Relation between heart rate variability and spontaneous and induced ventricular arrhythmias in patients with coronary artery disease

AbstractObjectives. The aim of this study was to determine the relation between autonomic control of heart rate and the spontaneous occurrence and inducibility of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with coronary artery disease.Background. Low heart rate variability increases the risk of arrhythmic events. It is not known whether impaired autonomic heart rate control reflects alterations in functional factors that contribute to the initiation of spontaneous arrhythmias or whether it is the consequence of an anatomic substrate for reentrant tachyarrhythmias.Methods. Fifty-four patients with coronary artery disease with a history of sustained ventricular tachycardia (n = 25) or cardiac arrest (n = 29) were studied by 24-h ambulatory electrocardiographic recording and by programmed electrical stimulation. Heart rate variability was compared among the patients with and without spontaneous ventricular arrhythmias and with and without inducibility of sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias.Results. Eight patients had a total of 21 episodes of sustained ventricular tachycardia on Holter recordings. Standard deviation of RR intervals and low frequency and very low frequency components of heart rate variability were significantly blunted in patients with sustained ventricular tachycardias compared with those without repetitive ventricular ectopic activity (p < 0.05, p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). However, no significant alterations were observed in heart rate variability before the onset of 21 episodes of sustained ventricular tachycardia. Heart rate variability did not differ between the patients with or without nonsustained episodes of ventricular tachycardia. In patients with frequent ventricular ectopic activity, low frequency and very low frequency power components were significantly blunted compared with those with infrequent ventricular ectopic activity (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). Heart rate variability did not differ significantly between the patients with and without inducible sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias.Conclusions. Impaired very low and low frequency oscillation of heart rate reflects susceptibility to the spontaneous occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias but may not reflect the instantaneous triggers for life-threatening arrhythmias or a specific marker of the arrhythmic substrate for ventricular tachyarrhythmias

Self-detection of atrial fibrillation in an aged population: three-year follow-up of the LietoAF intervention study

BackgroundAtrial fibrillation (AF) is often asymptomatic and undiagnosed until an ischaemic stroke occurs. An irregular pulse is a key manifestation of AF. We assessed whether pulse self-palpation is feasible in screening of AF.MethodsAltogether 205 residents of Lieto municipality aged ≥75 years were randomized in 2012 to receive brief education on pulse palpation focusing on evaluating rhythm regularity. Self-detected pulse irregularity and new AF diagnoses were recorded, and the subjects’ quality of life and use of health care services were assessed during a three-year follow-up.ResultsThe subjects’ median age was 78.2 [3.8] years, and 89 (43.4%) were men. Overall, 139 (68%) subjects had initial good motivation/capability for regular palpation. At four months, 112 (80.6%) subjects with good and 26 (39.4%) with inadequate motivation/capability palpated their pulse daily. At 12 months, 120 (58.5%) and at 36 months, 69 (33.7%) subjects palpated their pulse at least weekly. During the intervention, 67 (32.7%) subjects reported pulse irregularity. New AF was found in 10 (4.9%) subjects, 7 (70%) of whom had reported pulse irregularity. Pulse irregularity independently predicted new AF, but only one (0.5%) subject with new AF sought undelayed medical attention due to pulse irregularity. Quality of life and number of outpatient clinic visits remained unchanged during follow-up.ConclusionPulse palpation can be learned also by the elderly, but it is challenging to form a continuing habit. The low persistence of pulse self-palpation limits its value in the screening of AF, and strategies to promote persistence and research on alternative screening methods are needed.         </p

The impact of mental health conditions on oral anticoagulation therapy and outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation: A systematic review and meta-analysis

One third of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are estimated to suffer from mental health conditions (MHCs). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the impact of MHCs on the prevalence and quality of oral anticoagulation (OAC) therapy and outcomes in patients with AF. Medline database was searched for studies published before March 1st 2021 evaluating AF patients with comorbid MHCs reporting on the prevalence of OAC therapy, time in therapeutic range (TTR) in warfarin-receiving patients, adherence to OAC therapy or adverse outcomes (ischemic stroke, hemorrhage or mortality). Studies reporting on outcome events were included in the meta-analysis. The literature search yielded 17 studies including 977,535 patients that fulfilled the inclusion criteria of this review. AF patients with MHCs had a lower prevalence of OAC use and poorer TTR compared with patients without MHCs. Evidence on OAC quality in patients receiving direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) was minimal and inconclusive. A decrease in depression-associated deficit in OAC prevalence was observed after the introduction of DOACs. Pooled analysis of five studies reporting on outcomes showed that MHCs were an independent risk factor for both stroke (RR 1.25, 95%CI 1.08-1.45, I2 0%) and major bleeding (RR 1.17, 95%CI 1.08-1.27, I2 27%). Data on mortality were lacking and therefore not included in the meta-analysis. Evidence on the impact of specific MHCs on the outcomes were inadequate. In conclusion, MHCs are independent risk factors for stroke and major bleeding in patients with AF. Future studies are needed to confirm the findings of this meta-analysis, to evaluate the prognostic impact of different MHCs and to clarify whether the introduction of DOACs might have improved the outcomes of these patients

