythmia. Atrial fibrillation often recurs after restoration of normal sinus rhythm. Antiarrhythmic drugs have been widely used to prevent recurrence. This is an update of a review previously published in 2006, 2012 and 2015.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the effects of long-term treatment with antiarrhythmic drugs on death, stroke, drug adverse effects and recurrence of atrial fibrillation in people who had recovered sinus rhythm after having atrial fibrillation.

SEARCH METHODS

We updated the searches of CENTRAL, MEDLINE and Embase in January 2019, and ClinicalTrials.gov and WHO ICTRP in February 2019. We checked the reference lists of retrieved articles, recent reviews and meta-analyses.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Two authors independently selected randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing any antiarrhythmic drug with a control (no treatment, placebo, drugs for rate control) or with another antiarrhythmic drug in adults who had atrial fibrillation and in whom sinus rhythm was restored, spontaneously or by any intervention. We excluded postoperative atrial fibrillation.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two authors independently assessed quality and extracted data. We pooled studies, if appropriate, using Mantel-Haenszel risk ratios (RR), with 95% confidence intervals (CI). All results were calculated at one year of follow-up or the nearest time point.

MAIN RESULTS

This update included one new study (100 participants) and excluded one previously included study because of double publication. Finally, we included 59 RCTs comprising 20,981 participants studying quinidine, disopyramide, propafenone, flecainide, metoprolol, amiodarone, dofetilide, dronedarone and sotalol. Overall, mean follow-up was 10.2 months.All-cause mortalityHigh-certainty evidence from five RCTs indicated that treatment with sotalol was associated with a higher all-cause mortality rate compared with placebo or no treatment (RR 2.23, 95% CI 1.03 to 4.81; participants = 1882). The number need to treat for an additional harmful outcome (NNTH) for sotalol was 102 participants treated for one year to have one additional death. Low-certainty evidence from six RCTs suggested that risk of mortality may be higher in people taking quinidine (RR 2.01, 95% CI 0.84 to 4.77; participants = 1646). Moderate-certainty evidence showed increased RR for mortality but with very wide CIs for metoprolol (RR 2.02, 95% CI 0.37 to 11.05, 2 RCTs, participants = 562) and amiodarone (RR 1.66, 95% CI 0.55 to 4.99, 2 RCTs, participants = 444), compared with placebo.We found little or no difference in mortality with dofetilide (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.27; moderate-certainty evidence) or dronedarone (RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.68 to 1.09; high-certainty evidence) compared to placebo/no treatment. There were few data on mortality for disopyramide, flecainide and propafenone, making impossible a reliable estimation for those drugs.Withdrawals due to adverse eventsAll analysed drugs increased withdrawals due to adverse effects compared to placebo or no treatment (quinidine: RR 1.56, 95% CI 0.87 to 2.78; disopyramide: RR 3.68, 95% CI 0.95 to 14.24; propafenone: RR 1.62, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.46; flecainide: RR 15.41, 95% CI 0.91 to 260.19; metoprolol: RR 3.47, 95% CI 1.48 to 8.15; amiodarone: RR 6.70, 95% CI 1.91 to 23.45; dofetilide: RR 1.77, 95% CI 0.75 to 4.18; dronedarone: RR 1.58, 95% CI 1.34 to 1.85; sotalol: RR 1.95, 95% CI 1.23 to 3.11). Certainty of the evidence for this outcome was low for disopyramide, amiodarone, dofetilide and flecainide; moderate to high for the remaining drugs.ProarrhythmiaVirtually all studied antiarrhythmics showed increased proarrhythmic effects (counting both tachyarrhythmias and bradyarrhythmias attributable to treatment) (quinidine: RR 2.05, 95% CI 0.95 to 4.41; disopyramide: no data; flecainide: RR 4.80, 95% CI 1.30 to 17.77; metoprolol: RR 18.14, 95% CI 2.42 to 135.66; amiodarone: RR 2.22, 95% CI 0.71 to 6.96; dofetilide: RR 5.50, 95% CI 1.33 to 22.76; dronedarone: RR 1.95, 95% CI 0.77 to 4.98; sotalol: RR 3.55, 95% CI 2.16 to 5.83); with the exception of propafenone (RR 1.32, 95% CI 0.39 to 4.47) for which the certainty of evidence was very low and we were uncertain about the effect. Certainty of the evidence for this outcome for the other drugs was moderate to high.StrokeEleven studies reported stroke outcomes with quinidine, disopyramide, flecainide, amiodarone, dronedarone and sotalol. High-certainty evidence from two RCTs suggested that dronedarone may be associated with reduced risk of stroke (RR 0.66, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.95; participants = 5872). This result is attributed to one study dominating the meta-analysis and has yet to be reproduced in other studies. There was no apparent effect on stroke rates with the other antiarrhythmics.Recurrence of atrial fibrillationModerate- to high-certainty evidence, with the exception of disopyramide which was low-certainty evidence, showed that all analysed drugs, including metoprolol, reduced recurrence of atrial fibrillation (quinidine: RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.78 to 0.88; disopyramide: RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.59 to 1.01; propafenone: RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.74; flecainide: RR 0.65, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.77; metoprolol: RR 0.83 95% CI 0.68 to 1.02; amiodarone: RR 0.52, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.58; dofetilide: RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.85; dronedarone: RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.80 to 0.91; sotalol: RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.80 to 0.87). Despite this reduction, atrial fibrillation still recurred in 43% to 67% of people treated with antiarrhythmics.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There is high-certainty evidence of increased mortality associated with sotalol treatment, and low-certainty evidence suggesting increased mortality with quinidine, when used for maintaining sinus rhythm in people with atrial fibrillation. We found few data on mortality in people taking disopyramide, flecainide and propafenone, so it was not possible to make a reliable estimation of the mortality risk for these drugs. However, we did find moderate-certainty evidence of marked increases in proarrhythmia and adverse effects with flecainide.Overall, there is evidence showing that antiarrhythmic drugs increase adverse events, increase proarrhythmic events and some antiarrhythmics may increase mortality. Conversely, although they reduce recurrences of atrial fibrillation, there is no evidence of any benefit on other clinical outcomes, compared with placebo or no treatment.

