The 3S-AF scheme, rather than the 4S-AF scheme, predicts progression in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: data from RACE V study

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): support from the Netherlands Cardiovascular Research Initiative: an initiative with support of the Dutch Heart Foundation, CVON 2014-9: Reappraisal of Atrial Fibrillation: interaction between hyperCoagulability, Electrical remodelling, and Vascular destabilisation in the progression of AF (RACE V).

Purpose

To assess whether the 4S-AF scheme predicts AF progression, cardiovascular hospitalizations and mortality in patients with self-terminating paroxysmal AF.

Methods

We analysed well-phenotyped patients with paroxysmal AF from the Reappraisal of Atrial Fibrillation: Interaction between HyperCoagulability, Electrical remodelling, and Vascular Destabilisation in the Progression of AF (RACE V study). From the 417 patients included in RACE V, 341 (82%) had echocardiography available. Patient had continuous monitoring with implantable loop recorders or pacemakers. Primary endpoint of RACE V was AF progression, defined as (1) progression to persistent or permanent AF, or (2) progression of PAF with >3% burden increase. Median follow-up was 2.2 (1.6-2.8) years. Patients were given a score based on the components of the 4S-AF scheme (St, stroke=1; Sy, symptoms=2; Sb, Severity of burden=2; Su, Substrate=5) to a total maximum of 10 points (table 1). Left atrial fibrosis was not evaluated in our patients and therefore not included into the score. A score of zero (0) in the AF burden domain was given to all patients due to the presence of paroxysmal AF in all. A modified 4S-AF scheme was designed by eliminating the symptom domain, resulting in a 3S-AF scheme. Logistic regression was performed to assess AF progression and the composite endpoint of cardiovascular hospitalizations and mortality, C-statistic to assess prediction of the score, for both using the 4S-AF and the modified 3S-AF scheme.

Results

Mean age was 65 (IQR 58-71) years, 149 (44%) were women, 103 (48%) had heart failure (HFrEF 6 [2%]; HFpEF 97 [46%]), 276 (81%) had hypertension, 38(11%) had coronary artery disease and 162(48%) atherosclerosis (Table 2, Panel A). Based on the 4S-AF scheme, patients had an average score of 4.5±1.3, the majority had a score under 5 (n=272, 80%), 20% of the score was explained by the S1 domain (stroke), 16% of the score was explained by the Sy domain (symptoms), and 64% of the score was explained by the Su domain (substrate). The score points from the 4S-AF scheme did not predict the risk of AF progression (OR 1.08 95%CI 0.84 – 1.39, C-statistic 0.53) nor the composite endpoint (OR 0.79 95%CI 0.53 – 1.20, C-statistic 0.42, Table 2, Panel B). However, when excluding the Sy domain (symptoms) from the scheme, the 3S-AF scheme, it predicted the risk of progression (OR 1.54 95%CI 1.12 – 2.18, C-statistic 0.61, Table 2, Panel B).

Conclusion

In paroxysmal AF patients the 4S-AF scheme does not predict AF progression nor the composite endpoint cardiovascular hospitalizations and mortality. Although symptoms are important for choosing the treatment strategy, they may be less relevant to determine AF progression, cardiovascular hospitalization and mortality. To assess progression, the 3S-AF scheme may be more appropriate.

Atrial function discriminates paroxysmal AF patients with HFpEF from those without HFpEF: subanalysis from AF-RISK study

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – EU funding. Main funding source(s): European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie. Grant support from the Dutch Heart Foundation [NHS2010B233]

Background. Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) are two cardiovascular conditions that often coexist. Overlapping symptoms, biomarker profile, and echocardiographic changes hinder the diagnosis of underlying HFpEF in patients with AF and suggest that both conditions might reflect similar remodelling processes in the heart.

Purpose. To assess cardiac remodelling in AF patients with versus without concomitant HFpEF by transthoracic echocardiography, focusing on atrial dimension and strain.

Methods. We selected 120 patients included in AF-RISK, a prospective, observational, multicentre study aiming to identify a risk profile to guide atrial fibrillation therapy study. Patients had paroxysmal AF diagnosed within three years before inclusion, had a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥50% and were in sinus rhythm at the moment of performing echocardiography and blood sampling. Patients were matched by nearest neighbour by age and sex with a 1:1 ratio and were classified into two groups: 1) AF with HFpEF (n = 60) and 2) AF without HFpEF (n = 60). The diagnosis of HFpEF was based on the 2016 ESC heart failure guidelines, including symptoms and signs of heart failure, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) ≥125pg/ml, and one of the following echocardiographic measures: left atrium volume index (LAVI) >34ml/m2, left ventricular mass index ≥115g/m2 for men and ≥95g/m2 for women, average E/e’ ≥13cm/s and average e’ <9cm/s. Measurements of reservoir, conduit and contraction strain of both atria were performed in apical four-chamber by echocardiography (GE, EchoPac BT12). Associations of clinical and echocardiographic characteristics were tested for collinearity by multivariable logistic regression analyses. LAVI, LV mass index and NT-proBNP were excluded from multivariable analysis since these markers were part of the HFpEF diagnostic criteria.

Results. Patients with paroxysmal AF and concomitant HFpEF had more often hypertension (72% vs. 45%, P = 0.005), had more impaired strain phases of both the left and right atria (figure 1), had comparable LVEF and global longitudinal strain (GLS) (P = 0.168 and P = 0.212, respectively). In a model adjusted for the number of comorbidities and sex, LA contraction decrease was associated with presence of HFpEF (odds ratio per 1% LA contraction-percent was 0.94, 95% confidence interval 0.87–0.99, P = 0.042). LA contraction was not explained by LAVI in patients with concomitant HFpEF (Spearman’s rho= -0.07, P = 0.08). Conclusion. Our results show that atrial function may differentiate paroxysmal AF patients with HFpEF from those without HFpEF. In patients with paroxysmal AF, more impaired strain phases of the left and right atria were associated with concomitant HFpEF, whereas ventricular function, reflected by LVEF and GLS, did not differ. Abstract Figure. Strain distribution of both atria

Adult Still's disease associated with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection

Adult Still's disease (ASD) is a systemic inflammatory disorder of unknown origin. Several reports have suggested a triggering infection in ASD. We describe a case of ASD associated with acute Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. The close temporal relationship between ASD and acute infection strongly suggests that M. pneumoniae triggered ASD. We suggest that M. pneumoniae should be added to the list of infectious agents that may play a role in its etiology.