| 1. |
- Björkenheim, Anna, 1980-, et al.
(författare)
-
Assessment of Atrial Fibrillation–Specific Symptoms Before and 2 Years After Atrial Fibrillation Ablation : Do Patients and Physicians Differ in Their Perception of Symptom Relief?
- 2017
-
Ingår i: JACC. - : Elsevier. - 2405-500X .- 2405-5018. ; 3:10, s. 1168-1176
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate patient-reported and physician-assessed atrial fibrillation (AF)–related symptoms after AF ablation.Background: Success of AF ablation is usually defined as freedom from AF, although symptom relief is often patients’ desire.Methods: Symptom relief was assessed as perceived by patients using the short, validated, AF-specific symptom questionnaire AF6 and as classified by physicians using the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) classification at baseline and 6, 12, and 24 months after AF ablation. Recurrence of arrhythmia was documented by continuous electrocardiographic monitoring.Results: In total, 54 patients completed the 24-month follow-up. All 6 items on the AF6, AF6 sum score, and EHRA class improved significantly over time. The greatest improvement was seen during the first 6 months after ablation, but AF6 scores showed continued improvement up to 12 months, in contrast to EHRA class. There was a low correlation between AF6 score and EHRA class, but the predictive ability was low. Both AF6 scores and EHRA class were significantly correlated with AF burden at all times after ablation. A change of >9 points in AF6 sum score corresponded to a meaningful reduction in symptom severity.Conclusion: Patient-reported and physician-assessed outcomes were both useful in assessing symptom relief after AF ablation, although patient-reported outcomes were more sensitive tools. There was also a discrepancy between patient-reported and physician-assessed outcomes after ablation. Freedom from AF and a low AF burden most often resulted in a reduction of symptoms, but symptom relief also occurred despite little effect on the arrhythmia.
|
|
| 2. |
- Björkenheim, Anna, 1980-
(författare)
-
Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation : effects on rhythm, symptoms and health-related quality of life
- 2018
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: AF ablation is an increasingly used treatment in patients with AF to improve patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Atrioventricular junction ablation (AVJA) is a palliative treatment option in therapy refractory AF that improves PROs but renders the patient pacemaker dependent.Aims: To evaluate rhythm control and PROs before and up to two years after AF ablation. To analyze the long-term incidence of and predictors of hospitalization for HF and all-cause mortality in patients who underwent AVJA and right ventricular pacing.Methods and Results: Fifty-four patients underwent AF ablation and both continuous rhythm monitoring via an implantable loop recorder (ILR) and intermittent rhythm monitoring three, six, 12 and 24 months after ablation. 76 % of patients had at least one AF recurrence, of whom 24 % were only detected by ILR. One third of symptom recordings did not show AF. The AF-specific AF6 scores, physician-assessed EHRA symptom class and both SF-36 summary scores all improved significantly from before to two years after ablation. There was a weak correlation between the change in AF6 scores and EHRA class from before to six and 12 months but not to 24 months after ablation. Responders to ablation (AF burden < 0.5 %), reached age- and sex-matched norms in all SF-36 domains, but non-responders only in social functioning and MCS. All AF6 scores showed at least moderate improvement in both responders and non-responders. Higher AF burden was independently associated with poorer PCS and AF6 scores. In 162 patients who underwent AVJA, hospitalization for HF occurred in 20 % of patients (two-year cumula-tive incidence 9.1 %) and 22 % died (two-year cumulative incidence 5.2 %) during a median follow-up of five years. QRS ≥ 120 ms and left atrial diame-ter were independent predictors of hospitalization for HF, and hypertension and previous HF of death.Conclusions: Continuous rhythm monitoring was superior to intermittent monitoring. The AF-specific AF6 was more sensitive to changes related to AF burden after AF ablation than both EHRA class and the SF-36. The long-term hospitalization rate for HF and all-cause mortality was low after AVJA.
|
|
| 3. |
- Björkenheim, Anna, 1980-, et al.
(författare)
-
Catheter ablation of symptomatic atrial fibrillation : Sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic disparities
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Heart rhythm O2. - : Elsevier. - 2666-5018. ; 3:6 Part B, s. 766-770
-
Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Catheter ablation for treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF), AF ablation, is more effective than antiarrhythmic drugs in reducing AF burden, reducing symptoms and increasing health-related quality of life. Although females more often experience AF-related symptoms, and have more severe symptoms, have lower quality of life, and experience more serious adverse effects of antiarrhythmic drugs than males, they are less likely to undergo AF ablation. Potential explanations for the disparity include older age at diagnosis, longer AF duration, a greater number of comorbidities, more extensive atrial fibrosis, and presumed lower success rate and more complications after AF ablation in women. Studies have failed to show sex-related differences in AF recurrence or serious complications following AF ablation but show more nuisance bleeds in women. Ethnic minorities, such as African Americans and Latin Americans, and individuals of low socioeconomic status are also less likely to undergo AF ablation, possibly associated with greater numbers of comorbidities, lack of patient advocacy, healthcare costs, and inadequate insurance coverage. Inclusion of marginalized patient groups in clinical trials of AF treatment and a personalized, patient-centered approach may expand equality in utilization of AF ablation.
|
|
| 4. |
- Björkenheim, Anna, 1980-, et al.
