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- Roselli, Carolina, et al.
(author)
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Multi-ethnic genome-wide association study for atrial fibrillation
- 2018
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In: Nature Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1061-4036 .- 1546-1718. ; 50:9, s. 1225-1233
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Atrial fibrillation (AF) affects more than 33 million individuals worldwide(1) and has a complex heritability(2). We conducted the largest meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for AF to date, consisting of more than half a million individuals, including 65,446 with AF. In total, we identified 97 loci significantly associated with AF, including 67 that were novel in a combined-ancestry analysis, and 3 that were novel in a European-specific analysis. We sought to identify AF-associated genes at the GWAS loci by performing RNA-sequencing and expression quantitative trait locus analyses in 101 left atrial samples, the most relevant tissue for AF. We also performed transcriptome-wide analyses that identified 57 AF-associated genes, 42 of which overlap with GWAS loci. The identified loci implicate genes enriched within cardiac developmental, electrophysiological, contractile and structural pathways. These results extend our understanding of the biological pathways underlying AF and may facilitate the development of therapeutics for AF.
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- d'Alessandro, Elisa, et al.
(author)
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Thrombo-Inflammation in Cardiovascular Disease : An Expert Consensus Document from the Third Maastricht Consensus Conference on Thrombosis
- 2020
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In: Thrombosis and Haemostasis. - : Georg Thieme Verlag KG. - 0340-6245 .- 2567-689X. ; 120:4, s. 538-564
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Thrombo-inflammation describes the complex interplay between blood coagulation and inflammation that plays a critical role in cardiovascular diseases. The third Maastricht Consensus Conference on Thrombosis assembled basic, translational, and clinical scientists to discuss the origin and potential consequences of thrombo-inflammation in the etiology, diagnostics, and management of patients with cardiovascular disease, including myocardial infarction, stroke, and peripheral artery disease. This article presents a state-of-the-art reflection of expert opinions and consensus recommendations regarding the following topics: (1) challenges of the endothelial cell barrier; (2) circulating cells and thrombo-inflammation, focused on platelets, neutrophils, and neutrophil extracellular traps; (3) procoagulant mechanisms; (4) arterial vascular changes in atherogenesis; attenuating atherosclerosis and ischemia/reperfusion injury; (5) management of patients with arterial vascular disease; and (6) pathogenesis of venous thrombosis and late consequences of venous thromboembolism.
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- Schnabel, Renate B., et al.
(author)
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Searching for Atrial Fibrillation Poststroke : A White Paper of the AF-SCREEN International Collaboration
- 2019
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In: Circulation. - 1524-4539. ; 140:22, s. 1834-1850
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cardiac thromboembolism attributed to atrial fibrillation (AF) is responsible for up to one-third of ischemic strokes. Stroke may be the first manifestation of previously undetected AF. Given the efficacy of oral anticoagulants in preventing AF-related ischemic strokes, strategies of searching for AF after a stroke using ECG monitoring followed by oral anticoagulation (OAC) treatment have been proposed to prevent recurrent cardioembolic strokes. This white paper by experts from the AF-SCREEN International Collaboration summarizes existing evidence and knowledge gaps on searching for AF after a stroke by using ECG monitoring. New AF can be detected by routine plus intensive ECG monitoring in approximately one-quarter of patients with ischemic stroke. It may be causal, a bystander, or neurogenically induced by the stroke. AF after a stroke is a risk factor for thromboembolism and a strong marker for atrial myopathy. After acute ischemic stroke, patients should undergo 72 hours of electrocardiographic monitoring to detect AF. The diagnosis requires an ECG of sufficient quality for confirmation by a health professional with ECG rhythm expertise. AF detection rate is a function of monitoring duration and quality of analysis, AF episode definition, interval from stroke to monitoring commencement, and patient characteristics including old age, certain ECG alterations, and stroke type. Markers of atrial myopathy (eg, imaging, atrial ectopy, natriuretic peptides) may increase AF yield from monitoring and could be used to guide patient selection for more intensive/prolonged poststroke ECG monitoring. Atrial myopathy without detected AF is not currently sufficient to initiate OAC. The concept of embolic stroke of unknown source is not proven to identify patients who have had a stroke benefitting from empiric OAC treatment. However, some embolic stroke of unknown source subgroups (eg, advanced age, atrial enlargement) might benefit more from non-vitamin K-dependent OAC therapy than aspirin. Fulfilling embolic stroke of unknown source criteria is an indication neither for empiric non-vitamin K-dependent OAC treatment nor for withholding prolonged ECG monitoring for AF. Clinically diagnosed AF after a stroke or a transient ischemic attack is associated with significantly increased risk of recurrent stroke or systemic embolism, in particular, with additional stroke risk factors, and requires OAC rather than antiplatelet therapy. The minimum subclinical AF duration required on ECG monitoring poststroke/transient ischemic attack to recommend OAC therapy is debated.