Increasing trends in hospitalisations due to atrial fibrillation in Australia from 1993 to 2013

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to characterise hospitalisations due to atrial fibrillation (AF) compared with two other common cardiovascular conditions, myocardial infarction (MI) and heart failure (HF), in addition to the associated economic burden of these hospitalisations and contribution of AF-related procedures.

METHODS

The primary outcome measure was the rate of increase of AF, MI and HF hospitalisations from 1993 to 2013. The rate of increase of AF-related procedures including cardioversion and ablation were also collected, in addition to direct costs associated with hospitalisations for each of these three conditions.

RESULTS

AF hospitalisations increased 295% over the 21-year period to a total of 61 424 in 2013. In comparison, MI and HF hospitalisations increased by only 73% and 39%, respectively, over the same period. Considering population changes, there was an annual increase in AF hospitalisations of 5.2% (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.052; 95% CI 1.046 to 1.059; p<0.001). In contrast, there was a 2.2% increase per annum for MI (IRR 1.022; 95% CI 1.017 to 1.027; p<0.001) and negligible annual change for HF hospitalisations (IRR 1.000; 95% CI 0.997 to 1.002; p=0.78). Cardioversion and AF ablation increased by 10% and 26% annually, respectively. AF hospitalisation costs rose by 479% over the 21-year period, an increase that was more than double that of MI and HF.

CONCLUSIONS

The burden of AF hospitalisations continues to rise unabated. AF has now surpassed both MI and HF hospitalisations and represents a growing cost burden. New models of healthcare delivery are required to stem this growing healthcare burden.

