Clinical Characteristics,Management, and Control of Permanent vs. Nonpermanent Atrial Fibrillation: Insights from the RealiseAF Survey

Background

Atrial fibrillation can be categorized into nonpermanent and permanent atrial fibrillation. There is less information on permanent than on nonpermanent atrial fibrillation patients. This analysis aimed to describe the characteristics and current management, including the proportion of patients with successful atrial fibrillation control, of these atrial fibrillation subsets in a large, geographically diverse contemporary sample.

Methods and Results

Data from RealiseAF, an international, observational, cross-sectional survey of 10,491 patients with atrial fibrillation, were used to characterize permanent atrial fibrillation (N = 4869) and nonpermanent atrial fibrillation (N = 5622) patients. Permanent atrial fibrillation patients were older, had a longer time since atrial fibrillation diagnosis, a higher symptom burden, and were more likely to be physically inactive. They also had a higher mean (SD) CHADS₂ score (2.2 [1.3] vs. 1.7 [1.3], p<0.001), and a higher frequency of CHADS₂ score ≥2 (67.3% vs. 53.0%, p<0.001) and comorbidities, most notably heart failure. Physicians indicated using a rate-control strategy in 84.2% of permanent atrial fibrillation patients (vs. 27.5% in nonpermanent atrial fibrillation). Only 50.2% (N = 2262/4508) of permanent atrial fibrillation patients were controlled. These patients had a longer time since atrial fibrillation diagnosis, a lower symptom burden, less obesity and physical inactivity, less severe heart failure, and fewer hospitalizations for acute heart failure than uncontrolled permanent atrial fibrillation patients, but with more arrhythmic events. The most frequent causes of hospitalization in the last 12 months were acute heart failure and stroke.

Conclusion

Permanent atrial fibrillation is a high-risk subset of atrial fibrillation, representing half of all atrial fibrillation patients, yet rate control is only achieved in around half. Since control is associated with lower symptom burden and heart failure, adequate rate control is an important target for improving the management of permanent atrial fibrillation patients.     

Exercise heart rates at different serum digoxin concentrations in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Heart rate at rest and during increasing workloads was measured in a double blind study of 12 patients with chronic atrial fibrillation when serum concentrations of digoxin were nil and at low and high therapeutic values. Twelve normal subjects were studied for comparison. The heart rate at all levels of exercise in most patients with atrial fibrillation was not adequately controlled by any serum digoxin concentration tested despite a reduction in heart rate with increasing serum digoxin concentrations. Control of the resting heart rate, even in patients with high serum digoxin concentrations, did not ensure adequate control of the heart rate during work rates equivalent to regular daily activities.     

持续正压通气治疗阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征并发心房纤颤的临床研究

目的:研究持续正压通气治疗阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征(OSAHS)并发心房纤颤的临床疗效。方法:选取2013年1月到2014年1月我院收治的OSAHS并发心房纤颤患者60例,按照随机数字表法将患者分为实验组和对照组,每组30例。对照组给予常规治疗,实验组在对照组的基础上给予持续正压通气治疗,两组均治疗1年。分析治疗前、后两组心率(HR)、血氧饱和度(SPO2)、左心射血分数(LVEF)、脑钠肽(BNP),并比较两组心房纤颤转复率、复发率和不良反应。结果:治疗后实验组HR、SPO2、LVEF以及BNP显著优于对照组,两组比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后实验组心房纤颤转复率显著高于对照组,心房纤颤复发率显著低于对照组,两组比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);两组不良反应发生率比较无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:持续正压通气治疗OSAHS并发心房纤颤具有较好的效果,有利于改善心功能,提高心房纤颤转复率降低房纤颤复发率。     

经食道超声心动图评估特发性房颤左心房左心耳的价值

目的:研究经食道超声心动图(TEE)评估特发性房颤左心房左心耳的临床价值。方法:选择自2015年1月到2016年8月在医院接受诊治的特发性房颤患者100例纳入本次研究,阵发性房颤92例,记为阵发性房颤组;持续性房颤8例,记为持续性房颤组。另选同期在医院进行健康体检的心功能正常志愿者90例作为对照组。利用TEE对受试者进行检查,对比房颤组与对照组的左心房及左心耳参数,是否含有自发性显影(LASEC)的房颤患者的左心房及左心耳参数,利用TEE分析对房颤患者的预后情况。结果:阵发性房颤组左心房的前后径和左右径,左心耳血流最大的排空速度(Lev)均明显小于对照组,左心耳的面积变化率及最大的充盈速度(Lfv)均明显大于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。持续性房颤组左心房的前后径和左右径均明显大于对照组,左心耳的面积变化率、Lev及Lfv均明显小于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。阵发性房颤组左心房的前后径和左右径均明显小于持续性房颤组,左心耳的面积变化率、Lev及Lfv均明显大于持续性房颤组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。有LASEC者左心房的前后径和左右径均明显大于无LASEC者,左心耳的面积变化率、Lev及Lfv均明显小于无LASEC者,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。100例房颤患者中发现34例LASEC,占34.00%,其中有18例患者合并有左心耳血栓,占18.00%。总计有66例患者接受导管射频消融疗法,占66.00%,均未在术中及术后7d内出现血栓及栓塞并发症。结论:利用TEE对特发性房颤的患者左心房及左心耳进行评估,有利于更好的辅助患者的临床治疗,值得重视。     

