Clinical characteristicas of patients suffering atrial fibrillation and diabetes mellitus. The attitude of the clinical cardiologist

[ES] [Resumen] Introducción y objetivos: La coexistencia de la fibrilación auricular y la diabetes mellitus es frecuente. Nuestro objetivo es analizar la manera como los cardiólogos tratamos a los pacientes que padecen ambas enfermedades en 2019. Métodos: Diseñamos un registro multicéntrico y prospectivo en el que incluimos todos los pacientes atendidos en consultas externas en los que coexistían ambas entidades. Se recogen parámetros clínicos, electrocardiográficos, ecocardiográficos y analíticos, el tratamiento que venían tomando los pacientes y la actitud terapéutica de los cardiólogos. Resultados: Durante 11 meses incluimos 658 pacientes, 55% mujeres, de 73,8 ± 8,5 años de edad. Encontramos una elevadísima prevalencia de otros factores de riesgo con diferencias significativas entre géneros. No se utiliza el ácido acetilsalicílico y se anticoagula al 96% de aquellos que lo precisan según las guías. Aquellos que siguen tratados con antivitamina K tienen un tiempo en rango terapéutico de Rosendaal de 59,8 ± 31, pero solo se optimiza el tratamiento en el 57,4% (rango de variabilidad entre cardiólogos 10-93%, p = 0,001) de los que tenían un tiempo en rango terapéutico < 65%. La hemoglobina glucosilada era de 7 ± 1,2, y el 37,5% presentaban cifras de hemoglobina glucosilada ≥ 7. Los cardiólogos optimizaron el tratamiento en el 35,2% de ellos (rango de variabilidad entre cardiólogos 6,3-93%, p = 0,0001). Si esta era ≥ 7,5, se optimizaba en el 46,3% y si era ≥ 9 en el 63,2%. Conclusiones: La coexistencia de fibrilación auricular y diabetes mellitus define una población de elevadísimo riesgo cardiovascular. La intervención del cardiólogo en el tratamiento anticoagulante y antidiabético es buena, pero mejorable, y hay gran variabilidad entre profesionales.[EN] Introduction and objectives: The coexistence of atrial fibrillation and diabetes mellitus is frequent. Our goal was to analyse how cardiologists treated patients with both pathologies in 2019. Methods: We designed a prospective, multicentre registry in which we included all the patients in whom both pathologies coexisted. Clinical, analytical, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic parameters were collected. In addition, we collected the treatment that patients had been taking and the attitude of cardiologists. Results: Over 11 months we included 658 patients, 55% women, 73.8 ± 8.5 years. We found an extremely high prevalence of other risk factors with significant differences between genders. Acetylsalicylic acid was not used and 96% of those who required it were anticoagulated according to the guidelines. Those who were treated with aVK had a Rosendaal's time in therapeutic range of 59.8 ± 31, but treatment was only optimized in 57.4% (range of variability between cardiologists 10%-93%, P = .001) of which < 65% had time in therapeutic range. Glycated haemoglobin was 7.0 ± 1.2, and 37.5% had glycated hemoglobin levels ≥ 7.0. Cardiologists optimized treatment in 35.2% of them (range of variability between cardiologists 6.3%-93%, P = .0001). If it was ≥ 7.5, it was optimized in 46.3% and if it was ≥ 9 in 63.2%. Conclusions: The coexistence of atrial fibrillation and diabetes mellitus defines a population with a very high cardiovascular risk. The intervention of the cardiologist in anticoagulant and antidiabetic treatment is good, but it can be improved, and there is great variability among professionals.Estudio financiado por la Agencia de Investigación de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología, que recibió una beca no condicionada de Boehringer-Ingelheim-España

Rhythm versus rate control in patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation – Observations from the GARFIELD-AF registry

© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).[Background] Investigate real-world outcomes of early rhythm versus rate control in patients with recent onset atrial fibrillation.[Methods] The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-AF (GARFIELD-AF) is an international multi-centre, non-interventional prospective registry of newly diagnosed (≤6 weeks’ duration) atrial fibrillation patients at risk for stroke. Patients were stratified according to treatment initiated at baseline (≤48 days post enrolment), and outcome risks evaluated by overlap propensity weighted Cox proportional-hazards models.[Results] Of 45,382 non-permanent atrial fibrillation patients, 23,858 (52.6 %) received rhythm control and 21,524 (47.4 %) rate control. Rhythm-controlled patients had lower median age (68.0 [Q1;Q3: 60.0;76.0] versus 73.0 [65.0;79.0]), fewer histories of stroke/transient ischemic attack/systemic embolism (9.4 % versus 13.0 %), and lower expected probabilities of death (median GARFIELD-AF death score 4.0 [2.3;7.5] versus 5.1 [2.8;9.2]). The two groups had the same median CHA2DS2-VASc scores (3.0 [2.0;4.0]) and similar proportions of anticoagulated patients (rhythm control: 66.0 %, rate control: 65.5 %). The propensity-score-weighted hazard ratios of rhythm vs rate control (reference) were 0.85 (95 % CI: 0.79–0.92, p-value < 0.0001) for all-cause mortality, 0.84 (0.72–0.97, p-value 0.020) for non-haemorrhagic stroke/systemic embolism and 0.90 (0.78–1.04, p-value 0.164) for major bleeding.[Conclusion] Rhythm control strategy was initiated in about half of the patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular non-permanent atrial fibrillation. After balancing confounders, significantly lower risks of all-cause mortality and non-haemorrhagic stroke were observed in patients who received early rhythm control.This work was supported by the Thrombosis Research Institute (London, UK).Peer reviewe

2016 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure: The Task Force for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Developed with the special contribution of the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the ESC

2016 ESC on Acute and Chronic H

2015 ESC Guidelines for the management of patients with ventricular arrhythmias and the prevention of sudden cardiac death the Task Force for the Management of Patients with Ventricular Arrhythmias and the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Endorsed by: Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology (AEPC)

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Risk profiles and one-year outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation in India: Insights from the GARFIELD-AF Registry.

BACKGROUND: The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF) is an ongoing prospective noninterventional registry, which is providing important information on the baseline characteristics, treatment patterns, and 1-year outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This report describes data from Indian patients recruited in this registry. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 52,014 patients with newly diagnosed AF were enrolled globally; of these, 1388 patients were recruited from 26 sites within India (2012-2016). In India, the mean age was 65.8 years at diagnosis of NVAF. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor for AF, present in 68.5% of patients from India and in 76.3% of patients globally (P < 0.001). Diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) were prevalent in 36.2% and 28.1% of patients as compared with global prevalence of 22.2% and 21.6%, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). Antiplatelet therapy was the most common antithrombotic treatment in India. With increasing stroke risk, however, patients were more likely to receive oral anticoagulant therapy [mainly vitamin K antagonist (VKA)], but average international normalized ratio (INR) was lower among Indian patients [median INR value 1.6 (interquartile range {IQR}: 1.3-2.3) versus 2.3 (IQR 1.8-2.8) (P < 0.001)]. Compared with other countries, patients from India had markedly higher rates of all-cause mortality [7.68 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 6.32-9.35) vs 4.34 (4.16-4.53), P < 0.0001], while rates of stroke/systemic embolism and major bleeding were lower after 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Compared to previously published registries from India, the GARFIELD-AF registry describes clinical profiles and outcomes in Indian patients with AF of a different etiology. The registry data show that compared to the rest of the world, Indian AF patients are younger in age and have more diabetes and CAD. Patients with a higher stroke risk are more likely to receive anticoagulation therapy with VKA but are underdosed compared with the global average in the GARFIELD-AF. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01090362

Eficacia del ejercicio físico en pacientes con fibrilación auricular: revisión sistemática y metaanálisis