Usefulness of the CHA2DS2-VASc Score to Predict the Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death and Ventricular Arrhythmias in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Sudden cardiac death (SCD), the most devastating manifestation of ventricular arrhythmias (VAs), is the leading cause of mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We hypothesized that the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score, consisting of age and several clinical risk factors, could be used to estimate the individual risk of SCD/VAs for AF patients. From year 2000 to 2011, 288,181 newly-diagnosed AF patients without antecedent SCD/VAs were identified from "Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database." During the follow-up of 1,065,751 person-years, 11,166 patients experienced SCD/VAs with an annual risk of 1.05% which increased from 0.34% for patients with a CHA₂DS₂-VASc score of 0% to 2.63% for those with a score of 9. The CHA₂DS₂-VASc score was a significant predictor of SCD/VAs with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.21 (95% confidence interval 1.20 to 1.22) per 1 point increment of the score. As the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score increased from 1 to 9, the hazard ratio of SCD/VAs continuously increased from 1.28 to 4.17 compared with patients with a CHA₂DS₂-VASc score of 0. In conclusion, CHA₂DS₂-VASc score was a convenient scoring system which could be used to predict the risk of SCD/VAs in AF patients in addition to its ability for stroke risk stratification.

Patient Diversity and Population Health-Related Cardiovascular Outcomes Associated with Warfarin Use in Atrial Fibrillation: An Analysis Using Administrative Claims Data

INTRODUCTION

Anticoagulants are effective for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF). Data on population health-related cardiovascular outcomes by race/ethnicity and gender are not well described. The aim was to assess the impact of patient diversity on associated cardiovascular outcomes related to warfarin anticoagulation in Medicare beneficiaries with AF.

METHODS

Medicare administrative claims data for years 2000-2010 were used to calculate AF prevalence and rates of new AF cases. Three 20% sample cohorts of new AF beneficiaries for years 2000, 2005, and 2007 were extracted and analyzed in a longitudinal study design. The impact of warfarin on associated cardiovascular outcomes was measured with respect to race/ethnicity and gender. Measured outcomes included the risk of stroke, mortality and hospitalization after adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, CHADS2 score and warfarin.

RESULTS

AF prevalence and warfarin use increased while stroke and mortality rates declined across race/ethnicity and gender from 2000 to 2010. Analyses comparing Whites to non-Whites highlighted several disparities: (1) Blacks were 40% (p < 0.0001) more likely to have a stroke even after adjustment for warfarin; (2) in 2007, Hispanics had a 35% (p < 0.01) higher prevalence of stroke and warfarin did not reduce the risk; and (3) Asians had better outcomes. Warfarin reduced stroke less well in women who had a lower risk of death and hospitalization. Despite a > 70% (p < 0.0001) reduction in mortality for warfarin users, Blacks had a 25% (p < 0.0001) higher mortality risk than Whites.

CONCLUSIONS

Differences in population health metrics across race/ethnicity and gender exist in AF. Across all metrics, Blacks had comparatively worse outcomes. Patient diversity should be a focus for future investigations in AF to improve outcomes in the whole population.

FUNDING

National Minority Quality Forum.

Effect of Atrial Fibrillation on the Incidence and Outcome of Osteoporotic Fracture - A Nationwide Population-Based Study

BACKGROUND

Both atrial fibrillation (AF) and osteoporosis are common in older adults. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether comorbid AF in patients with osteoporosis is associated with fracture incidence, or death after fracture.

