| 1. |
- Carr, A. A., et al.
(författare)
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Hospitalizations for new heart failure among subjects with diabetes mellitus in the RENAAL and LIFE studies
- 2005
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Ingår i: Am J Cardiol. - : Elsevier BV. - 0002-9149. ; 96:11, s. 1530-6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We sought to study the risk factors for heart failure (HF) and the relation between antihypertensive treatment with losartan and the first hospitalization for HF in patients with diabetes mellitus in the Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction in hypertension (LIFE) and Reduction of Endpoints in NIDDM with the Angiotensin II Antagonist Losartan (RENAAL) studies. We evaluated 1,195 patients with hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, and diabetes from the LIFE study and 1,513 patients with type 2 diabetes and nephropathy from the RENAAL study. The comparative treatments were atenolol in the LIFE study and placebo in the RENAAL study. Patients with a history of HF were excluded from this analysis. Losartan significantly reduced the incidence of first hospitalizations for HF versus placebo in the RENAAL study (hazard ratio 0.74, p=0.037) and versus atenolol in the LIFE study (hazard ratio 0.57, p=0.019). Patients enrolled in the RENAAL study were at a higher risk of developing HF (hazard ratio for RENAAL vs LIFE diabetics 3.0, p<0.0001). The significant, independent baseline risk factors for the development of HF in the RENAAL study were urinary albumin/creatinine ratio, age, peripheral vascular disease, the Cornell product, body mass index, and previous angina; in the LIFE study they were the Cornell product, previous myocardial infarction, peripheral vascular disease, baseline atrial fibrillation, alcohol use (inverse relation), and urinary albumin/creatinine ratio. The beneficial effect of losartan on the reduction of risk for hospitalization for new HF was demonstrated in patients who were at high renal and/or high cardiovascular risk.
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| 2. |
- Freedman, Ben, et al.
(författare)
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Screening for Atrial Fibrillation A Report of the AF-SCREEN International Collaboration
- 2017
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Ingår i: Circulation. - : LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. - 0009-7322 .- 1524-4539. ; 135:19, s. 1851-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Approximately 10% of ischemic strokes are associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) first diagnosed at the time of stroke. Detecting asymptomatic AF would provide an opportunity to prevent these strokes by instituting appropriate anticoagulation. The AF-SCREEN international collaboration was formed in September 2015 to promote discussion and research about AF screening as a strategy to reduce stroke and death and to provide advocacy for implementation of country-specific AF screening programs. During 2016, 60 expert members of AF-SCREEN, including physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, health economists, and patient advocates, were invited to prepare sections of a draft document. In August 2016, 51 members met in Rome to discuss the draft document and consider the key points arising from it using a Delphi process. These key points emphasize that screen-detected AF found at a single timepoint or by intermittent ECG recordings over 2 weeks is not a benign condition and, with additional stroke factors, carries sufficient risk of stroke to justify consideration of anticoagulation. With regard to the methods of mass screening, handheld ECG devices have the advantage of providing a verifiable ECG trace that guidelines require for AF diagnosis and would therefore be preferred as screening tools. Certain patient groups, such as those with recent embolic stroke of uncertain source (ESUS), require more intensive monitoring for AF. Settings for screening include various venues in both the community and the clinic, but they must be linked to a pathway for appropriate diagnosis and management for screening to be effective. It is recognized that health resources vary widely between countries and health systems, so the setting for AF screening should be both country-and health system-specific. Based on current knowledge, this white paper provides a strong case for AF screening now while recognizing that large randomized outcomes studies would be helpful to strengthen the evidence base.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Singh, Jagmeet P., et al.