Ablation surgery for atrial fibrillation: "freeze it or buzz it; just do it and cure it"

Patients in normal sinus rhythm have lesser stroke rate, better functional class and quality of life than those in atrial fibrillation. Adding a surgical procedure to cure atrial fibrillation in patients needing correction of structural heart disease has been shown to be a safe option, which benefits the majority in restoration of sinus rhythm. Age is no bar to implement this option. The same does not hold true for lone atrial fibrillation. The affirm trial has shown that there is need for improved treatment strategies for patients in atrial fibrillation, although young patients were not represented in sizable proportion. There is need to develop curative treatment for patients with lone atrial fibrillation. And there are technological advances in the form of ablative energy sources and hardware for applying these with minimal invasion. "Between tomorrow's dream and yesterday's regret is today's opportunity". Let's make the best of it!     

上胸段硬膜外阻滞治疗慢性心力衰竭合并房颤的临床研究

目的:比较上胸段硬膜外阻滞对有无合并房颤的扩张型心肌病心衰患者的疗效差异。方法:入选40例扩张型心肌病心衰患者,根据入院心电图有无房颤分为房颤组和非房颤组。所有患者均在抗心力衰竭常规治疗基础上,给予胸段硬膜外阻滞治疗4周,比较治疗前、后NYHA心功能分级、血浆N末端脑钠肽前体(NT-pro BNP)水平、左室射血分数(LVEF)、左室舒张期内径(LVEDD)及左房前后径(LAD)的变化情况。结果:与治疗前比较,两组患者经治疗后的NYHA心功能分级、NT-pro BNP、LVEF、LVEDD及LAD均明显改善(均P0.05),差异有统计学意义,但两组间各指标治疗前后的差值无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:对于慢性心力衰竭合并房颤的患者而言,给予抗心力衰竭常规治疗基础上联合上胸段硬膜外阻滞治疗有效,且房颤的存在与否不影响上胸段硬膜外阻滞的疗效。     

Atrial fibrillation after but not before primary angioplasty for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction of prognostic importance

Aim

In patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), it is uncertain whether atrial fibrillation has prognostic implications. There may be a difference between atrial fibrillation before and after reperfusion therapy.

Methods and results

In patients with STEMI treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), ECGs were analysed before and after primary PCI. Of the 1623 patients with electrocardiographic data before primary PCI, 53 patients (3.3%) had atrial fibrillation. Patients with atrial fibrillation were older, were more often female, and less often had anterior MI location. Of the 1728 patients with electrocardiographic data after primary PCI, 52 patients (3.0%) had atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation was more common in older patients and in those with Killip class >1. Also patients with occlusion of the right coronary artery or TIMI flow 0 before primary PCI more commonly had AF after the procedure. Not successful reperfusion was also associated with a higher incidence of AF after primary PCI. Although both atrial fibrillation before and after primary PCI were associated with increased mortality, multivariable analyses, adjusting for differences in age, gender and Killip class on admission, revealed that atrial fibrillation after PCI (OR 3.69, 95% CI 1.87–7.29) but not before PCI (OR 1.86, 95% CI 0.89–3.90) was independent and statistically significantly associated with long-term mortality.

Conclusion

In patients with STEMI, atrial fibrillation after but not before primary PCI has independent prognostic implications. Possibly, atrial fibrillation after the PCI is a symptom of failed reperfusion and a sign of heart failure.     

Patient-Reported Outcomes for Quality of Life Assessment in Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review of Measurement Properties

BackgroundAtrial fibrillation is a large and growing burden across all types of healthcare. Both incidence and prevalence are expected to double in the next 20 years, with huge impact on hospital admissions, costs and patient quality of life. Patient wellbeing determines the management strategy for atrial fibrillation, including the use of rhythm control therapy and the clinical success of heart rate control. Hence, evaluation of quality of life is an emerging and important part of the assessment of patients with atrial fibrillation. Although a number of questionnaires to assess quality of life in atrial fibrillation are available, a comprehensive overview of their measurement properties is lacking.InterpretationGiven the low ratings for many measurement properties, no single questionnaire can be recommended, although AFEQT performed strongest. Further studies to robustly assess reliability, validity and responsiveness of AF-specific quality of life questionnaires are required. This review consolidates the current evidence for quality of life assessment in patients with atrial fibrillation and identifies priority areas for future research.     