(författare)
-
Does zero atrial fibrillation burden after atrial fibrillation ablation mean that patients are free of symptoms?
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Europace, Supplements. - : Oxford University Press. - 1099-6044 .- 1749-365X. ; 19:Duppl. 3, s. iii264-iii264
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Success of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation is usually defined as freedom of AF, although symptomatic relief often is what the patient’s desire. After ablation the proportion of ‘silent’ AF increases and success based on symptomatic AF recurrence may be overestimated.Purpose: To investigate the symptomatology of patients who are truly free of AF after ablation.Methods: In 57 patients the symptomatology after AF ablation was assessed as perceived by the patient using a validated AF-specific symptom questionnaire (AF6) and the overall treatment effect (OTE), and as classified by the physician using the EHRA score, at baseline, 6, 12 and 24 months. The cardiac rhythm was continuously monitored by an implantable loop recorder throughout the 2-year follow-up.Results: At 6, 12 and 24 months 14 (26%), 23 (43%) and 23 (43%) patients had an AF burden 0% during the past 6 months, and 13 of them had an AF burden 0% during the entire 2 year follow-up. All patients reported ‘OTE better’ at all time-points. All patients were also classified into EHRA I at 6 months. Being completely free of AF for six months periods did not mean complete freedom of symptoms, but the median AF6 sum score was consistently low with a narrowing IQR over time, 0 (IQR 0-27), 0.5 (IQR 0-7) and 0 (IQR 0-11) at 6, 12 and 24 months. At 6 months 8/14 patients (57%) scored AF6=0, the others 6, 11, 26, 28, 30 and 46 points. At 12 months 13/23 patients (56%) scored AF6=0, the others 1,1,3,3,5,7,7,7,14 and 22 points. At 24 months 12/23 (52%) patients scored AF6=0, the others 1, 1, 2, 4, 9, 11, 17, 20, 24, 32 and 42 points. Among the AF6 items, ‘worry/anxiety due to AF’ was the most common, while ‘tiredness due to AF’ was the highest scoring item. In the patients with AF burden 0% during the entire 2-year follow-up all patients were improved in OTE and all patients were classified into EHRA class I at all times after ablation and the median AF6 sum score was 4 (IQR0-28), 0.5 (IQR 0-8) and 1 (0-5) at 6, 12 and 24 months after ablation.Conclusions: Sudden elimination of AF by ablation does not automatically eliminate all symptoms that the patients associated with AF, but all patients felt better and were classified in EHRA class I at all time-points. Less than a half of the patients at any time-point scored some symptoms, but the symptoms gradually decreased over time, especially between 6 and 12 months.
|
|
| 5. |
- Björkenheim, Anna, 1980-, et al.
(författare)
-
Haemolytic anaemia after mitral valve repair due to recurrent mild to moderate mitral regurgitation
- 2019
-
Ingår i: BMJ Case Reports. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 1757-790X. ; 12:8
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A 52-year-old man underwent mitral valve repair for mitral regurgitation. Four months postoperatively, the patient developed dyspnoea, fatigue and dark urine. He presented to his primary care physician 6 months postoperatively, where an evaluation revealed anaemia and mild renal failure. The haemoglobinuria was misdiagnosed as gross haematuria and the patient consequently underwent several unnecessary invasive urological exams. A transthoracic echocardiogram showed a recurrent mitral regurgitation that was considered non-significant, before performing additional laboratory testing and a renewed echocardiogram. The above results showed evidence of haemolysis and a mild to moderate mitral regurgitation, although with a high velocity jet. The patient was diagnosed with haemolytic anaemia that necessitated blood transfusions and a reoperation with a mechanical valve, after which the patient made a full recovery. Importantly, it was mainly the velocity of the jet and not the severity of the mitral regurgitation that caused the mechanical trauma to red blood cells.
|
|
| 6. |
- Björkenheim, Anna, 1980-
(författare)
-
Hemolytic anemia and renal failure after mitral valve repair for mitral regurgitation
- 2019
-
Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Oral presentation at the ESC Congress, session Rare and unusual cases. A 52-year-old man underwent mitral valve repair for mitral regurgitation. Four months postoperatively, the patient developed dyspnoea, fatigue and dark urine. He presented to his primary care physician 6 months postoperatively, where an evaluation revealed anaemia and mild renal failure. The haemoglobinuria was misdiagnosed as gross haematuria and the patient consequently underwent several unnecessary invasive urological exams. A transthoracic echocardiogram showed a recurrent mitral regurgitation that was considered non-significant, before performing additional laboratory testing and a renewed echocardiogram. The above results showed evidence of haemolysis and a mild to moderate mitral regurgitation, although with a high velocity jet. The patient was diagnosed with haemolytic anaemia that necessitated blood transfusions and a reoperation with a mechanical valve, after which the patient made a full recovery. Importantly, it was mainly the velocity of the jet and not the severity of the mitral regurgitation that caused the mechanical trauma to red blood cells.
|
|
| 7. |
- Björkenheim, Anna, 1980-, et al.