(författare)
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Dronedarone versus sotalol in patients with atrial fibrillation : A systematic literature review and network meta-analysis
- 2023
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Ingår i: Clinical Cardiology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0160-9289 .- 1932-8737. ; 46:6, s. 589-597
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundThere are limited comparative data on safety and efficacy within commonly used Vaughan-Williams (VW) class III antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) for maintenance of sinus rhythm in adults with atrial fibrillation (AF). HypothesisWe hypothesized that dronedarone and sotalol, two commonly prescribed VW class III AADs with class II properties, have different safety and efficacy effects in patients with nonpermanent AF. MethodsA systematic literature review was conducted searching MEDLINE (R), Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) up to June 15, 2021 (NCT05279833). Clinical trials and observational studies that evaluated safety and efficacy of dronedarone or sotalol in adults with AF were included. Bayesian random-effects network meta-analysis (NMA) was used to quantify comparative safety and efficacy. Where feasible, we performed sensitivity analyses by including only randomized controlled trials (RCTs). ResultsOf 3581 records identified through database searches, 37 unique studies (23 RCTs, 13 observational studies, and 1 nonrandomized trial) were included in the NMA. Dronedarone was associated with a statistically significantly lower risk of all-cause death versus sotalol (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.38 [95% credible interval, CrI: 0.19, 0.74]). The association was numerically similar in the sensitivity analysis (HR = 0.46 [95% CrI: 0.21, 1.02]). AF recurrence and cardiovascular death results were not significantly different between dronedarone and sotalol in all-studies and sensitivity analyses. ConclusionThe NMA findings indicate that, across all clinical trials and observational studies included, dronedarone compared with sotalol was associated with a lower risk of all-cause death, but with no difference in AF recurrence.
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| 5. |
- Camm, A. John, et al.
(författare)
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AIM-AF : A Physician Survey in the United States and Europe
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of the American Heart Association. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 2047-9980. ; 11:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Guideline recommendations are the accepted reference for selection of therapies for rhythm control of atrial fibrillation (AF). This study was designed to understand physicians' treatment practices and adherence to guidelines.Methods and Results: The AIM-AF (Antiarrhythmic Medication for Atrial Fibrillation) study was an online survey of clinical cardiologists and electrophysiologists that was conducted in the United States and Europe (N=629). Respondents actively treated >= 30 patients with AF who received drug therapy, and had received or were referred for ablation every 3 months. The survey comprised 96 questions on physician demographics, AF types, and treatment practices. Overall, 54% of respondents considered guidelines to be the most important nonpatient factor influencing treatment choice. Across most queried comorbidities, amiodarone was selected by 60% to 80% of respondents. Other nonadherent usage included sotalol by 21% in patients with renal impairment; dofetilide initiation (16%, United States only) outside of hospital; class Ic agents by 6% in coronary artery disease; and dronedarone by 8% in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Additionally, rhythm control strategies were frequently chosen in asymptomatic AF (antiarrhythmic drugs [AADs], 35%; ablation, 8%) and subclinical AF (AADs, 38%; ablation, 13%). Despite guideline algorithms emphasizing safety first, efficacy (48%) was selected as the most important consideration for AAD choice, followed by safety (34%).Conclusions: Despite surveyed clinicians recognizing the importance of guidelines, nonadherence was frequently observed. While deviation may be reasonable in selected patients, in general, nonadherence has the potential to compromise patient safety. These findings highlight an underappreciation of the safe use of AADs, emphasizing the need for interventions to support optimal AAD selection.
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| 6. |
- Holmqvist, Fredrik, et al.
(författare)
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Heart rate is associated with progression of atrial fibrillation, independent of rhythm
- 2015
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Ingår i: Heart. - : BMJ. - 1355-6037 .- 1468-201X. ; 101:11, s. 894-899
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective Atrial fibrillation (AF) often progresses from paroxysmal or persistent to more sustained forms, but the rate and predictors of AF progression in clinical practice are not well described. Methods Using the Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment of AF, we analysed the incidence and predictors of progression and tested the discrimination and calibration of the HATCH (hypertension, age, TIA/stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure) and CHA(2)DS(2)VASc scores for identifying AF progression. Results Among 6235 patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF at baseline, 1479 progressed, during follow-up (median 18 (IQR 12-24) months). These patients were older and had more comorbidities than patients who did not progress (CHADS(2) 2.3 +/- 1.3 vs 2.1 +/- 1.3, p<0.0001). At baseline, patients with AF progression were more often on a rate control as opposed to a rhythm control strategy (66 vs 56%, p<0.0001) and had higher heart rate (72(64-80) vs 68 (60-76) bpm, p<0.0001). The strongest predictors of AF progression were AF on the baseline ECG (OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.95 to 2.73, p<0.0001) and increasing age (OR 1.16, 95% CI1.09 to 1.24, p<0.0001, per 10 increase), while patients with lower heart rate (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.79 to 0.89, p<0.0001, per 10 decrease <= 80) were less likely to progress. There was no significant interaction between rhythm on baseline ECG and heart rate (p=0.71). The HATCH and CHA(2)DS(2)VASc scores had modest discriminatory power for AF progression (C-indices 0.55 (95% CI 0.53 to 0.58) and 0.55 (95% CI 0.52 to 0.57)). Conclusions Within 1.5 years, almost a quarter of the patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF progress to a more sustained form. Progression is strongly associated with heart rate, and age.
