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- Connolly, S., et al.
(författare)
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Rationale and design of ACTIVE: the atrial fibrillation clopidogrel trial with irbesartan for prevention of vascular events
- 2006
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Ingår i: American heart journal. - 1097-6744. ; 151:6, s. 1187-93
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequently occurring cardiac arrhythmia with often serious clinical consequences. Many patients have contraindications to anticoagulation, and it is often underused in clinical practice. The addition of clopidogrel to aspirin (ASA) has been shown to reduce vascular events in a number of high-risk populations. Irbesartan is an angiotensin receptor-blocking agent that reduces blood pressure and has other vascular protective effects. METHODS AND RESULTS: ACTIVE W is a noninferiority trial of clopidogrel plus ASA versus oral anticoagulation in patients with AF and at least 1 risk factor for stroke. ACTIVE A is a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of clopidogrel in patients with AF and with at least 1 risk factor for stroke who receive ASA because they have a contraindication for oral anticoagulation or because they are unwilling to take an oral anticoagulant. ACTIVE I is a partial factorial, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of irbesartan in patients participating in ACTIVE A or ACTIVE W. The primary outcomes of these studies are composites of vascular events. A total of 14000 patients will be enrolled in these trials. CONCLUSIONS: ACTIVE is the largest trial yet conducted in AF. Its results will lead to a new understanding of the role of combined antiplatelet therapy and the role of blood pressure lowering with an angiotensin II receptor blocker in patients with AF.
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- 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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- Priori, Silvia G., et al.
(författare)
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Task Force on Sudden Cardiac Death, European Society of Cardiology
- 2002
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Ingår i: Europace. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1099-5129 .- 1532-2092. ; 4:1, s. 3-18
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The European Society of Cardiology has convened a Task Force on Sudden Cardiac Death in order to provide a comprehensive, educational document on this important topic. The main document has been published in the European Heart Journal in August 2001[1]. The Task Force has now summarized the most important clinical issues on sudden cardiac death and provided tables with recommendations for risk stratification and for prophylaxis of sudden cardiac death. The present recommendations are specifically intended to encourage the development and revision of national guidelines on prevention of sudden cardiac death. The common challenge for cardiologists, physicians of other medical specialties and health professionals throughout Europe is to realize the potential for sudden cardiac death prevention and to contribute to public health efforts to reduce its burden.
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- Swedberg, Karl, 1944, et al.
(författare)
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Successful treatment of heart failure with devices requires collaboration
- 2008
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Ingår i: European Journal of Heart Failure. - : Wiley. - 1388-9842. ; 10:12, s. 1229-35
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Implanted biventricular pacemakers (cardiac resynchronisation therapy, CRT) with or without implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) improve survival and morbidity in some patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) who are optimally treated with pharmacologic agents according to current guidelines. Correspondingly, ICDs improve survival. However, there is only limited evidence for device treatment in certain patient subgroups, such as the impact of ICD on outcomes in patients with reduced ejection fraction in New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class I or IV heart failure. Similarly, limited evidence exists for CRT in patients with only modest QRS prolongation or only modestly reduced ejection fraction. Despite evidence for a beneficial effect of device therapy in CHF, only a minority of eligible patients are currently offered these options. Multiple reasons contribute to the underuse of these potentially life-saving therapies. A lack of adherence to guidelines by health care professionals is an important barrier. Clearly, efforts should be made to improve the standard of care and to familiarise all physicians involved in managing CHF patients with the indications and potential efficacy of these devices. Increased collaboration between structured heart failure care and pacemaker clinics as well as between electrophysiologists, heart failure clinicians, and primary care physicians is required. Such team collaborations should lead to improved care with reduced mortality and morbidity and increased cost effectiveness. Treatment strategy should be based on a structured approach tailored to local practice and national priorities.
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- Bohm, M., et al.
(författare)
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Twenty-four-hour heart rate lowering with ivabradine in chronic heart failure: insights from the SHIFT Holter substudy
- 2015
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Ingår i: European Journal of Heart Failure. - : Wiley. - 1388-9842. ; 17:5, s. 518-26
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AIMS: Analysis of 24-h Holter recordings was a pre-specified substudy of SHIFT (Systolic Heart Failure Treatment with the If Inhibitor Ivabradine Trial) for exploring the heart rhythm safety of ivabradine and to determine effects of ivabradine on 24-h, daytime, and night-time heart rate (HR) compared with resting office HR. METHODS AND RESULTS: The 24-h Holter monitoring was performed at baseline and 8 months after randomization to ivabradine (n = 298) or matching placebo (n = 304) titrated maximally to 7.5 mg b.i.d. in patients with baseline HR >/=70 b.p.m. Patients received guideline-based optimized heart failure therapy including ACE inhibitors and/or ARBs in 93% and beta-blockers at maximally tolerated doses in 93%. After 8 months, HR over 24 h decreased by 9.5 +/- 10.0 b.p.m. with ivabradine, from 75.4 +/- 10.3 b.p.m. (P < 0.0001), and by 1.2 +/- 8.9 b.p.m. with placebo, from 74.8 +/- 9.7 b.p.m. (P < 0.0001 for difference vs. ivabradine). HR reduction with ivabradine was similar in resting office and in 24-h, awake, and asleep recordings, with beneficial effects on HR variability and no meaningful increases in supraventricular or ventricular arrhythmias. At 8 months, 21.3% on ivabradine vs. 8.5% on placebo had >/=1 episode of HR <40 b.p.m. (P < 0.0001). No episode of HR <30 b.p.m. was recorded; 3 (1.2%) patients had RR intervals >2.5 s on ivabradine vs. 4 (1.6%) patients on placebo. No RR intervals >3 s were identified in patients taking ivabradine. CONCLUSION: Ivabradine safely and significantly lowers HR and improves HR variability in patients with systolic heart failure, without inducing significant bradycardia, ventricular arrhythmias, or supraventricular arrhythmias.
