Long-term risk of adverse outcomes according to atrial fibrillation type

Sustained forms of atrial fibrillation (AF) may be associated with a higher risk of adverse outcomes, but few if any long-term studies took into account changes of AF type and co-morbidities over time. We prospectively followed 3843 AF patients and collected information on AF type and co-morbidities during yearly follow-ups. The primary outcome was a composite of stroke or systemic embolism (SE). Secondary outcomes included myocardial infarction, hospitalization for congestive heart failure (CHF), bleeding and all-cause mortality. Multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazards models with time-varying covariates were used to compare hazard ratios (HR) according to AF type. At baseline 1895 (49%), 1046 (27%) and 902 (24%) patients had paroxysmal, persistent and permanent AF and 3234 (84%) were anticoagulated. After a median (IQR) follow-up of 3.0 (1.9; 4.2) years, the incidence of stroke/SE was 1.0 per 100 patient-years. The incidence of myocardial infarction, CHF, bleeding and all-cause mortality was 0.7, 3.0, 2.9 and 2.7 per 100 patient-years, respectively. The multivariable adjusted (a) HRs (95% confidence interval) for stroke/SE were 1.13 (0.69; 1.85) and 1.27 (0.83; 1.95) for time-updated persistent and permanent AF, respectively. The corresponding aHRs were 1.23 (0.89, 1.69) and 1.45 (1.12; 1.87) for all-cause mortality, 1.34 (1.00; 1.80) and 1.30 (1.01; 1.67) for CHF, 0.91 (0.48; 1.72) and 0.95 (0.56; 1.59) for myocardial infarction, and 0.89 (0.70; 1.14) and 1.00 (0.81; 1.24) for bleeding. In this large prospective cohort of AF patients, time-updated AF type was not associated with incident stroke/SE

Alcohol consumption and risk of cardiovascular outcomes and bleeding in patients with established atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND Little is known about the association between alcohol consumption and risk of cardiovascular events in patients with established atrial fibrillation (AF). The main aim of the current study was to investigate the associations of regular alcohol intake with incident stroke or systemic embolism in patients with established AF. METHODS To assess the association between alcohol consumption and cardiovascular events in patients with established AF, we combined data from 2 comparable prospective cohort studies that followed 3852 patients with AF for a median of 3.0 years. Patients were grouped into 4 categories of daily alcohol intake (none, > 0 to < 1, 1 to < 2 and ≥ 2 drinks/d). The primary outcome was a composite of stroke and systemic embolism. Secondary outcomes were all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, hospital admission for acute heart failure, and a composite of major and clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding. Associations were assessed using time-updated, multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS Mean age (± standard deviation) was 71 ± 10 years (28% were women and 84% were on oral anticoagulants). We observed 136 confirmed strokes or systemic emboli. Compared with nondrinkers, adjusted hazard ratios for the primary outcome event were 0.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.55-1.37 for > 0 to < 1 drinks/d; 0.70, 95% CI 0.39-1.25 for 1 to < 2 drinks/d; and 0.96, 95% CI 0.56-1.67 for ≥ 2 drinks/d (p for linear [quadratic] trend 0.71 [0.22]). There was no significant association between alcohol consumption and bleeding, but there was a nonlinear association with heart failure (p for quadratic trend 0.01) and myocardial infarction (p for quadratic trend 0.007). INTERPRETATION In patients with AF, we did not find a significant association between low to moderate alcohol intake and risk of stroke or other cardiovascular events. Our findings do not support special recommendations for patients with established AF with regard to alcohol consumption. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, no. NCT02105844