Aortic Stiffness in Lone Atrial Fibrillation: A Novel Risk Factor for Arrhythmia Recurrence

Background

Recent community-based research has linked aortic stiffness to the development of atrial fibrillation. We posit that aortic stiffness contributes to adverse atrial remodeling leading to the persistence of atrial fibrillation following catheter ablation in lone atrial fibrillation patients, despite the absence of apparent structural heart disease. Here, we aim to evaluate aortic stiffness in lone atrial fibrillation patients and determine its association with arrhythmia recurrence following radio-frequency catheter ablation.

Methods

We studied 68 consecutive lone atrial fibrillation patients who underwent catheter ablation procedure for atrial fibrillation and 50 healthy age- and sex-matched community controls. We performed radial artery applanation tonometry to obtain central measures of aortic stiffness: pulse pressure, augmentation pressure and augmentation index. Following ablation, arrhythmia recurrence was monitored at months 3, 6, 9, 12 and 6 monthly thereafter.

Results

Compared to healthy controls, lone atrial fibrillation patients had significantly elevated peripheral pulse pressure, central pulse pressure, augmentation pressure and larger left atrial dimensions (all P<0.05). During a mean follow-up of 2.9±1.4 years, 38 of the 68 lone atrial fibrillation patients had atrial fibrillation recurrence after initial catheter ablation procedure. Neither blood pressure nor aortic stiffness indices differed between patients with and without atrial fibrillation recurrence. However, patients with highest levels (≥75^th percentile) of peripheral pulse pressure, central pulse pressure and augmentation pressure had higher atrial fibrillation recurrence rates (all P<0.05). Only central aortic stiffness indices were associated with lower survival free from atrial fibrillation using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

Conclusion

Aortic stiffness is an important risk factor in patients with lone atrial fibrillation and contributes to higher atrial fibrillation recurrence following catheter ablation procedure.     

心力衰竭合并房颤患者血浆脑钠肽水平及相关因素分析

目的:探讨心力衰竭合并房颤患者血浆脑钠肽水平变化及相关因素,为心血管疾病的临床诊断提供理论依据。方法:选取我院2011年1月-2013年1月收治的心力衰竭患者94例,分为窦性心律组和心房颤动组。分别抽取两组患者的血液样本并检测血浆中的BNP浓度,比较不同NYHA分级患者血浆内的脑钠肽水平的变化情况,记录左心房和左心室舒张末内径及房颤持续时间等。结果:心力衰竭合并心房颤动组与窦性心律组血浆BNP水平比较,心房颤动组高于窦性心律组;差异有统计学意义(P0.05);两组NYHA不同分级相互比较,Ⅱ级、Ⅲ级和Ⅳ级间的BNP水平,心房颤动组BNP水平均高于窦性心律组;差异显著具有统计学意义(P0.05);血浆BNP水平与患者年龄、左心房大小、左心室大小、房颤持续时间因素呈正相关(r分别为0.0.801,0.748,0.854和0.703,P0.05),与左心室射血分数呈负相关(r=-0.41,P0.05)。结论:BNP血浆浓度与心功能状态密切相关,BNP浓度的检测有助于临床心血管疾病的诊断。     

慢性心力衰竭合并心房颤动发病的相关机制研究

目的:慢性心力衰竭(Chronic Heart Failure,CHF)是心血管系统常见的疾病,威胁患者的生存周期及生活质量。本研究针对慢性心力衰竭合并房颤的临床特征,进一步探讨其发病机制,为临床治疗提供依据。方法:将80例慢性心力衰竭患者平均分为两组,心律正常的为窦性心律组,伴有心房颤动的作为房颤组。观察并比较两组的左心室射血分数(LVEF)和二尖瓣口舒张期流速(E/A)等心脏功能指标。结果:房颤组左心室射血分数(LVEF)为(0.42±0.08);二尖瓣口舒张期流速(E/A)为(0.65±0.22);左心房内径(LAD)为(53.4±8.2)mm。窦律组左心室射血分数(LVEF)为(0.45±0.09);二尖瓣口舒张期流速(E/A)为(0.72±0.17);左心房内径(LAD)为(46.7±7.9)mm。房颤组患者的LVEF和E/A值均低于窦律组,而LAD则明显高于窦律组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。房颤组醛固酮、血管紧张素(AngII)、脑钠肽(BNP)及超敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)均高于窦律组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:慢性心力衰竭合并房颤的发病与患者体内神经内分泌体液系统水平和心脏结构功能有关,具体发病机制需进一步深入研究。     

