Use of statins and adverse outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation: An analysis from the EURObservational Research Programme Atrial Fibrillation (EORP-AF) general registry pilot phase

Background Despite oral anticoagulation being highly effective in reducing stroke and thromboembolism, patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) still have a significant residual excess in mortality risk. Additional management strategies are needed to reduce the mortality risk seen in AF patients. Methods Ancillary analysis from the EURObservational Research Programme Atrial Fibrillation (EORP-AF) General Pilot Registry, to evaluate 1-year outcomes in AF patients according to statin use at baseline. Results Of 2636 patients, 1286 (48.8%) patients used statins at baseline. Patients prescribed statins had more comorbidities. At 1-year follow-up, logistic regression analysis adjusted for AF type, symptomatic status and CHA2DS2-VASc score demonstrated that statin use was inversely associated with CV death (odds ratio [OR]: 0.50, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.30\u20130.82, p < 0.0001), all-cause death (OR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.37\u20130.73, p < 0.0001) and the composite outcome of CV death/any thromboembolic event/bleeding (OR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.52\u20130.98, p < 0.0001). Similar findings were observed for \u2018high risk\u2019 subgroups including the elderly, primary prevention and high thromboembolic risk AF patients. Survival analysis showed that statins prescribed patients had a lower risk of all-cause death at follow-up (p = 0.0433). Multivariate Cox regression analysis found that statin use remained independently associated with a lower risk for all-cause death (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.42\u20130.88, p = 0.0077). Conclusions Statin use in AF patients was associated with improved outcomes, with an independent association with a lower risk of all-cause death at 1-year follow-up

Increased burden of comorbidities and risk of cardiovascular death in atrial fibrillation patients in Europe over ten years: A comparison between EORP-AF pilot and EHS-AF registries

Background: In 2002, the European Society of Cardiology conducted the Euro Heart Survey (EHS), while in 2014concluded 1-year follow-up of the EURObservational Research Programme AF (EORP-AF) Pilot Registry. Methods: We analysed differences in clinical profiles, therapeutic approaches and outcomes between these two cohorts after propensity score matching (PSM). Results: After PSM, 5206 patients were analysed. In EORP-AF there were more elderly patients than EHS (p <.001). EORP-AF patients were more burdened with cardiovascular (CV) and non-CV comorbidities, with a higher proportion of patients with high thromboembolic risk. EORP-AF patients used more oral-anticoagulant (OAC) (p <.001). At 1-year follow-up EORP-AF patients had lower risk for thromboembolic and CV events, readmission for AF and other CV reasons (all p <.001), showing conversely a higher risk for CV death (p =.015). Kaplan-Meier curves showed that EORP-AF patients had higher risk for CV death (p <.0001) and all-cause death (p =.0019). Cox regression confirmed that EORP-AF patients were at higher risk for CV death (p =.021). Conclusions: We found significant changes in AF epidemiology over a decade in Europe, with older patients, more burdened with comorbidities. A greater use of OAC was found. Despite a reduction in risk for thromboembolic events, a high risk of CV-related death was still evident

Immediate and 12-Month Outcomes of Ischemic Versus Nonischemic Functional Mitral Regurgitation in Patients Treated With MitraClip (from the 2011 to 2012 Pilot Sentinel Registry of Percutaneous Edge-To-Edge Mitral Valve Repair of the European Society of Cardiology)

In literature, there are limited data comparing ischemic mitral regurgitation (I-MR) versus nonischemic MR regarding outcomes after percutaneous \ue2\u80\u9cedge-to-edge\ue2\u80\u9d repair. We aimed to describe the early and 12-month results after MitraClip device implantation regarding the 2 etiologies. From January 2011 to December 2012, the Transcatheter Valve Treatment Sentinel Pilot Registry included 452 patients with MR who underwent MitraClip procedure in 25 centers across Europe. The prevalent etiology was I-MR (235 patients, 52.0%). I-MR group had a significantly higher proportion of men (74.9 vs 59.9%, p <0.001) and surgical risk (logistic EuroSCORE 24.8 \uc2\ub1 18.2 vs 18.8 \uc2\ub1 16.3, p <0.001). Acute procedural success was high (96%) and similar between groups (p\uc2\ua0= 0.48). Patients with I-MR required a higher, albeit not significant, number of clips to reduce MR (p\uc2\ua0= 0.08). Inhospital mortality was low (2.0%) without significant differences between etiologies. The\uc2\ua0estimated 1-year mortality and rehospitalization rates were 15.0% and 25.8%, respectively, without significant differences between groups. Paired echocardiographic data showed a persistent improvement of MR at 1\uc2\ua0year in both etiologies. Despite a significant overall reverse atrial remodeling after clip, there were no significant changes in left ventricular volumes. In conclusion, this large independent cohort showed that percutaneous \ue2\u80\u9cedge-to-edge\ue2\u80\u9d therapy was associated with early- and long-term improvement of MR severity and functional condition both in patients with I-MR and nonischemic MR. There were no significant differences between the 2 etiologies regarding survival and freedom from rehospitalization due to heart failure at the 1-year follow-up