Exercise training improves biventricular oxidative metabolism and left ventricular efficiency in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy

AbstractObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine the effect of exercise training on myocardial oxidative metabolism and efficiency in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and mild heart failure (HF).BackgroundExercise training is known to improve exercise tolerance and quality of life in patients with chronic HF. However, little is known about how exercise training may influence myocardial energetics.MethodsTwenty clinically stable patients with DCM (New York Heart Association classes I through III) were prospectively separated into a training group (five-month training program; n = 9) and a non-trained control group (n = 11). Oxidative metabolism in both the right and left ventricles (RV and LV) was measured using [11C]acetate and positron emission tomography. Myocardial work power was measured using echocardiography. Myocardial efficiency for forward work was calculated as myocardial work power per mass/LV oxidative metabolism.ResultsSignificant improvements were noted in exercise capacity (Vo2) and ejection fraction in the training group, whereas no changes were observed in the non-trained group. Exercise training reduced both RV and LV oxidative metabolism and elicited a significant increase in LV forward work efficiency, although no significant changes were observed in the non-trained group.ConclusionsExercise training improves exercise tolerance and LV function. This is accompanied by a decrease in biventricular oxidative metabolism and enhanced forward work efficiency. Therefore, exercise training elicits an energetically favorable improvement in myocardial function and exercise tolerance in patients with DCM

Association of Heart Rate With Troponin Levels Among Patients With Symptomatic Atrial Fibrillation

This cohort study investigates heart rate and cardiac troponin levels in patients admitted to the emergency department with symptomatic atrial fibrillation

Usefulness of the CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED Scores in Predicting the Risk of Stroke Versus Intracranial Bleeding in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation (from the FibStroke Study)

CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores stratify the risk of thromboembolic and bleeding events respectively in patients with atrial fibrillation. There is only little information on how they differentiate which of the 2 clinically most important complications (ischemic stroke [IS] or an intracranial bleeding [IB]) the patient is more prone to suffer.We evaluated both scores in patients with either of these major complications. The FibStroke Study collected data on all patients with atrial fibrillation with either an IS or an IB event between 2003and 2012 in 4 Finnish hospital districts. Individual electronic patient records were manually reviewed to collect the study data. To assess the relative risk of IS and IB, an IS/IBratio was calculated by dividing the absolute number of ISs with the absolute number of IBs within each score category. A total of 3,816 (82.7%) ISs and 798 (17.3%) IBs were detected in 3,909 patients. In general, ISs occurred more often than IBs in patients on oral anticoagulation in each score category (ratio 1.6 to 5.1). The ratio decreased below 1, however,only with very high HAS-BLED scores (>4). Moreover, 221 ISs and 53 IBs occurred in patients with HAS-BLED > CHA2DS2-VASc, of whom only 19.7% were on anticoagulation. In conclusion, IS was the predominant intracranial event irrespective of CHA2DS2-VASc score, HAS-BLED score ≤4, or use of oral anticoagulation, also in patients with low estimated thromboembolic risk (CHA2DS2-VASc 0 to 1). Furthermore, the HAS-BLED score predicted the excess of IBs over ISs only at very high-risk levels.</p

Adverse events and survival with postpericardiotomy syndrome after surgical aortic valve replacement

