Prediction of underlying atrial fibrillation in patients with a cryptogenic stroke: results from the NOR-FIB Study

Background - Atrial fibrillation (AF) detection and treatment are key elements to reduce recurrence risk in cryptogenic stroke (CS) with underlying arrhythmia. The purpose of the present study was to assess the predictors of AF in CS and the utility of existing AF-predicting scores in The Nordic Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke (NOR-FIB) Study. Method - The NOR-FIB study was an international prospective observational multicenter study designed to detect and quantify AF in CS and cryptogenic transient ischaemic attack (TIA) patients monitored by the insertable cardiac monitor (ICM), and to identify AF-predicting biomarkers. The utility of the following AF-predicting scores was tested: AS5F, Brown ESUS-AF, CHA2DS2-VASc, CHASE-LESS, HATCH, HAVOC, STAF and SURF. Results - In univariate analyses increasing age, hypertension, left ventricle hypertrophy, dyslipidaemia, antiarrhythmic drugs usage, valvular heart disease, and neuroimaging findings of stroke due to intracranial vessel occlusions and previous ischemic lesions were associated with a higher likelihood of detected AF. In multivariate analysis, age was the only independent predictor of AF. All the AF-predicting scores showed significantly higher score levels for AF than non-AF patients. The STAF and the SURF scores provided the highest sensitivity and negative predictive values, while the AS5F and SURF reached an area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) > 0.7. Conclusion - Clinical risk scores may guide a personalized evaluation approach in CS patients. Increasing awareness of the usage of available AF-predicting scores may optimize the arrhythmia detection pathway in stroke units

How health data is obtained in Kerala, India : A qualitative study

Background: We went to Trivandrum, India to do research on Health Information Systems, HIS. HIS is important in order for leaders to make informed decisions, both at local and national level. Objectives: The questions upon which we based our work were: why is a health information system important, what kind of challenges is there, how is the local health care system, how are data elements converted into meaningful information, and what do health workers think of data collection in Trivandrum? Material and methods: We used qualitative method with structured interviews and observations. The field study was to take part of general health care work. We read articles on HIS, which we used in an overview. We compared theory to practice. Results: We learned that health care workers find registration and reporting to be very important, both to know their population and because it is a demand from the government. They like computers, and have received training by local HIS workers. A major challenge is to make health care professionals focus more on why HIS is important, not just how to report. Conclusion: Motivation towards the importance of data collection needs to be strengthened. There should be more focus on why data collection is important, not only how to do it. The local health care workers need ownership towards their health data in order to improve local management. Feedback from national level and state level to more peripheral levels has to be improved. The data-flow should be more action –, than data-driven

Forbedret legedokumentasjon av pasientforløp i journal : ved ortopedisk avdeling Ahus

I 2005 gjorde Helsetilsynet landsomfattende tilsyn med gastrokirurgiske avdelinger. I 2/3 av tilfellene ble det funnet vesentlige mangler ved kirurgenes journalføring. Gjennom klinisk utplassering har vi også møtt på vanskeligheter pga manglende fokus på fortløpende notater i journalen. Vi ønsket å se på problemstillingen: hvordan forbedre legers dokumentasjon av pasientforløp. Mikrosystemet vårt er ortopedisk avdeling Akershus Universitetsykehus, Ahus. For å validere vår problemstilling har vi gjort litteratursøk, gjennomgått norske tilsynsaker ved kirurgiske avdelinger, gjort kvalitative intervjuer med ortopeder og gjennomført en spørreundersøkelse. Intervjuene og spørreundersøkelsen var entydige for at det ikke er god nok fortløpende journalføring ved ortopedisk avdeling, Ahus. Det fantes generelt lite litteratur på hvordan man kan forbedre dokumentasjonen på pasienter innlagt på en sykehusavdeling, så hovedsakelig med støtte i intervjuer og spørreundersøkelsen valgte vi to tiltak for å bedre journaldokumentasjonen: Innføring av rutine for å skrive fredagsnotater og ledelsesfokus over tid på viktigheten av dokumentering i journalen. Vi har valgt en prossesindikator, som består av å telle andel fredagsnotater før og etter tiltaket. Denne indikatoren sier ingenting om kvaliteten av notatene. Derfor har vi også valgt en random- sample indikator. Denne indikatoren vurder kvaliteten til utvalgte fredagsnotater. Random -sample innebærer blant annet, at høyt kvalifisert personell vurderer fredagsnotatene. Viktige punkter for gjennomføringen av tiltakene er workshop, plakater med viktige punkter til fredagsnotater, faste evalueringer av fredagsnotater, påminnelser fra vakthavende på morgenmøte mandager og linjediagram over fredagsnotaer. Ledelsen spiller en viktig rolle med ansvar for oppfølging av prosjektet, prioritering av tid til skrivearbeid og et aktivt arbeid for godt arbeidsmiljø. Tiltakene er langvarige og det holdes en evaluering etter tre måneder. Evalueringen består i å vurdere, om tiltakene har bidratt til å bedre kvaliteten av helsehjelpen avdelingen yter