METHODS AND RESULTS

From the National Health Insurance Service database of Korea, we selected 31,778 patients with osteoporosis. During a median follow-up of 48 months, the incidence of bone fractures was higher in AF patients than in non-AF patients (3.20 vs. 2.18 per 100 person-years), respectively. In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, AF was associated with fracture independently of other risk factors with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 1.21 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.41; P=0.031). The mortality rate after fracture was significantly higher in AF patients than it was in non-AF patients (adjusted HR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.35-3.27; P=0.016). After propensity score-matching, AF was consistently associated with a higher risk of osteoporotic fracture and subsequent death after fracture. In AF patients, older age, female sex, being underweight (body mass index <18.5 kg/m2), decreased physical activity (exercise <3 times/week), history of stroke or transient ischemic attack, thiazide use, sedative use, and higher CHADS2(≥2 points) or CHA2DS2-VASc (≥2 points) scores were associated with the incidence of fractures.

CONCLUSIONS

Comorbid AF in patients with osteoporosis was associated with an increased risk of bone fracture and death after fracture.

Emergency Department Visits for Atrial Fibrillation in the United States: Trends in Admission Rates and Economic Burden From 2007 to 2014

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an increasingly prevalent public health problem and one of the most common causes of emergency department (ED) visits. We aimed to investigate the trends in ED visits and hospital admissions for AF.

Methods and Results

This is a repeated cross‐sectional analysis of ED visit‐level data from the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample for 2007 to 2014. We identified adults who visited EDs in the United States, with a principal diagnosis of AF. A sample of 864 759 ED visits for AF, representing a weighted total of 3 886 520 ED visits, were analyzed. The annual ED visits for AF increased by 30.7% from 411 406 in 2007 (95% confidence interval, 389 819–432 993) to 537 801 (95% confidence interval, 506 747–568 855) in 2014. Patient demographics remained consistent, with an average age of 69 to 70 years and slight female predominance (51%–53%) throughout the study period. Hospital admission rates were stable at ≈70% between 2007 and 2010, after which they gradually declined to 62% in 2014 (P_trend=0.017). Despite the decline in hospital admission rates, AF hospitalizations increased from 288 225 in 2007 to 333 570 in 2014 because of the increase in total annual ED visits during the study. The adjusted annual charges for admitted AF patients increased by 37% from $7.39 billion in 2007 to $10.1 billion in 2014.

Conclusions

Annual ED visits and hospital admissions for AF increased significantly between 2007 and 2014, despite a reduction in admission rates. These data emphasize the need for widespread implementation of effective strategies aimed at improving the management of patients with AF to reduce hospital admissions and the economic burden of AF.

Optimizing primary care management of atrial fibrillation: The rationale and methods of the Integrated Management Program Advancing Community Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (IMPACT-AF) study

The Integrated Management Program Advancing Community Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (IMPACT-AF) is an investigator designed, prospective, randomized, un-blinded, cluster design clinical trial, conducted in the primary care setting of Nova Scotia, Canada. Its aim is to evaluate whether an electronic Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) designed to assist both practitioners and patients with evidence-based management strategies for Atrial Fibrillation (AF) can improve process of care and outcomes in a cost-efficient manner as compared to usual AF care. At least 200 primary care providers are being recruited and randomized at the level of the practice to control (usual care) or intervention (eligible to access to CDSS) cohorts. Over 1,000 patients of participating providers with confirmed AF will be managed per their provider's respective assignment. The targeted primary clinical outcome is a reduction in the composite of unplanned cardiovascular (CV) or major bleeding hospitalizations and AF-related emergency department visits. Secondary clinical outcomes, process of care, patient and provider satisfaction as well as economic costs at the system and patient levels are being examined. The trial is anticipated to report in 2018.