[Background and objective] The benefits of exercise in atrial fibrillation (AF) are not clear yet. The aim was to assess the effects of exercise on functional capacity, quality of life, symptoms and adverse events in AF patients.[Methods] Pubmed, Web of Science, Science Direct and CENTRAL databases were searched to collect the literature concerning AF and exercise. Studies using an endurance and/or strength exercise of at least one-month duration were included. The meta-analysis was conducted using the random-effects method.[Results] 10 randomised controlled trials were selected. The analysis reported a significant improvement in the maximum exercise capacity (SMCR = 0.35; CI95% = 0.18, 0.51; p < .001) after exercise intervention. In patients with paroxysmal and persistent AF, exercise improved significantly VO2peak (SMCR = 0.387; CI95% = 0.214, 0.561; p < .001). Moreover, patients with permanent AF showed significant results in the 6-min walk test (SMCR = 0.74; CI95% = 0.31, 1.17; p < .001) and the resting heart rate (SMCR = −0.51; CI95% = −0.93, −0.10; p = .0015) thanks to exercise. Regarding quality of life, there was an improvement trend in the physical component score (SMCR = 0.13; CI95% = −0.05, 0.31; p = .17) and mental component score (SMCR = 0.09; CI95% = −0.09, 0.27; p = .35) in the exercise group. Nevertheless, pharmacological treatment tended to control the systolic blood pressure (SMCR = 0.13; CI95% = −0.03, 0.3; p = .11).[Conclusion] Exercise has a beneficial role as an adjuvant treatment of AF.[Antecedentes y objetivo] Los beneficios del ejercicio físico en la fibrilación auricular (FA) todavía no están claros. El objetivo fue evaluar los efectos del ejercicio físico sobre la capacidad funcional, la calidad de vida, los síntomas y los episodios adversos en pacientes con FA.[Métodos] Se realizó una búsqueda en las bases de datos: Pubmed, Web of Science, Science Direct y CENTRAL para reunir la literatura relativa a FA y ejercicio. Los estudios incluidos utilizaron ejercicio aeróbico y/o fuerza de al menos un mes de duración. El metaanálisis fue elaborado mediante el método de efectos aleatorios.[Resultados] Se seleccionaron 10 ensayos controlados y aleatorizados. El análisis mostró mejoras significativas en la máxima capacidad de ejercicio (SMCR = 0,35; IC95% = 0,18, 0,51; p< 0,001) después del ejercicio. En pacientes con FA paroxística y persistente, el ejercicio mejoró significativamente el VO2pico (SMCR = 0,387; IC95% = 0,214, 0,561; p< 0,001). Además, pacientes con FA permanente mostraron resultados significativos en la prueba de marcha de 6 minutos (SMCR = 0,74; IC95% = 0,31, 1,17; p< 0,001) y en la frecuencia cardíaca en reposo (SMCR = -0,51; IC95% = -0,93, -0,10; p = 0,0015) gracias al ejercicio. A nivel de calidad de vida, hubo una tendencia de mejora en los resúmenes de los componentes físico (SMCR = 0,13; IC95% = -0,05, 0,31; p = 0,17) y mental (SMCR = 0,09; IC95% = -0,09, 0,27; p = 0,35) en el grupo ejercicio. Sin embargo, el tratamiento farmacológico tendió a regular mejor la presión arterial sistólica (SMCR = 0,13; IC95% = -0,03, 0,3; p = 0,11).[Conclusión] El ejercicio físico tiene un papel beneficioso como tratamiento complementario de la FA.Peer reviewe

Recurrencia y mortalidad a largo plazo de los pacientes con síncope no cardiogénico