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- Nieuwlaat, R, et al.
(författare)
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Atrial fibrillation management: a prospective survey in ESC Member Countries - The Euro Heart Survey on Atrial Fibrillation
- 2005
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Ingår i: European Heart Journal. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1522-9645 .- 0195-668X. ; 26:22, s. 2422-2434
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims To describe atrial fibrillation (AF) management in member countries of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and to verify cardiology practices against guidelines. Methods and results Among 182 hospitals in 35 countries, 5333 ambulant and hospitalized AF patients were enrolled, in 2003 and 2004. AF was primary or secondary diagnosis, and was confirmed on ECG in the preceding 12 months. Clinical type of AF was reported to be first detected in 978, paroxysmal in 1517, persistent in 1167, and permanent in 1547 patients. Concomitant diseases were present in 90% of all patients, causing risk factors for stroke to be also highly prevalent (86%). As many as 69% of patients were symptomatic at the time of the survey; among asymptomatic patients, 54% were previously experienced symptoms. Oral anticoagulation was prescribed in 67 and 49% of eligible and ineligible patients, respectively. A rhythm control strategy was applied in 67% of currently symptomatic patients and in 44% of patients who never experienced symptoms. Conclusion This survey provides a unique snapshot of current AF management in ESC member countries. Discordance between guidelines and practice was found regarding several issues on stroke prevention and antiarrhythmic therapy.
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- Rivard, Léna, et al.
(författare)
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Atrial Fibrillation and Dementia : A Report From the AF-SCREEN International Collaboration
- 2022
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Ingår i: Circulation. - 1524-4539. ; 145:5, s. 392-409
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Growing evidence suggests a consistent association between atrial fibrillation (AF) and cognitive impairment and dementia that is independent of clinical stroke. This report from the AF-SCREEN International Collaboration summarizes the evidence linking AF to cognitive impairment and dementia. It provides guidance on the investigation and management of dementia in patients with AF on the basis of best available evidence. The document also addresses suspected pathophysiologic mechanisms and identifies knowledge gaps for future research. Whereas AF and dementia share numerous risk factors, the association appears to be independent of these variables. Nevertheless, the evidence remains inconclusive regarding a direct causal effect. Several pathophysiologic mechanisms have been proposed, some of which are potentially amenable to early intervention, including cerebral microinfarction, AF-related cerebral hypoperfusion, inflammation, microhemorrhage, brain atrophy, and systemic atherosclerotic vascular disease. The mitigating role of oral anticoagulation in specific subgroups (eg, low stroke risk, short duration or silent AF, after successful AF ablation, or atrial cardiopathy) and the effect of rhythm versus rate control strategies remain unknown. Likewise, screening for AF (in cognitively normal or cognitively impaired patients) and screening for cognitive impairment in patients with AF are debated. The pathophysiology of dementia and therapeutic strategies to reduce cognitive impairment warrant further investigation in individuals with AF. Cognition should be evaluated in future AF studies and integrated with patient-specific outcome priorities and patient preferences. Further large-scale prospective studies and randomized trials are needed to establish whether AF is a risk factor for cognitive impairment, to investigate strategies to prevent dementia, and to determine whether screening for unknown AF followed by targeted therapy might prevent or reduce cognitive impairment and dementia.
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- Camm, A J, et al.
(författare)
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Conventional and dedicated atrial overdrive pacing for the prevention of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: the AFTherapy study.
- 2007
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Ingår i: Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1532-2092. ; 9:12, s. 1110-8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AIMS: This investigation was conducted to determine the effectiveness of several conventional overdrive pacing modalities (single rate and rate responsive pacing at various lower rates) and of four dedicated preventive pacing algorithms in the suppression of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). METHOD AND RESULTS: In this multi-centre, randomized trial, 372 patients with drug-refractory paroxysmal AF were enrolled. Patients received a dual-chamber pacing device capable of delivering conventional pacing therapy as well as dedicated AF prevention pacing therapies and to record detailed AF-related diagnostics. The primary endpoint was AF burden, whereas secondary endpoints were time to first AF episode and averaged sinus rhythm duration. During a conventional pacing phase, patients were randomized to single rate or rate-responsive pacing with lower rates of either 70 or 85 min(-1) or to a control group with single rate pacing at 40 min(-1). In the subsequent preventive pacing phase, patients underwent pacing at a lower rate of 70 min(-1) with or without concomitant application of four preventive pacing algorithms. A substantial amount of data was excluded from the analysis because of atrial-sensing artefacts, identified in the device-captured diagnostics. In the conventional pacing phase, no significant differences were found between various lower rates and the control group receiving single rate pacing at 40 min(-1) or between single rate and rate-responsive pacing. Patients receiving preventive pacing with all four therapies enabled had a similar AF burden compared with patients treated with conventional pacing at 70 min(-1) (P = 0.47). CONCLUSIONS: The results do not demonstrate a significant effect of conventional atrial overdrive pacing or preventive pacing therapies. However, the observations provided important information for further consideration with respect to the design and conduct of future studies on the effect of atrial pacing therapies for the reduction of AF.
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