Assessment of the clinical efficacy of the heart spectrum blood pressure monitor for diagnosis of atrial fibrillation: An unblinded clinical trial

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia. The most common diagnostic method, 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), can record episodes of arrhythmia from which the type and severity can be determined. The Heart Spectrum Blood Pressure Monitor (P2; OSTAR Meditech Corp., New Taipei City, Taiwan) is used to measure cardiovascular pressure change with fast Fourier transform (FFT) analysis to obtain heart rate frequency variability and accurate blood pressure data. We compared the diagnostic efficacy of the Heart Spectrum Blood Pressure Monitor to a 12-lead ECG (gold standard) for patients with AF. Three measurement methods were used in this study to analyze the heart index and compare the results with simultaneous 12-lead ECG: blood pressure; mean arterial pressure, which was calculated from individual blood pressure as a constant pressure; and a constant pressure of 60 mmHg. The physician used a 12-lead ECG and the Heart Spectrum Blood Pressure Monitor simultaneously. The Heart Spectrum Blood Pressure Monitor used FFT analysis to diagnose AF, and the findings were compared to the 12-lead ECG readings. This unblinded clinical trial was conducted in the emergency department of Taipei Medical University Hospital. Twenty-nine subjects with AF and 33 without AF aged 25 to 97 y (mean, 63.5 y) were included. Subjects who were exposed to high-frequency surgical equipment during testing, those with cardiac pacemakers or implantable defibrillators, and pregnant women were excluded. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were 97%, 97%, 97%, and 97%, respectively, for method 1; 90%, 100%, 100%, and 91%, respectively, for method 2; and 100%, 94%, 94%, and 100%, respectively, for method 3. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV for both methods ranged between 90% and 100%, indicating that the Heart Spectrum Blood Pressure Monitor can be effectively applied for AF detection.

Use of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio for risk stratification and relationship with time in therapeutic range in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: A pilot study

BACKGROUND

Atrial fibrillation is one of the most common abnormal heart rhythms. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has emerged as a potential marker for the level of inflammation in cardiac disorders.

HYPOTHESIS

NLR might be associated with thrombosis and bleeding risk scores and might predict cardioembolic risk in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients within the therapeutic international normalized ratio (INR).

METHODS

We enrolled 272 patients taking warfarin for NVAF and classified them into 2 groups: Group A consisted of patients (n = 132) whose time in therapeutic range (TTR) was ≥65%, and Group B comprised patients (n = 139) whose TTR was <65%.

RESULTS

NLR values were higher in group B than in group A (P < 0.0001). Patients classified as high risk according to CHA₂ DS₂ -VASc score had significantly higher NLR levels (P = 0.002) than those classified as low and intermediate risk. Furthermore, NLR levels were significantly correlated with CHA₂ DS₂ -VASc and HAS-BLED scores (P < 0.001 and P < 0.0001, respectively). NLR predicted patients within therapeutic INR range (TTR ≥65%) with sensitivity of 81% and specificity of 71% in a receiver operator characteristic curve analysis, using a cutoff value of 2.17. Area under the curve for NLR was 0.81 (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, this is the first study showing correlation of NLR with both CHA₂ DS₂ -VASc and HAS-BLED risk scores. NLR might represent a useful marker to identify patients with high risks of stroke and bleeding and may have predictive value in identifying patients within the therapeutic INR range.

Factor Xa inhibitors versus vitamin K antagonists for preventing cerebral or systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND

Factor Xa inhibitors and vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) are now recommended in treatment guidelines for preventing stroke and systemic embolic events in people with atrial fibrillation (AF). This is an update of a Cochrane review previously published in 2013.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effectiveness and safety of treatment with factor Xa inhibitors versus VKAs for preventing cerebral or systemic embolic events in people with AF.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the trials registers of the Cochrane Stroke Group and the Cochrane Heart Group (September 2016), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (August 2017), MEDLINE (1950 to April 2017), and Embase (1980 to April 2017). We also contacted pharmaceutical companies, authors and sponsors of relevant published trials. We used outcome data from marketing authorisation applications of apixaban, edoxaban and rivaroxaban that were submitted to regulatory authorities in Europe and the USA.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that directly compared the effects of long-term treatment (lasting more than four weeks) with factor Xa inhibitors versus VKAs for preventing cerebral and systemic embolism in people with AF.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

The primary efficacy outcome was the composite endpoint of all strokes and systemic embolic events. Two review authors independently extracted data, and assessed the quality of the trials and the risk of bias. We calculated a weighted estimate of the typical treatment effect across trials using the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) by means of a fixed-effect model. In case of moderate or high heterogeneity of treatment effects, we used a random-effects model to compare the overall treatment effects. We also performed a pre-specified sensitivity analysis excluding any open-label studies.