Atrial fibrillation in cryptogenic stroke and TIA patients in the nordic atrial fibrillation and stroke The Nordic Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke (NOR-FIB) Study: Main results

Introduction: Secondary stroke prevention depends on proper identification of the underlying etiology and initiation of optimal treatment after the index event. The aim of the NOR-FIB study was to detect and quantify underlying atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with cryptogenic stroke (CS) or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) using insertable cardiac monitor (ICM), to optimise secondary prevention, and to test the feasibility of ICM usage for stroke physicians. Patients and methods: Prospective observational international multicenter real-life study of CS and TIA patients monitored for 12 months with ICM (Reveal LINQ) for AF detection. Results: ICM insertion was performed in 91.5% by stroke physicians, within median 9 days after index event. Paroxysmal AF was diagnosed in 74 out of 259 patients (28.6%), detected early after ICM insertion (mean 48 ± 52 days) in 86.5% of patients. AF patients were older (72.6 vs 62.2; p < 0.001), had higher pre-stroke CHA₂DS₂-VASc score (median 3 vs 2; p < 0.001) and admission NIHSS (median 2 vs 1; p = 0.001); and more often hypertension (p = 0.045) and dyslipidaemia (p = 0.005) than non-AF patients. The arrhythmia was recurrent in 91.9% and asymptomatic in 93.2%. At 12-month follow-up anticoagulants usage was 97.3%. Discussion and conclusions: ICM was an effective tool for diagnosing underlying AF, capturing AF in 29% of the CS and TIA patients. AF was asymptomatic in most cases and would mainly have gone undiagnosed without ICM. The insertion and use of ICM was feasible for stroke physicians in stroke units

Atrial fibrillation in cryptogenic stroke and transient ischaemic attack – The Nordic Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke (NOR-FIB) Study : Rationale and design

Purpose: Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is often suspected as a probable cause of cryptogenic stroke. Continuous long-term ECG monitoring using insertable cardiac monitors is a clinically effective technique to screen for atrial fibrillation and superior to conventional follow-up in cryptogenic stroke. However, more studies are needed to identify factors which can help selecting patients with the highest possibility of detecting atrial fibrillation with prolonged rhythm monitoring. The clinical relevance of short-term atrial fibrillation, the need for medical intervention and the evaluation as to whether intervention results in improved clinical outcomes should be assessed. Method: The Nordic Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke Study is an international, multicentre, prospective, observational trial evaluating the occurrence of occult atrial fibrillation in cryptogenic stroke and transient ischaemic attack. Patients with cryptogenic stroke or transient ischaemic attack from the Nordic countries are included and will have the Reveal LINQ® Insertable cardiac monitor system implanted for 12 months for atrial fibrillation detection. Biomarkers which can be used as predictors for atrial fibrillation and may identify patients, who could derive the most clinical benefit from the detection of atrial fibrillation by prolonged monitoring, are being studied. Conclusion: The primary endpoint is atrial fibrillation burden within 12 months of continuous rhythm monitoring. Secondary endpoints are atrial fibrillation burden within six months, levels of biomarkers predicting atrial fibrillation, CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score, incidence of recurrent stroke or transient ischaemic attack, use of anticoagulation and antiarrhythmic drugs, and quality of life measurements. The clinical follow-up period is 12 months. The study started in 2017 and the completion is expected at the end of 2020

Atrial fibrillation in cryptogenic stroke and transient ischaemic attack – The Nordic Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke (NOR-FIB) Study: Rationale and design