Prevalence of Endolymphatic Hydrops in Cochlear Implant Candidates with Idiopathic Profound Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Objective: To determine the prevalence of endolymphatic hydrops (EH) in cochlear implant (CI) candidates with idiopathic profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and its influence on the preservation of audiovestibular function after cochlear implantation. Study Design: Prospective case series. Setting: Tertiary referral center. Patients: CI candidates with idiopathic progressive SNHL, but without classic EH-associated symptoms. Interventions: Delayed intravenous gadolinium-enhanced inner ear fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging as well as pure-tone audiograms, video head impulse tests, and vestibular evoked myogenic potentials before and 4 weeks after cochlear implantation. Main Outcome Measures: Prevalence of EH before cochlear implantation, audiovestibular function before and after surgery in hydropic and nonhydropic ears. Results: Thirty-two ears in 16 CI candidates were included. Nine ears (28%) with EH were detected. Although preoperative hearing thresholds, utricular function, and semicircular canal function were not different between the two groups, saccular function was reduced in hydropic ears. Ten subjects received a unilateral CI. Of these, 3 (30%) showed EH on the implanted side. There was no difference regarding postoperative hearing loss between the two groups, but the results point toward a higher vulnerability of hydropic ears with respect to loss of otolith function after cochlear implantation. Conclusions: This is the first study showing that EH can be assumed in about one third of CI candidates with idiopathic profound SNHL, but no classic EH-associated symptoms. Preliminary results suggest that EH has no influence on the preservation of cochlear function but could be a risk factor for loss of otolith function after cochlear implantation

Diagnostic and prognostic value of lead aVR during exercise testing in patients suspected of having myocardial ischemia

We aimed to assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of ST-segment deviation in aVR, a lead often ignored in clinical practice, during exercise testing and to compare it to the most widely used criterion of ST-segment depression in V. We enrolled 1,596 patients with suspected myocardial ischemia referred for nuclear perfusion imaging undergoing bicycle stress testing. ST-segment amplitudes in leads aVR and V were automatically measured. The presence of inducible myocardial ischemia was the diagnostic end point and adjudicated based on nuclear perfusion imaging and coronary angiography. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) during 2\ua0years of follow-up including death, acute myocardial infarction, and coronary revascularization were the prognostic end point. Exercise-induced myocardial ischemia was detected in 470 patients (29%). Median ST amplitudes for leads aVR and V differed significantly among patients with and without ischemia (

Long-term risk of adverse outcomes according to atrial fibrillation type.

Sustained forms of atrial fibrillation (AF) may be associated with a higher risk of adverse outcomes, but few if any long-term studies took into account changes of AF type and co-morbidities over time. We prospectively followed 3843 AF patients and collected information on AF type and co-morbidities during yearly follow-ups. The primary outcome was a composite of stroke or systemic embolism (SE). Secondary outcomes included myocardial infarction, hospitalization for congestive heart failure (CHF), bleeding and all-cause mortality. Multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazards models with time-varying covariates were used to compare hazard ratios (HR) according to AF type. At baseline 1895 (49%), 1046 (27%) and 902 (24%) patients had paroxysmal, persistent and permanent AF and 3234 (84%) were anticoagulated. After a median (IQR) follow-up of 3.0 (1.9; 4.2) years, the incidence of stroke/SE was 1.0 per 100 patient-years. The incidence of myocardial infarction, CHF, bleeding and all-cause mortality was 0.7, 3.0, 2.9 and 2.7 per 100 patient-years, respectively. The multivariable adjusted (a) HRs (95% confidence interval) for stroke/SE were 1.13 (0.69; 1.85) and 1.27 (0.83; 1.95) for time-updated persistent and permanent AF, respectively. The corresponding aHRs were 1.23 (0.89, 1.69) and 1.45 (1.12; 1.87) for all-cause mortality, 1.34 (1.00; 1.80) and 1.30 (1.01; 1.67) for CHF, 0.91 (0.48; 1.72) and 0.95 (0.56; 1.59) for myocardial infarction, and 0.89 (0.70; 1.14) and 1.00 (0.81; 1.24) for bleeding. In this large prospective cohort of AF patients, time-updated AF type was not associated with incident stroke/SE