Login to your account
Don’t have an account?
Create a Free AccountEditor's Choice Archive
Atrial cardiomyopathy: Pathophysiology and clinical implications
The term atrial cardiomyopathy appears sporadically in the medical literature, and generally has been used in conjunction with atrial fibrillation (AF), or as “atrial fibrotic cardiomyopathy”, a pathological determinant of AF, caused by a primary cardiomyopathic process, independent of the arrhythmic disorder [1,2].Refining age stratum of the C2HEST score for predicting incident atrial fibrillation in a hospital-based Chinese population
The incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) increases with age and accumulating comorbidities, conferring significant risks of ischemic stroke [1], heart failure (HF) [2], and mortality [3,4]. Assessing individuals’ risk of incident AF is critical for fulfilling primary prevention, making screening and early management strategies [5]. Several risk predictive models have been suggested to evaluate the risk of incident AF. The C2HEST score (C2: coronary artery disease [CAD] / chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] [1 point each]; H: Hypertension [1 point]; E: Elderly [Age ≥75 years, 2 points]; S: Systolic and diastolic HF [2 points]); T: Thyroid disease [hyperthyroidism] [1 point]) was derived from a large community-based Chinese population and externally validated in a population from the Korean National Health Insurance[6].The use of β-blockers in patients with heart failure and comorbidities: Doubts, certainties and unsolved issues
β-blockers represent a mainstay in the pharmacological approach to patients affected by heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, underuse of this class of drugs is still reported, especially in the presence of cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular comorbidities, even if they are not contraindications for prescription of a β-blocker. The prognostic benefit of β-blockers is relevant in the presence of comorbidities, and achievement of the maximum tolerated dose is an important goal to increase their favorable prognostic role.Lower dose direct oral anticoagulants and improved survival: A combined analysis in patients with established atherosclerosis
Anti-thrombotic and anti-coagulation effects of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are dose-dependent [1–5]. Conversely, the benefit from higher dose DOACs is counterbalanced by a dose-dependent risk of bleeding [4]. Currently recommended regimens are the result of pre-clinical [5,6] and phase III studies [1,2,7–12] in which various doses of DOACs were investigated and compared to standard of care in various conditions such as acute or stable coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral artery disease (PAD), non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF), and venous thromboembolism (VTE).Alcohol intake and atrial fibrillation: A new topic in gender medicine
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia in clinical practice and a major risk factor for stroke, heart failure, hospitalization and mortality [1–3]. It affects approximately 1–2% of the general population and its incidence doubles with each decade after 50 years [1, 4]. Numerous underlying risk factors for AF are well established. They include age, sex, hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure, diabetes, chronic pulmonary disease, and obesity [1, 5, 6].One-year clinical events and management of patients with atrial fibrillation hospitalized in cardiology centers: Data from the BLITZ-AF study
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with a significant risk of ischemic stroke, death and other cardiovascular events as well as with higher medical costs and reduced quality of life [1–3]. The management of AF has dramatically changed after the introduction of direct oral anticoagulant drugs (DOACs) and advances in rhythm control methods, such as catheter ablation [1]. DOACs have been shown to be safe and effective in clinical trials [4–7] and have induced a general increase in prevalence of oral anticoagulation.Prevalence of atrial fibrillation and stroke risk assessment based on telemedicine screening tools in a primary healthcare setting
Worldwide atrial fibrillation (AF) prevalence varies between 0.1% and 4.0%, and has been increasing. Little is known about the prevalence of AF in Brazil. Our objective was to estimate the prevalence of AF in several regions of Brazil using recordings of long-distance electrocardiogram (ECG) transmission.Syncope in the German Nationwide inpatient sample – Syncope in atrial fibrillation/flutter is related to pulmonary embolism and is accompanied by higher in-hospital mortality
Syncope is a common phenomenon in the general population. Although most of the causes are of benign origin, some comorbidities are accompanied by high mortality. We aimed to compare the in-hospital mortality of patients with syncope related to different comorbities and investigate the impact of syncope in patients with atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF).Atrial fibrillation in patients with active malignancy and use of anticoagulants: Under-prescription but no adverse impact on all-cause mortality
Prescription of anticoagulants (ACs) in patients with cancer and atrial fibrillation (AF) is challenging and the impact on survival is not defined. In this study data prospectively collected in Oncology Units were retrospectively evaluated. Among 4664 patients admitted for malignancy, 394 patients (8.4%) had documented AF (mean age of 74 ± 9) and AC was prescribed to 155 patients (40%). Neither the type of cancer, the stage of the disease (metastatic or not) nor the ongoing treatments were significantly associated with prescription of AC, which was independently associated with BMI (OR 1.10; CI 95% 1.03–1.17; p = .003), valvular heart disease (OR 3.76; CI95% 1.59–8.87; p = .002), and previous venous thromboembolism (OR 6.67; 95%CI 2.67–16.70; p < .001).
The content on this site is intended for healthcare professionals.
Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. except certain content provided by third parties.