MAIN RESULTS

We included data from 67,688 participants randomised into 13 RCTs. The included trials directly compared dose-adjusted warfarin with either apixaban, betrixaban, darexaban, edoxaban, idraparinux, idrabiotaparinux, or rivaroxaban. The majority of the included data (approximately 90%) was from apixaban, edoxaban, and rivaroxaban.The composite primary efficacy endpoint of all strokes (both ischaemic and haemorrhagic) and non-central nervous systemic embolic events was reported in all of the included studies. Treatment with a factor Xa inhibitor significantly decreased the number of strokes and systemic embolic events compared with dose-adjusted warfarin in participants with AF (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.82 to 0.97; 13 studies; 67,477 participants; high-quality evidence).Treatment with a factor Xa inhibitor significantly reduced the number of major bleedings compared with warfarin (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.84; 13 studies; 67,396 participants; moderate-quality evidence). There was, however, statistically significant and high heterogeneity (I2 = 83%). When we repeated this analysis using a random-effects model, it did not show a statistically significant decrease in the number of major bleedings (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.66 to 1.17). A pre-specified sensitivity analysis excluding all open-label studies showed that treatment with a factor Xa inhibitor significantly reduced the number of major bleedings compared with warfarin (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.69 to 0.81), but high heterogeneity was also observed in this analysis (I2 = 72%). The same sensitivity analysis using a random-effects model also showed a statistically significant decrease in the number of major bleedings in participants treated with factor Xa inhibitors (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.96).Treatment with a factor Xa inhibitor significantly reduced the risk of intracranial haemorrhages (ICHs) compared with warfarin (OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.59; 12 studies; 66,259 participants; high-quality evidence). We observed moderate, but statistically significant heterogeneity (I2 = 55%). The pre-specified sensitivity analysis excluding open-label studies showed that treatment with a factor Xa inhibitor significantly reduced the number of ICHs compared with warfarin (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.56), with low, non-statistically significant heterogeneity (I2 = 27%).Treatment with a factor Xa inhibitor also significantly reduced the number of all-cause deaths compared with warfarin (OR 0.89, 95% 0.83 to 0.95; 10 studies; 65,624 participants; moderate-quality evidence).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with factor Xa inhibitors significantly reduced the number of strokes and systemic embolic events compared with warfarin in people with AF. The absolute effect of factor Xa inhibitors compared with warfarin treatment was, however, rather small. Factor Xa inhibitors also reduced the number of ICHs, all-cause deaths and major bleedings compared with warfarin, although the evidence for a reduction in the latter is less robust.

Rhythm and rate control of atrial fibrillation in the emergency department – A large community-based observational study

Objective

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia presentation to the emergency department (ED) and frequently results in admission to the hospital. Although rarely life-threatening and not usually an emergent condition, AF places a large burden on our health-care system. The objective of this study was to describe the practices of ED physicians in the management of AF in a large urban Canadian city.

Methods

From January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010, patients with a primary diagnosis of AF were identified across 10 EDs in Toronto, Canada (N=2,609). Fifty patients were selected at random from each hospital for a detailed chart review (n=500).

Results

Two hundred thirty-two patients (46%) received rate control, and 129 (26%) received rhythm control with the remainder (28%) receiving neither therapy. Sixty-seven percent of patients were discharged home. Most patients (79%) were symptomatic on arrival; however, only a minority of these (31%) received rhythm control. Factors that were associated with rhythm control included younger age, duration of palpitations ≤ 48 hours, a lower CHADS2 score, and the absence of left ventricular dysfunction.