ObjectivesPostpericardiotomy syndrome (PPS) is a relatively common complication after cardiac surgery. However, long-term follow-up data on the adverse events and mortality of PPS patients requiring invasive interventions are scarce.MethodsWe sought to assess the occurrence of mortality, new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF), cerebrovascular events, and major bleeds in PPS patients requiring medical attention in a combination database of 671 patients who underwent isolated surgical aortic valve replacement with a bioprosthesis (n = 361) or mechanical prosthesis (n = 310) between 2002 and 2014 (Cardiovascular Research Consortium—A Prospective Project to Identify Biomarkers of Morbidity and Mortality in Cardiovascular Interventional Patients [CAREBANK] 2016-2018). PPS was defined as moderate if it resulted in delayed hospital discharge, readmission, or medical therapy because of the symptoms; and severe if it required interventions for the evacuation of pleural or pericardial effusion.ResultsThe overall incidence of PPS was 11.2%. Median time to diagnosis was 16 (interquartile range, 11-36) days. Severe PPS was diagnosed in 3.6% of patients. Severe PPS seemed to be associated with higher mortality (hazard ratio, 2.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-3.91; P = .040). Moderate or severe PPS increased the risk of new-onset AF during the early postoperative period (hazard ratio, 1.72; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-2.63; P = .012). No significant associations were found between PPS and cerebrovascular events or major bleeds during the follow-up.ConclusionsPatients with PPS requiring invasive interventions are at increased risk for mortality unlike those with mild to moderate forms of the disease. PPS requiring medical attention is associated with a higher AF rate during the early postoperative period but has no significant effect on the occurrence of major stroke, stroke or transient ischemic attack, or major bleeds during long-term follow-up.</div

Socioeconomic disparities in use of rhythm control therapies in patients with incident atrial fibrillation: A Finnish nationwide cohort study

Background: In patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), socioeconomic disparities have been reported in the use oforal anticoagulant therapy and outcomes, but whether income also affects the utilization of antiarrhythmictherapies (AATs) for rhythm control is unknown. We assessed the hypothesis that AF patients with higher income are more likely to receive AATs.Methods: The nationwide retrospective registry based FinACAF cohort study covers all patients with AF from alllevels of care in Finland. Patients were divided in AF diagnosis year and age-group specific income quintiles according to their highest annual income during 2004–2018. The primary outcome was the use of any AAT, including cardioversion, catheter ablation, and fulfilled antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) prescription.Results: We identified 188 175 patients (mean age 72.6 ± 13.0 years; 49.6% female) with incident AF during2010–2018. Patients in higher income quintiles had consistently higher use of all AAT modalities. Whencompared to patients in the lowest income quintile, the adjusted incidence rate ratios (95% CI) in the highest quintile were 1.53 (1.48–1.59) for any AAT, 1.71 (1.61–1.81) for AADs, 1.43 (1.37–1.49) for cardioversion, and 2.00 (1.76–2.27) for catheter ablation. No temporal change during study period was observed in the magnitude of income disparities in AAT use, except for a decrease in income-related differences in the use of AADs.Conclusion: Profound income-related disparities exist in AAT use among patients with AF in Finland, especially in the use catheter ablation.</p

Eteisvärinäpotilaan liitännäissairaudet rekisteritiedon perusteella

Lähtökohdat : Eteisvärinä on merkittävä aivoinfarktin riskitekijä, ja eteisvärinäpotilaan aivoinfarktiriskiin vaikuttavat muun muassa potilaan ikä, sukupuoli ja liitännäissairaudet. Aivoinfarktin riski arvioidaan CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc-pisteytyksen avulla, ja ≥ 2 pistettä saaneella potilaalla riski on suuri. Liitännäissairauksien asianmukainen kirjaaminen potilastietojärjestelmiin sekä terveydenhuollon rekistereihin on tärkeää. Menetelmät : Eteisvärinän aivoinfarktiriskiin vaikuttavien liitännäissairauksien esiintyvyydet ­kerättiin valtakunnallisista terveydenhuollon rekistereistä vuosina 2012–2018 uuden ­eteisvärinädiagnoosin saaneista potilaista (n = 168 356). Tulokset : Verenpainetaudin, hyperkolesterolemian ja diabeteksen suurimmat esiintyvyydet löytyivät lääkeostorekisterin perusteella. Sydämen vajaatoiminta-, valtimosairaus- sekä ­iskeeminen aivohalvaus- ja ohimenevä aivoverenkiertohäiriö (TIA) -diagnooseja tunnistettiin selvästi eniten erikoissairaanhoidon hoitoilmoitusrekisteritiedoista. CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc-arvo ≥ 2 oli miehistä 74,8 %:lla ja naisista 87,1 %:lla. Päätelmät : Kattava analyysi eteisvärinäpotilaiden liitännäissairauksista edellyttää tietojen ­laajamittaista yhdistämistä useista rekisterilähteistä.publishedVersionPeer reviewe