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| 7. |
- Reiffel, James A., et al.
(författare)
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Real-world utilization of the pill-in-the-pocket method for terminating episodes of atrial fibrillation : data from the multinational Antiarrhythmic Interventions for Managing Atrial Fibrillation (AIM-AF) survey
- 2023
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Ingår i: Europace. - : Oxford University Press. - 1099-5129 .- 1532-2092. ; 25:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice. Episodes may stop spontaneously (paroxysmal AF); may terminate only via intervention (persistent AF); or may persist indefinitely (permanent AF) (see European and American guidelines, referenced below, for more precise definitions). Recently, there has been renewed interest in an approach to terminate AF acutely referred to as 'pill-in-the-pocket' (PITP). The PITP is recognized in both the US and European guidelines as an effective option using an oral antiarrhythmic drug for acute conversion of acute/recent-onset AF. However, how PITP is currently used has not been systematically evaluated.Methods and results: The recently published Antiarrhythmic Interventions for Managing Atrial Fibrillation (AIM-AF) survey included questions regarding current PITP usage, stratified by US vs. European countries surveyed, by representative countries within Europe, and by cardiologists vs. electrophysiologists. This manuscript presents the data from this planned sub-study. Our survey revealed that clinicians in both the USA and Europe consider PITP in about a quarter of their patients, mostly for recent-onset AF with minimal or no structural heart disease (guideline appropriate). However, significant deviations exist. See the Graphical abstract for a summary of the data.Conclusion: Our findings highlight the frequent use of PITP and the need for further physician education about appropriate and optimal use of this strategy.
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| 8. |
- Singh, Jagmeet P., et al.
(författare)
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Phased target trial design and meta-analysis in a head-to-head treatment comparison
- 2023
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Ingår i: Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1053-8569 .- 1099-1557. ; 32:Suppl. 1, s. 444-444
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: For conditions with rare clinical outcomes, real-world treatment comparisons are challenging to design and prone to confounding.Objectives: To present a robust methodologic approach for rigorous and transparent assessment of rare outcomes using real-world data.Methods: We emulated a target trial using an active comparator, new-user design to compare dronedarone to sotalol for rhythm control in atrial fibrillation (AF) as both are recommended for similar patient phenotypes. Using one protocol, a pre-specified stepwise approach was implemented across 4 datasets (Optum CDM; IBM MarketScan; Veterans Affairs Electronic Health Records; Swedish National Patient Register). Meta-analysis was used to ensure sufficient capture of specific, rare primary outcomes (cardiovascular (CV) hospitalization and ventricular proarrhythmia) and to evaluate consistency of findings across patient populations. Steps 1–3 focused on cohort selection, propensity score matching (PSM), baseline equipoise and residual confounding assessment via negative control outcome analyses. In steps 4–6, outcomes in the individual cohorts were analyzed using an as-treated approach and Cox proportional hazards models. Step 7 included a heterogeneity assessment, meta-analysis using fixed effects models, and hypothesis testing using a hierarchical approach. In step 8, sensitivity analyses, including E-values and Inverse Probability of Censoring Weighting, were conducted to verify the robustness of findings.Results: In step 1, 35,467 sotalol and 27,955 dronedarone patients with AF who were antiarrhythmic drug-naive were identified across databases. In steps 2–3, 23,275 dronedarone patients were PS-matched to 23,275 sotalol patients. Baseline covariates were well-balanced and little-to-no residual confounding was observed via the negative control analyses. Individual HRs were estimated in steps 4–6, and, when no significant heterogeneity between databases was observed, hazard ratios (HRs) were pooled across datasets in step 7. For example, for CV hospitalization, dronedarone was superior to sotalol with no heterogeneity (HR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.85, 0.97; Cochran Q p-value: 0.32). Eleven sensitivity analyses were conducted in step 8 and confirmed that findings were generally robust.Conclusions: An active comparator, new-user design using the target trial approach coupled with meta-analysis generated consistent findings across databases and countries using one protocol. Similar methods, including a pre-specified stepwise approach, negative control outcome, and tests for robustness should be considered for real-world studies where specific, rare outcomes need to be examined in a rigorous and transparent way.
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