Conclusion

Our data suggest a wide range of practice amongst ED physicians treating patients presenting to the ED with a primary diagnosis of AF. A randomized trial is needed to better understand the optimal management strategy in this patient population and setting.

Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation: A Review of the Current Status and Future Directions

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common arrhythmias encountered in clinical practice today. Over the last 20 years, the frequency of use of catheter ablation to treat AF has grown, commensurate with the rise in arrhythmia burden and via a number of technical advancements. These developments can be divided into new techniques for myocardial ablation, improvements in the understanding of AF trigger mechanisms, and advancements in atrial mapping. Progress in these fields has led to a fundamental change in daily practice, and has contributed to a rise, for ablation, from a procedure performed infrequently at select centers to one that is commonplace worldwide. In this article, the data and methods leading to this fundamental change will be presented and discussed.

Assessment of the effect of left atrial cryoablation enhanced by ganglionated plexi ablation in the treatment of atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing open heart surgery

BACKGROUND

The aim of our study was to investigate, whether enhancement of left atrial cryoablation by ablation of the autonomic nervous system of left atrium leads to influencing the outcomes of surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation in patients with structural heart disease undergoing open-heart surgery.

METHODS

The observed patient file consisted of 100 patients, who have undergone a combined open-heart surgery at our department between July 2012 and December 2014. The patients were indicated for the surgical procedure due to structural heart disease, and suffered from paroxysmal, persistent, or long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation. In all cases, left atrial cryoablation was performed in the extent of isolation of pulmonary veins, box lesion, connecting lesion with mitral annulus, amputation of the left atrial appendage and connecting lesion of the appendage base with left pulmonary veins. Furthermore, 35 of the patients underwent mapping and radiofrequency ablation of ganglionated plexi, together with discision and ablation of the ligament of Marshall (Group GP). A control group was consisted of 65 patients without ganglionated plexi intervention (Group LA). The main primary outcome was establishment and duration of sinus rhythm in the course of one-year follow-up.

RESULTS

Evaluation of the number of patients with a normal sinus rhythm in per cent has shown comparable values in both groups (Group GP - 93.75%, Group LA - 86.67%, p = 0.485); comparable results were also observed in patients with normal sinus rhythm without anti-arrhythmic treatment in the 12th month (Group GP - 50%, Group LA - 47%, p = 0.306). We have not observed any relation between the recurrence of atrial fibrillation and the presence of a mitral valve surgery, or between the presence of a mitral and tricuspid valves surgery and between the left atrial diameter > 50 mm.

CONCLUSIONS

Enhancement of left atrial cryoablation by gangionated plexi ablation did not influence the outcomes of surgical ablation due to atrial fibrillation in our population in the course of 12-month follow-up.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study was approved retrospectively by the Ethics Committee of the University Hospital Ostrava ( reference number 867/2016).

Trends in atrial fibrillation hospitalizations in the United States: A report using data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey

Aims

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice. Patients presenting with AF are often admitted to hospital for rhythm or rate control, symptom management, and/or anticoagulation. We investigated temporal trends in AF hospitalizations in United States from 1996 to 2010.

Methods

Data were obtained from the National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS), a national probability sample survey of discharges conducted annually by National Center for Health Statistics. Because of the survey design, sampling weights were applied to the raw NHDS data to produce national estimates. Hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of AF were identified using International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) code of 427.31. Weighted least squares regression was used to test for linear trends in the number of AF admissions, length of stay, and inpatient mortality. We further stratified AF admissions based on patients' age, gender, and race.

Results

Admissions for a primary diagnosis of AF increased from approximately 286,000 in 1996 to about 410,000 in 2010 with a significant linear trend (β = 9470 additional admissions per year, p < 0.001). The trend of increased AF admissions was uniform across patient sub-groups. Overall, mean length of stay for AF admissions was 3.75 days, and this remained relatively stable over time (β = 0.002 days, p = 0.884). Inpatient mortality was 0.96% and also remained stable over time (β = 0.031%, p = 0.181).