射频消融术治疗房颤后并发血栓栓塞形成的机制

心房颤动是临床上常见的心律失常之一,可因心房丧失收缩功能及长期心率增快而导致心房内血栓形成,并脱落至身体各处形成栓塞,严重时甚至可导致心力衰竭,增加患者的死亡率。射频消融术是目前可治愈心房颤动的有效的治疗手段,且在老年患者中具有较高的成功率和安全性。但血栓形成和栓塞仍是其主要并发症之一,发生率甚至可高达7%,一旦栓塞事件发生,将严重影响患者术后生存质量。目前研究结果表明,射频消融术治疗心房颤动后发生血栓及栓塞是一种多因素参与的系统性改变。     

Assessment of spectral analysis of heart rate variability in patients with history of atrial fibrillation by means of age-dependent parameters

Heart rate variability evaluation is a useful diagnostic tool for autonomic nervous balance assessment. The role of the autonomic nervous system in aetiology of atrial fibrillation is sometimes clear as a trigger from a patient's history, but mostly it acts as a modulating factor which is not easy to detect. The present study demonstrates results of spectral analysis of short-term heart rate variability during ortho-clinostatic tests processed by means of age-dependent parameters. An original telemetric system and a unique method for heart rate variability assessment, developed by the Faculty of Physical Culture, were applied for the first time to examine patients with the history of atrial fibrillation.     

Cryoablation in persistent atrial fibrillation – a critical appraisal

Ablation of atrial fibrillation is an established treatment for the management of patients with paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation. The complex pathophysiology of persistent atrial fibrillation has fuelled the concept of adjunctive substrate modification on top of pulmonary vein isolation. However, recent studies have failed to demonstrate additive benefit from complex ablation approaches, thus supporting that standalone pulmonary vein isolation may prove sufficient, at least as the initial ablation strategy in persistent atrial fibrillation. In this premise, the new-generation cryoballoon is an attractive option in this demanding subgroup of patients due to its reliable efficacy in achieving pulmonary vein isolation combined with collateral debulking of the neighbouring atrial myocardium. In this review, we present a critical appraisal of the role of cryoablation in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation, discussing related technical considerations and existing scientific evidence.     

慢性心力衰竭合并心房颤动发病的相关机制研究

目的：慢性心力衰竭（Chronic Heart Failure,CHF）是心血管系统常见的疾病,威胁患者的生存周期及生活质量。本研究针对慢性心力衰竭合并房颤的临床特征,进一步探讨其发病机制,为临床治疗提供依据。方法：将80例慢性心力衰竭患者平均分为两组,心律正常的为窦性心律组,伴有心房颤动的作为房颤组。观察并比较两组的左心室射血分数（LVEF）和二尖瓣1：7舒张期流速（E／A）等心脏功能指标。结果：房颤组左心室射血分数（LVEF）为（0．42±0．08）;二尖瓣口舒张期流速（E／A）为（0．65±0．22）;左心房内径（LAD）为（53．4±8．2）min。窦律组左心室射血分数（LVEF）为（0．45±0．09）;二尖瓣口舒张期流速（E／A）为（0．72±0．17）;左心房内径（LAD）为（46．7±7．9）min。房颤组患者的LVEF和E／A值均低于窦律组,而LAD则明显高于窦律组,差异具有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。房颤组醛固酮、血管紧张素（AngII）、脑钠）]k（BNP）TZ超敏c反应蛋白（hs-CRP）均高于窦律组,差异具有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论：慢性心力衰竭合并房颤的发病与患者体内神经内分泌体液系统水平和心脏结构功能有关,具体发病机制需进一步深入研究。     

Atrial fibrillation and stroke: prevalence in different types of stroke and influence on early and long term prognosis (Oxfordshire community stroke project)