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- Hendriks, Jeroen, et al.
(author)
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Integrated specialized atrial fibrillation clinics reduce all-cause mortality: post hoc analysis of a randomized clinical trial
- 2019
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In: Europace. - : OXFORD UNIV PRESS. - 1099-5129 .- 1532-2092. ; 21:12, s. 1785-1792
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aims An integrated chronic care programme in terms of a specialized outpatient clinic for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), has demonstrated improved clinical outcomes. The aim of this study is to assess all-cause mortality in patients in whom AF management was delivered through a specialized outpatient clinic offering an integrated chronic care programme. Methods and results Post hoc analysis of a Prospective Randomized Open Blinded Endpoint Clinical trial to assess all-cause mortality in AF patients. The study included 712 patients with newly diagnosed AF, who were referred for AF management to the outpatient service of a University hospital. In the specialized outpatient clinic (AF-Clinic), comprehensive, multidisciplinary, and patient-centred AF care was provided, i.e. nurse-driven, physician supervised AF treatment guided by software based on the latest guidelines. The control group received usual care by a cardiologist in the regular outpatient setting. After a mean follow-up of 22months, all-cause mortality amounted 3.7% (13 patients) in the AF-Clinic arm and 8.1% (29 patients) in usual care [hazard ratio (HR) 0.44, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.23-0.85; P = 0.014]. This included cardiovascular mortality in 4 AF-Clinic patients (1.1%) and 14 patients (3.9%) in usual care (HR 0.28; 95% CI 0.09-0.85; P = 0.025). Further, 9 patients (2.5%) died in the AF-Clinic arm due to a non-cardiovascular reason and 15 patients (4.2%) in the usual care arm (HR 0.59; 95% CI 0.26-1.34; P = 0.206). Conclusion An integrated specialized AF-Clinic reduces all-cause mortality compared with usual care. These findings provide compelling evidence that an integrated approach should be widely implemented in AF management.
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- Hohnloser, Stefan H., et al.
(author)
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Effect of dronedarone on cardiovascular events in atrial fibrillation
- 2009
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In: New England Journal of Medicine. - 0028-4793 .- 1533-4406. ; 360:7, s. 668-78
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Dronedarone is a new antiarrhythmic drug that is being developed for the treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter trial to evaluate the use of dronedarone in 4628 patients with atrial fibrillation who had additional risk factors for death. Patients were randomly assigned to receive dronedarone, 400 mg twice a day, or placebo. The primary outcome was the first hospitalization due to cardiovascular events or death. Secondary outcomes were death from any cause, death from cardiovascular causes, and hospitalization due to cardiovascular events. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 21+/-5 months, with the study drug discontinued prematurely in 696 of the 2301 patients (30.2%) receiving dronedarone and in 716 of the 2327 patients (30.8%) receiving placebo, mostly because of adverse events. The primary outcome occurred in 734 patients (31.9%) in the dronedarone group and in 917 patients (39.4%) in the placebo group, with a hazard ratio for dronedarone of 0.76 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.69 to 0.84; P<0.001). There were 116 deaths (5.0%) in the dronedarone group and 139 (6.0%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.66 to 1.08; P=0.18). There were 63 deaths from cardiovascular causes (2.7%) in the dronedarone group and 90 (3.9%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.51 to 0.98; P=0.03), largely due to a reduction in the rate of death from arrhythmia with dronedarone. The dronedarone group had higher rates of bradycardia, QT-interval prolongation, nausea, diarrhea, rash, and an increased serum creatinine level than the placebo group. Rates of thyroid- and pulmonary-related adverse events were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Dronedarone reduced the incidence of hospitalization due to cardiovascular events or death in patients with atrial fibrillation. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00174785.)