Conclusion

Our data demonstrate an increase in the number of AF admissions but constant length of stay and mortality over time.

Deep sequencing of atrial fibrillation patients with mitral valve regurgitation shows no evidence of mosaicism but reveals novel rare germline variants

BACKGROUND

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia. Valvular heart disease is a strong predictor, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms are unknown.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of somatic variants in AF candidate genes in an AF patient population undergoing surgery for mitral valve regurgitation (MVR) to determine whether these patients are genetically predisposed to AF.

METHODS

DNA was extracted from blood and left atrial tissue from 44 AF patients with MVR. Using next-generation sequencing, we investigated 110 genes using the HaloPlex Target Enrichment System. MuTect software was used for identification of somatic point variants. We functionally characterized selected variants using electrophysiologic techniques.

RESULTS

No somatic variants were identified in the cardiac tissue. Thirty-three patients (75%) had a rare germline variation in ≥1 candidate genes. Fourteen variants were novel. Fifteen variants were predicted damaging or likely damaging in ≥6 in silico predictions. We identified rare variants in genes never directly associated with AF: KCNE4, SCN4B, NEURL1, and CAND2. Interestingly, 7 patients (16%) had variants in genes involved in cellular potassium handling. The variants KCNQ1 (p.G272S) and KCNH2 (p.A913V) resulted in gain of function due to faster activation (KCNQ1) and slowed deactivation kinetics (KCNQ1, KCNH2).

CONCLUSION

We did not find any somatic variants in patients with AF and MVR. Surprisingly, we found that our cohort of non-lone AF patients might, like lone AF patients, be predisposed to AF by rare germline variants. Our findings emphasize the extent of still unknown factors in the pathogenesis of AF.

Cost-Effectiveness and Clinical Effectiveness of the Risk Factor Management Clinic in Atrial Fibrillation: The CENT Study

BACKGROUND

Atrial fibrillation (AF) imposes a substantial cost burden on the healthcare system. Weight and risk factor management (RFM) reduces AF burden and improves the outcomes of AF ablation.

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to evaluate the cost and clinical effectiveness of integrating RFM into the overall management of AF.

METHODS

Of 1,415 consecutive patients with symptomatic AF, 825 patients had body mass index ≥27 kg/m². After screening for exclusion criteria, the final cohort comprised 355 patients: 208 patients who opted for RFM and 147 control subjects and were followed by 3 to 6 monthly clinic review, 7-day Holter monitoring, and AF Symptom Score. A decision analytical model calculated the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of cost per unit of global well-being gained and unit of AF burden reduced.

RESULTS

There were no differences in baseline characteristics or follow-up duration (p = NS). Arrhythmia-free survival was better in the RFM compared with control subjects (Kaplan-Meier: 79% vs. 44%; p < 0.001). At follow-up, RFM group had less unplanned specialist visits (0.19 ± 0.40 vs. 1.94 ± 2.00; p < 0.001), hospitalizations (0.74 ± 1.3 vs. 1.05 ± 1.60; p = 0.03), cardioversions (0.89 ± 1.50 vs. 1.51 ± 2.30; p = 0.002), emergency presentations (0.18 ± 0.50 vs. 0.76 ± 1.20; p < 0.001), and ablation procedures (0.60 ± 0.69 vs. 0.72 ± 0.86; p = 0.03). Antihypertensive (0.53 ± 0.70 vs. 0.78 ± 0.60; p = 0.04) and antiarrhythmic (0.26 ± 0.50 vs. 0.91 ± 0.60; p = 0.003) use declined in RFM. The RFM group had an increase of 0.1930 quality-adjusted life years and a cost saving of $12,094 (incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of $62,653 saved per quality-adjusted life years gained).

CONCLUSIONS

A structured physician-directed RFM program is clinically effective and cost saving.