OBJECTIVE--To determine in patients with first ever stroke whether atrial fibrillation influences clinical features, the need to perform computed tomography, and prognosis. DESIGN--Observational cohort study with maximum follow up of 6.5 years. SETTING--Primary care, based on 10 general practices in urban and rural Oxfordshire. SUBJECTS--Consecutive series of 675 patients with first ever stroke registered in the Oxfordshire community stroke project. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Prevalence of atrial fibrillation by type of stroke; effect of atrial fibrillation on case fatality rate and risk of recurrent stroke, vascular death, and death from all causes. RESULTS--Prevalence of atrial fibrillation was 17% (95% confidence interval 14% to 20%) for all stroke types (115/675), 18% (15% to 21%) for cerebral infarction (97/545), 11% (4% to 11%) for primary intercerebral haemorrhage (7/66), and 0% (0 to 11%) for subarachnoid haemorrhage (0/33). For patients with cerebral infarction the 30 day case fatality rate was significantly higher with atrial fibrillation (23%) than with sinus rhythm (8%); the risk of early recurrent stroke (within 30 days) was 1% with atrial fibrillation and 4% with sinus rhythm. In patients who survived at least 30 days the average annual risk of recurrent stroke was 8.2% (5.9% to 10.9%) with sinus rhythm and 11% (6.0% to 17.3%) with atrial fibrillation. CONCLUSIONS--After a first stroke atrial fibrillation was not associated with a definite excess risk of recurrent stroke, either within 30 days or within the first few years. Survivors with and without atrial fibrillation had a clinically important absolute risk of further serious vascular events.     

稳心颗粒治疗高血压性心脏病心律失常的疗效分析

目的:探讨稳心颗粒治疗高血压心脏病合并心律失常中的效果,为患者提供更好的治疗方案。方法:将110例高血压性心脏病合并心律失常患者随机分成对照组和治疗组,每组各55例。两组均进行常规的降压治疗,其中治疗组在常规治疗的基础上服用稳心颗粒,1袋/次,3次/d,6周为一个疗程。对比两组治疗效果。结果:治疗后,治疗组总有效率为89.1%(49/55)显著高于对照组的72.7%(40/55),差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗组患者阵发性和永久性心房颤动占比分别5.5%(3/55)、0,低于对照组的12.7%(7/55),1.8%(1/55),其中阵发性心房颤动比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05);两组患者均未出现较明显的不良反应。结论:稳心颗粒治疗高血压心脏病合并心律失常中疗效确切,不良反应少。     

ROC曲线评价Fib、CRP和NT-pro BNP在慢性房颤 并发早期心衰的诊断价值

目的：探讨CRP、Fib、NT-pro BNP在早期心衰患者中的诊断价值,并通过ROC曲线方法找到临床诊断界值。方法：对48 例 房颤并发早期心衰患者(A组),31 例为心房颤动并发重度心衰(B 组)和40 健康对照组(C 组)血清Fib、CRP 和NT-pro BNP水平。 利用ROC 曲线,评价CRP、Fib、NT-pro BNP 房颤并发早期心力衰竭诊断效能。结果：CRP、Fib 和NT-pro BNP 在B 组中水平最 高,C 组水平最低,三组间差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。NT-pro BNP 的对心房颤动并发早期心力衰竭患者诊断的灵敏度和特异 度明显高于Fib和CRP。NT-pro BNP 曲线下面积明显高于Fib 和CRP,差异有统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论：Fib、CRP 和NT-pro BNP在房颤并发可能或早期心衰患者血清中水平升高,联合诊断可以提高并发可能心衰的诊断敏感性,使得临床及早干预。     

慢性心力衰竭患者心脏再同步化治疗的疗效及其影响因素分析

目的:观察慢性心衰患者经心脏再同步化治疗(cardiac resynchronization therapy,CRT)的临床疗效,并分析CRT无应答的影响因素。方法:入选2010年1月至2015年7月上海长海医院心血管内科因心衰接受CRT的患者共47例,收集病史资料、手术资料、术后资料以及随访,比较CRT有无应答患者的临床特征,并通过多因素回归分析CRT无应答的危险因素。结果:纳入病例数共47例,其中CRT应答34例(72.3%),CRT无应答13例(27.7%)。CRT无应答组中心房颤动和冠脉问题发生率明显高于CRT应答组(P0.05);CRT应答组中左心房容积、右心房容积、左心室容积以及二尖瓣返流量均明显低于CRT无应答组(P0.05)。多因素回归分析显示患者合并心房颤动或冠脉问题是CRT无应答可以影响CRT的应答。结论:CRT对慢性心衰患者具有较好的疗效,而合并心房颤动或冠脉问题是预测慢性心衰患者CRT无应答的独立影响因素。     

Effect of Propranolol on Exercise Tolerance of Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

Six patients with atrial fibrillation who were taking digitalis were exercised before and after 30 mg. of propranolol twice daily. Though there was a lower pulse rate at rest and on exercise in all patients, three suffered deterioration of exercise tolerance. It is concluded that propranolol does not improve the exercise tolerance of patients with atrial fibrillation whose resting ventricular rate is controlled with digitalis.