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- Kowey, Peter R, et al.
(author)
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Efficacy and safety of celivarone, with amiodarone as calibrator, in patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator for prevention of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator interventions or death : the ALPHEE study
- 2011
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In: Circulation. - 0009-7322 .- 1524-4539. ; 124:24, s. 2649-2660
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Celivarone is a new antiarrhythmic agent developed for the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias. This study investigated the efficacy and safety of celivarone in preventing implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) interventions or death. METHODS AND RESULTS: Celivarone (50, 100, or 300 mg/d) was assessed compared with placebo in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. Amiodarone (200 mg/d after loading dose of 600 mg/d for 10 days) was used as a calibrator. A total of 486 patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40% and at least 1 ICD intervention for ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation in the previous month or ICD implantation in the previous month for documented ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation were randomized. Median treatment duration was 9 months. The primary efficacy end point was occurrence of ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation-triggered ICD interventions (shocks or antitachycardia pacing) or sudden death. The proportion of patients experiencing an appropriate ICD intervention or sudden death was 61.5% in the placebo group; 67.0%, 58.8%, and 54.9% in the celivarone 50-, 100-, and 300-mg groups, respectively; and 45.3% in the amiodarone group. Hazard ratios versus placebo for the primary end point ranged from 0.860 for celivarone 300 mg to 1.199 for celivarone 50 mg. None of the comparisons versus placebo were statistically significant. Celivarone had an acceptable safety profile. CONCLUSIONS: Celivarone was not effective for the prevention of ICD interventions or sudden death. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00993382.
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9. |
- van der Velden, Rachel M. J., et al.
(author)
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Adherence to a handheld device-based atrial fibrillation screening protocol is associated with clinical outcomes
- 2024
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In: Heart. - 1355-6037 .- 1468-201X. ; 110:9, s. 626-634
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective To evaluate adherence and adherence consistency to the handheld ECG device-based screening protocol and their association with adverse cerebral and cardiovascular outcomes in two systematic atrial fibrillation (AF) screening programmes.Methods In 2012 (Systematic ECG Screening for Atrial Fibrillation Among 75-Year Old Subjects in the Region of Stockholm and Halland, Sweden (STROKESTOP) study) and 2016 (Stepwise mass screening for atrial fibrillation using N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (STROKESTOP II) study), half of all 75- and 76-year-old inhabitants of up to two Swedish regions were invited to participate in a systematic AF screening programme. Participants were instructed to perform 30-second measurements twice daily in STROKESTOP and four times daily in STROKESTOP II for 2 weeks. Adherence was defined as the number of measurements performed divided by the number of measurements asked, whereas adherence consistency was defined as the number of days with complete registrations.Results In total, 6436 participants (55.7% female) from STROKESTOP and 3712 (59.8% female) from STROKESTOP II were included. Median adherence and adherence consistency were 100 (92-100)% and 12 (11-13) days in STROKESTOP and 90 (75-98)% and 8 (3-11) days in STROKESTOP II. Female sex and lower education were factors associated with both optimal adherence and adherence consistency in both studies. In STROKESTOP, low adherence and adherence consistency were associated with higher risk of adverse cerebral and cardiovascular outcomes (HR for composite primary endpoint 1.30 (1.11 to 1.51), p=0.001), including stroke (HR 1.68 (1.22 to 2.32), p=0.001) and dementia (1.67 (1.27 to 2.19), p<0.001).Conclusions Adherence to twice daily handheld ECG measurements in STROKESTOP was higher than to four times daily measurements in STROKESTOP II. Female sex and lower educational attainment were associated with >= 100% adherence and adherence consistency. Low adherence and adherence consistency were associated with a higher risk of adverse outcomes.
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- van Deursen, Caroline J M, et al.
(author)
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Vectorcardiographic QRS area as a novel predictor of response to cardiac resynchronization therapy.
- 2015
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In: Journal of electrocardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1532-8430 .- 0022-0736. ; 48:1, s. 45-52
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- QRS duration and left bundle branch block (LBBB) morphology are used to select patients for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). We investigated whether the area of the QRS complex (QRSAREA) on the 3-dimensional vectorcardiogram (VCG) can improve patient selection.
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