Changes to oral anticoagulant therapy and risk of death over a 3-year follow-up of a contemporary cohort of European patients with atrial fibrillation final report of the EURObservational Research Programme on Atrial Fibrillation (EORP-AF) pilot general registry

Background: Contemporary European data regarding patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) allow us to assess the use of oral anticoagulants (OACs) and long-term outcomes. Methods: Patients with AF presenting to cardiologists in 9 European Society of Cardiology participating countries were enrolled and followed-up for 3-years. Results: Among the 2119 patients (40.4% female; mean age 69 \ub1 11 years) the prevalent types of AF at baseline were first-detected (30.5%) and paroxysmal AF (27.0%). The composite of stroke/TIA/peripheral embolism/all-cause death at 3-years occurred in 18.2%, with first detected AF and permanent AF reporting the highest event rates (22.5% and 27.3%, respectively; p &lt; 0.0001). Age, diabetes mellitus, heart failure, restrictive cardiomyopathy, chronic kidney disease and no physical activity were significant predictors of all-cause death. Paroxysmal and persistent AF patients were more likely to be hospitalised than other types of AF (34.1% and 37.9%, p &lt; 0.0001). At follow-up, OAC drugs were used in 80.1% of patients, with non-vitamin K antagonists (NOACs) accounting for 24.3% of patients. OAC treatment at follow-up visits changed throughout time, with a shift from VKA to NOACs reported in 5.4% of the cases, while the reverse shift (from NOACs to VKA) occurred in 8.6%. Discontinuation of OAC was recorded in while in 9.5% of visits. Conclusions: Patients outcomes at 3-years follow-up differ according to type of AF at baseline, with worse outcomes in patients presenting with first-detected or permanent AF. Changes in the type of OAC use with shifts from NOACs to VKA and vice-versa are not uncommon, as were interruptions of OAC

Adverse outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation and peripheral arterial disease: a report from the EURObservational research programme pilot survey on atrial fibrillation

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is highly prevalent in general population. Data on the prevalence of symptomatic PAD in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are limited, and the impact of PAD on adverse outcomes in AF patients is controversial. Our aims were: (i) to define the prevalence of symptomatic PAD in European AF patients and describe its associated clinical risk factors and (ii) to establish the relationship of PAD to adverse events in AF, especially all-cause death

'Real-World' antithrombotic treatment in atrial fibrillation: The eorp-af pilot survey

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines strongly recommend that oral anticoagulation should be offered to patients with atrial fibrillation and >= 1 stroke risk factors. The guidelines also recommend that oral anticoagulation still should be used in the presence of stroke risk factors irrespective of rate or rhythm control. METHODS: In an analysis from the dataset of the EURObservational Research Programme on Atrial Fibrillation Pilot Survey (n = 3119), we examined antithrombotic therapy prescribing, with particular focus on the risk factors determining oral anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy use. RESULTS: When oral anticoagulation was used among admitted patients in whom no pharmacologic cardioversion, electrical cardioversion, or catheter ablation was performed or planned, vitamin K antagonist therapy was prescribed in the majority (72.2%), whereas novel oral anticoagulants were used in the minority (7.7%). There was no significant difference in bleeding risk factors among the patients treated with the different types of antithrombotic therapies, except for those with chronic kidney disease, in whom oral anticoagulation was less commonly used (P = .0318). Antiplatelet therapy was more commonly used in patients with a high Hypertension, Abnormal renal/liver function, Stroke, Bleeding history or predisposition, Labile international normalized ratio, Elderly (> 65 years), Drugs/alcohol concomitantly score (>= 2) (P = 75 [Doubled], Diabetes, Stroke [Doubled]-Vascular disease, Age 65-74, and Sex category [female] score was used, 95.6% of patients with a score >= 1 received antithrombotic therapy, with 80.5% of patients with a score >= 1 receiving oral anticoagulation. Of note, 83.7% of those with a score >= 2 received antithrombotic therapy. Of the latter, 70.9% of those with a score >= 2 received oral anticoagulation, vitamin K antagonists were used in 64.1%, and novel oral anticoagulants were used in 6.9%. CONCLUSIONS: The EURObservational Research Programme on Atrial Fibrillation Pilot Survey provides contemporary data on oral anticoagulation prescribing by European cardiologists for atrial fibrillation. Although the uptake of oral anticoagulation (mostly vitamin K antagonist therapy) has improved since the Euro Heart Survey a decade ago, antiplatelet therapy is still commonly prescribed, with or without oral anticoagulation, whereas elderly patients are commonly undertreated with oral anticoagulation