(författare)
-
Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis caused by the rare Phe33Leu mutation
- 2020
-
Ingår i: BMJ Case Reports. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 1757-790X. ; 13:1
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis is a rare progressive systemic disease. We describe a physically active 46-year-old man who presented with dyspnoea on exertion. An echocardiogram showed increased left ventricular wall thickness and diastolic dysfunction, but normal systolic function. The QRS voltage on ECG was normal. The patient was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and several years passed before establishment of the accurate diagnosis of hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis caused by the rare mutation ATTR Phe33Leu, previously described in only five case reports. Further investigation revealed neuropathy and nephropathy, and the patient developed severe heart failure. The patient is treated with tafamidis, has undergone heart transplantation and is currently planned for liver transplant. Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis is likely underdiagnosed, especially in patients presenting with cardiomyopathy. A discrepancy between the left ventricular mass indicated by echocardiogram and that on ECG is an important indicator of amyloidosis, as is involvement of multiple organs.
|
|
| 8. |
|
|
| 9. |
- Björkenheim, Anna, 1980-, et al.
(författare)
-
Patient-reported outcomes in relation to continuously monitored rhythm before and during 2 years after atrial fibrillation ablation using a disease-specific and a generic instrument
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Journal of the American Heart Association. - : Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Inc.. - 2047-9980. ; 7:5
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background--Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation improves patient-reported outcomes, irrespective of mode of intermittent rhythm monitoring. We evaluated the use of an AF-specific and a generic patient-reported outcomes instrument during continuous rhythm monitoring 2 years after AF ablation. Methods and Results--Fifty-four patients completed the generic 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey and the AF-specific AF6 questionnaires before and 6, 12, and 24 months after AF ablation. All patients underwent continuous ECG monitoring via an implantable loop recorder. The generic patient-reported outcomes scores were compared with those of a Swedish age- and sexmatched population. After ablation, both summary scores reached normative levels at 24 months, while role-physical and vitality remained lower than norms. Responders to ablation (AF burden < 0.5%) reached the norms in all individual 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey domains, while nonresponders (AF burden > 0.5%) reached norms only in social functioning and mental component summary. All AF6 items and the sum score showed moderate to large improvement in both responders and nonresponders, although responders showed significantly greater improvement in all items except item 1 from before to 24 months after ablation. Higher AF burden was independently associated with poorer physical component summary and AF6 sum score. Conclusions--The AF-specific AF6 questionnaire was more sensitive to changes related to AF burden than the generic 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey. Patients improved as documented by both instruments, but a higher AF burden after ablation was associated with poorer AF-specific patient-reported outcomes and poorer generic physical but not mental health. Our results support the use of an AF-specific instrument, alone or in combination with a generic instrument, to assess the effect of ablation. © 2018 The Authors.
|
|
| 10. |
- Björkenheim, Anna, 1980-, et al.
(författare)
-
Patient-reported Outcomes In Relation To Continuously Monitored Rhythm Before And During Two Years After Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Using A Disease-specific And A Generic Instrument
- 2018
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Patients with AF have a lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL) than the general population.Objective: To assess the effect of AF ablation on AF-specific and generic patient-reported outcomes (PRO), compare it to a Swedish age- and sex-matched population and evaluate any association with the AF burden.Methods: Patients scheduled for AF ablation completed the generic SF-36 and the AF-specific PRO questionnaires before and six, 12 and 24 months after AF ablation. All patients underwent continuous ECG monitoring via an implantable loop recorder.Results: 54 patients completed the follow-up. After ablation, the generic SF-36 improved and both summary scores reached normative levels at 24 months, while physical functioning, role-physical and vitality remained lower than norms. Responders with an AF burden ≤0.5% at each visit after ablation reached the norms in all domains, while non-responders reached norms in only social functioning and MCS. All AF6 items and the sum score showed moderate to large improvement in both responders and non-responders. Higher AF burden was independently associated with poorer PCS and AF6 sum score. The AF sum score correlated with all SF-36 domains, but all AF6 items did not correlate with the SF-36 summary scores.Conclusion: The AF-specific AF6 questionnaire was more sensitive to changes in PRO related to AF burden than was the generic SF-36. Higher AF burden after ablation was associated with poorer AF-specific PRO and poorer generic physical but not mental health. Focusing on AF-specific symptoms and their impact on quality of life as an outcome after AF ablation is reasonable, as improving PROs is the main goal of AF ablation.
|
|