Abstract Purpose: Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is often suspected as a probable cause of cryptogenic stroke. Continuous longterm ECG monitoring using insertable cardiac monitors is a clinically effective technique to screen for atrial fibrillation and superior to conventional follow-up in cryptogenic stroke. However, more studies are needed to identify factors which can help selecting patients with the highest possibility of detecting atrial fibrillation with prolonged rhythm monitoring. The clinical relevance of short-term atrial fibrillation, the need for medical intervention and the evaluation as to whether intervention results in improved clinical outcomes should be assessed. Method: The Nordic Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke Study is an international, multicentre, prospective, observational trial evaluating the occurrence of occult atrial fibrillation in cryptogenic stroke and transient ischaemic attack. Patients with cryptogenic stroke or transient ischaemic attack from the Nordic countries are included and will have the Reveal LINQVR Insertable cardiac monitor system implanted for 12 months for atrial fibrillation detection. Biomarkers which can be used as predictors for atrial fibrillation and may identify patients, who could derive the most clinical benefit from the detection of atrial fibrillation by prolonged monitoring, are being studied. Conclusion: The primary endpoint is atrial fibrillation burden within 12 months of continuous rhythm monitoring. Secondary endpoints are atrial fibrillation burden within six months, levels of biomarkers predicting atrial fibrillation, CHA2DS2-VASc score, incidence of recurrent stroke or transient ischaemic attack, use of anticoagulation and antiarrhythmic drugs, and quality of life measurements. The clinical follow-up period is 12 months. The study started in 2017 and the completion is expected at the end of 2020

Atrial fibrillation in cryptogenic stroke and transient ischaemic attack – The Nordic Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke (NOR-FIB) Study: Rationale and design

Purpose: Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is often suspected as a probable cause of cryptogenic stroke. Continuous long-term ECG monitoring using insertable cardiac monitors is a clinically effective technique to screen for atrial fibrillation and superior to conventional follow-up in cryptogenic stroke. However, more studies are needed to identify factors which can help selecting patients with the highest possibility of detecting atrial fibrillation with prolonged rhythm monitoring. The clinical relevance of short-term atrial fibrillation, the need for medical intervention and the evaluation as to whether intervention results in improved clinical outcomes should be assessed. Method: The Nordic Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke Study is an international, multicentre, prospective, observational trial evaluating the occurrence of occult atrial fibrillation in cryptogenic stroke and transient ischaemic attack. Patients with cryptogenic stroke or transient ischaemic attack from the Nordic countries are included and will have the Reveal LINQ® Insertable cardiac monitor system implanted for 12 months for atrial fibrillation detection. Biomarkers which can be used as predictors for atrial fibrillation and may identify patients, who could derive the most clinical benefit from the detection of atrial fibrillation by prolonged monitoring, are being studied. Conclusion: The primary endpoint is atrial fibrillation burden within 12 months of continuous rhythm monitoring. Secondary endpoints are atrial fibrillation burden within six months, levels of biomarkers predicting atrial fibrillation, CHA2DS2-VASc score, incidence of recurrent stroke or transient ischaemic attack, use of anticoagulation and antiarrhythmic drugs, and quality of life measurements. The clinical follow-up period is 12 months. The study started in 2017 and the completion is expected at the end of 2020

Biomarkers Predictive of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Cryptogenic Stroke. Insights from The Nordic Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke (NOR-FIB) Study

BACKGROUND: There are currently no biomarkers used to select cryptogenic stroke (CS) patients for monitoring with insertable cardiac monitors (ICMs), the most effective tool for diagnosing atrial fibrillation (AF) in CS. The purpose of this study was to assess clinically available biomarkers as predictors of AF.METHODS: Eligible CS and cryptogenic transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients underwent 12-month monitoring with ICMs, clinical follow-up, and biomarker sampling. Levels of cardiac and thromboembolic biomarkers, taken within 14 days from symptom onset, were compared between patients diagnosed with AF (n=74) during monitoring and those without AF (n=185). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were created. Biomarkers reaching area under ROC curve (AUC) ≥ 0.7 were dichotomized by finding optimal cut-off values and used in logistic regression establishing their predictive value for increased risk of AF in unadjusted and adjusted models.RESULTS: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), creatine kinase, D-dimer, high-sensitivity cardiac Troponin I and T were significantly higher in the AF than non-AF group. BNP and NT-proBNP reached predefined AUC level, 0.755 and 0.725 respectively. Optimal cut-off values were 33.5 ng/L for BNP, and 87 ng/L for NT-proBNP. Regression analysis showed that NT-proBNP was a predictor of AF in both unadjusted, odds ratio (OR) 7.72 (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.16-18.87), and age and sex adjusted models, OR 4.82 (95% CI 1.79-12.96).CONCLUSION: Several clinically established biomarkers were associated with AF. NT-proBNP performed best as AF predictor and could be used for selecting patients for long-term monitoring with ICMs