Self-reported physical activity and major adverse events in patients with atrial fibrillation: A report from the EURObservational Research Programme Pilot Survey on Atrial Fibrillation (EORP-AF) General Registry

AIMS: Physical activity is protective against cardiovascular (CV) events, both in general population and in high-risk CV cohorts. However, the relationship between physical activity with major adverse outcomes in atrial fibrillation (AF) is not well-established. Our aim was to analyse this relationship in a 'real-world' AF population. Second, we investigated the influence of physical activity on arrhythmia progression. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied all patients enrolled in the EURObservational Research Programme on AF (EORP-AF) Pilot Survey. Physical activity was defined as 'none', 'occasional', 'regular', and 'intense', based on patient self-reporting. Data on physical activity were available for 2442 patients: 38.9% reported none, 34.7% occasional, 21.7% regular, and 4.7% intense physical activity. Prevalence of the principal CV risk factors progressively decreased from none to intense physical activity. Lower rates of CV death, all-cause death, and composite outcomes were found in AF patients who reported regular and intense physical activity (P < 0.0001). Increasing physical activity was inversely associated with CV death/any thromboembolic event (TE)/bleeding in the whole cohort, irrespective of gender, paroxysmal AF, elderly age, or high stroke risk. Any level of physical activity intensity was significantly associated with lower risk of CV death/any TE/bleeding at 1-year follow-up. Physical activity was not significantly associated with arrhythmia progression. CONCLUSION: Atrial fibrillation patients taking regular exercise were associated with a lower risk of all-cause death, even when we considered various subgroups, including gender, elderly age, symptomatic status, and stroke risk class. Efforts to increase physical activity among AF patients may improve outcomes in these patients

Differences between familial and sporadic dilated cardiomyopathy: ESC EORP Cardiomyopathy & Myocarditis registry

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a complex disease where genetics interplay with extrinsic factors. This study aims to compare the phenotype, management, and outcome of familial DCM (FDCM) and non-familial (sporadic) DCM (SDCM) across Europe

European Cardiomyopathy Pilot Registry: EURObservational Research Programme of the European Society of Cardiology

Cardiomyopathies are a heterogeneous group of disorders associated with premature death due to ventricular arrhythmia or heart failure. The purpose of this study was to examine the characteristics of patients enrolled in the pilot phase of the EURObservational Research Programme (EORP) cardiomyopathy registry

Socio-Economic Variations Determine the Clinical Presentation, Aetiology and Outcome of Infective Endocarditis: a Prospective Cohort Study from the ESC-EORP EURO-ENDO (European Infective Endocarditis) Registry

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a life-threatening disease associated with high mortality and morbidity worldwide. We sought to determine how socio-economic factors might influence its epidemiology, clinical presentation, investigation and management, and outcome, in a large international multi-centre registry. Methods: The EurObservationalProgramme (EORP) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) EURO-ENDO registry comprises a prospective cohort of 3113 adult patients admitted for IE in 156 hospitals in 40 countries between January 2016 and March 2018. Patients were separated in 3 groups, according to World Bank economic stratification (Group 1 - high income [75.6%]; Group 2 - upper-middle income [15.4%]; Group 3 - lower-middle income [9.1%]). Results: Group 3 patients were younger (median age [IQR]: Group 1 - 66 [53-75] years; Group 2 - 57 [41-68] years; Group 3 - 33 [26-43] years; p&lt;0.001) with a higher frequency of smokers, intravenous drug use and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (all p&lt;0.001) and presented later (median [IQR) days since symptom onset: Group 1 - 12 [3-35]; Group 2 - 19 [6-54]; Group 3 - 31 [12-62]; p&lt;0.001) with a higher likelihood of developing congestive heart failure (13.6%; 11.1%; and 22.6%, respectively; p&lt;0.001) and persistent fever (9.8%; 14.2%; 27.9%; p&lt;0.001). Among 2157 (69.3%) patients with theoretical indication for cardiac surgery, surgery was performed less frequently in Group 3 patients (75.5%, 76.8% and 51.3%, respectively p&lt;0.001) who also demonstrated the highest mortality (15.0%, 23.0% and 23.7%, respectively; p&lt;0.001). Conclusions: Socio-economic factors influence the clinical profile of patients presenting with IE across the world. Despite younger age, patients from the poorest countries presented with more frequent complications and higher mortality associated with delayed diagnosis and lower use of surgery