[Introduction and objectives] There are no in-depth studies of the long-term outcome of patients with syncope after exclusion of cardiac etiology. We therefore analyzed the long-term outcome of this population.[Methods] For 147 months, we included all patients with syncope referred to our syncope unit after exclusion of a cardiac cause.[Results] We included 589 consecutive patients. There were 313 (53.1%) women, and the median age was 52 [34-66] years. Of these, 405 (68.8%) were diagnosed with vasovagal syncope (VVS), 65 (11%) with orthostatic hypotension syncope (OHS), and 119 (20.2%) with syncope of unknown etiology (SUE). During a median follow-up of 52 [28-89] months, 220 (37.4%) had recurrences (21.7% ≥ 2 recurrences), and 39 died (6.6%). Syncope recurred in 41% of patients with VVS, 35.4% with OHS, and 25.2% with SUE (P = .006). In the Cox multivariate analysis, recurrence was correlated with age (P = .002), female sex (P < .0001), and the number of previous episodes (< 5 vs ≥ 5; P < .0001). Death occurred in 15 (3.5%) patients with VVS, 11 (16.9%) with OHS, and 13 (10.9%) with SUE (P = .001). In the multivariate analysis, death was associated with age (P = .0001), diabetes (P = .007), and diagnosis of OHS (P = .026) and SUE (P = .020).[Conclusions] In patients with noncardiac syncope, the recurrence rate after 52 months of follow-up was 37.4% and mortality was 6.6% per year. Recurrence was higher in patients with a neuromedial profile and mortality was higher in patients with a nonneuromedial profile.[Introducción y objetivos] La evolución a largo plazo de los pacientes que padecen síncope, una vez descartada su etiología cardiaca, no se ha descrito en profundidad. Se describe la evolución a largo plazo de esta población.[Métodos] Durante 147 meses, se estudió a todos los pacientes remitidos a nuestra unidad de síncope tras haberse descartado una causa cardiaca.[Resultados] Se incluyó a 589 pacientes consecutivos, 313 de ellos mujeres (53,1%), con una mediana de 52 [34-66] años. A 405 (68,8%) se les diagnosticó síncope vasovagal (SVV); a 65 (11%), síncope por hipotensión ortostática (SHO), y a 119 (20,2%), síncope de etiología desconocida (SED). Durante una mediana de 52 [28-89] meses de seguimiento, 220 (37,4%) tuvieron recurrencias (el 21,7%, 2 o más recurrencias) y se produjeron 39 muertes (6,6%). La recurrencia del síncope se produjo en el 41% de los pacientes con SVV, el 35,4% del grupo con SHO y el 25,2% del de SED (p = 0,006). La recurrencia se correlacionó en el análisis multivariado con la edad (p = 0,002), el sexo femenino (p< 0,0001) y el número de episodios previos (< 5 frente a ≥ 5; p < 0,0001). Fallecieron 15 pacientes (3,5%) con SVV, 11 (16,9%) con SHO y 13 (10,9%) con SED (p = 0,001), El análisis multivariado asoció edad (p = 0,0001), diabetes (p = 0,007) y diagnóstico de SHO (p = 0,026) y SED (p = 0,020) con la muerte.[Conclusiones] En los pacientes con síncope de origen no cardiaco, a los 52 meses de seguimiento, la tasa de recurrencias es del 37,4% y la de mortalidad, del 6,6%. Hay más recurrencias en los pacientes con perfil neuromediado y más mortalidad en los pacientes con perfil no neuromediado.Peer reviewe

Impact of dual-chamber pacing with closed loop stimulation on quality of life in patients with recurrent reflex vasovagal syncope: results of the SPAIN study

[Aims]: Reflex vasovagal syncope (VVS) is the most common cause of syncope and patients with recurrent episodes may severely impair quality of life (QoL). This pre-specified analysis evaluated whether the clinically significant reduction in syncope burden demonstrated by dual-chamber pacing with closed loop stimulation (DDD-CLS) reported in the SPAIN trial translates into improved QoL.[Methods and results]: Patients aged ≥40 years with ≥5 VVS episodes and cardioinhibitory response induced by head-up tilt testing were included. Patients were randomized 1:1 to active DDD-CLS pacing algorithm for 12 months followed by sham DDI mode for the remaining 12 months (Group A) or vice versa (Group B). QoL was assessed using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) health survey, Physical Component Score (PCS), and Mental Component Score (MCS) before randomization (baseline) and at 12- and 24-month follow-up. Fifty-four patients were enrolled from 11 participating centres. No significant carryover effect was detected for any variable, and the only period effect was observed in the vitality subdomain (P = 0.033). Mean SF-36 scores were higher in the DDD-CLS group vs. the DDI group for the eight subdomains and significantly different in physical role, bodily pain, and vitality (P < 0.05). The analysis of component summary scores indicated that DDD-CLS benefited both mental and physical components with significant differences in PCS when compared with the DDI group.[Conclusion]: Dual-chamber pacing with closed loop stimulation determined a significant and clinically relevant improvement in QoL across both mental and physical components in patients with recurrent VVS.This work was supported by the Research Agency of the Spanish Society of Cardiology. The trial was designed, sponsored, and conducted by the syncope working group and the Research Agency of the Spanish Society of Cardiology. The Research Agency of the Spanish Society of Cardiology received an unrestricted research grant from BIOTRONIK Spain. Medical Writing services were supported by BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG (Berlin, Germany)