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Anaesthesia, Critical Care & Pain... May 2024Atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL) are frequently seen in critically ill sepsis patients and are associated with poor outcomes. There is a need for...
BACKGROUND
Atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL) are frequently seen in critically ill sepsis patients and are associated with poor outcomes. There is a need for further research, however, studies are limited due to challenges in identifying patient cohorts. Administrative data using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) are routinely used for identifying disease cohorts in large datasets. However, the validity of ICD-10 for AF/AFL remains unexplored in these populations.
METHODS
This validation study included 6,554 adults with sepsis and septic shock admitted to the intensive care unit. We sought to determine whether ICD-10 coding could accurately identify patients with and without AF/AFL compared to manual chart review. We also evaluated whether the date of ICD-10 code entry could distinguish prevalent from incident AF/AFL, presuming codes dated during the index admission to be incident AF/AFL. A manual chart review was performed on 400 randomly selected patients for confirmation of AF/AFL, and validity was measured using sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV).
RESULTS
Among the 400 randomly selected patients, 293 lacked ICD-10 codes for AF/AFL. The manual chart review confirmed the absence of AF/AFL in 286 patients (NPV 97.3%, specificity 99.7%). Among the 107 patients with ICD-10 codes for AF/AFL, 106 were confirmed to have AF/AFL by manual chart review (PPV 99.1%, sensitivity 93.0%). Out of the 114 patients with confirmed AF/AFL, 44 had ICD-10 codes dated during the index admission. All 44 were confirmed to have AF/AFL, however, 18 patients had prior documentation of AF/AFL (incident AF/AFL: PPV 59.1%). Specificity for incident (95.1%) and prevalent (99.7%) AF/AFL were high; however, sensitivity was 76.5% and 77.5%, respectively.
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION
ICD-10 codes perform well in identifying clinical AF/AFL in critically ill sepsis. However, their temporal specificity in distinguishing incidents from prevalent AF/AFL is limited.
PubMed: 38821159
DOI: 10.1016/j.accpm.2024.101398 -
Journal of Interventional Cardiac... May 2024
PubMed: 38814524
DOI: 10.1007/s10840-024-01808-9 -
The Journal of Innovations in Cardiac... May 2024With a global incidence of approximately 3.4% and an annual mortality rate of 3.7 million, cardiac arrhythmias (CAs) are a pressing global health issue. Their increasing... (Review)
Review
With a global incidence of approximately 3.4% and an annual mortality rate of 3.7 million, cardiac arrhythmias (CAs) are a pressing global health issue. Their increasing prevalence, especially among older people, is intensifying the challenge for health care systems worldwide. This study aims to compare the safety and effectiveness of acupuncture and pharmacological treatments for CAs, addressing critical gaps in understanding optimal therapeutic approaches. A search of PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane database of systematic reviews was performed to identify data compiled through September 2023 for this umbrella review. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) as the foundation for meta-analyses and peer-reviewed systematic reviews were the primary focus of the literature search. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation method was used to assess the overall certainty of the evidence, whereas AMSTAR 2 and the Cochrane Collaboration tool were used to evaluate the quality of the included reviews. Following a comprehensive review, three systematic analyses of 27 RCTs were integrated. Acupuncture led to a slightly greater reduction in the recurrence rate of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) compared to standard pharmaceutical therapy (risk ratio [RR], 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.88-1.27; I = 56%; = .55), although the difference was not statistically significant. In contrast, acupuncture significantly outperformed pharmacological treatment in the context of ventricular premature beats (VPBs) (RR, 1.16; 95 CI, 1.08-1.25; I = 0%; < .0001). The reduction in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF)/atrial flutter was increased with acupuncture, albeit without statistical significance (RR, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.88-1.42; I = 0%; = .36). Acupuncture also led to a greater reduction in heart rate (HR) compared to pharmaceutical treatment despite notable heterogeneity and a lack of statistical significance (mean difference, -1.55; 95% CI, -41.37 to 38.28; I = 99%; = .94). Adverse events were effectively managed, affirming the favorable safety profile of acupuncture. Our study suggests that acupuncture leads to a greater reduction in the recurrence rates of VPBs, AF, and atrial flutter but not significantly so in paroxysmal SVT or post-treatment HR. While promising for specific arrhythmias, the varying effectiveness of acupuncture underscores the need for further research and clinical assessment to determine its precise role and suitability in managing particular cardiac conditions.
PubMed: 38808173
DOI: 10.19102/icrm.2024.15055 -
Journal of Cardiovascular... May 2024The unique safety profile of pulsed field ablation (PFA) has made pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) + left atrial posterior wall (LAPW) ablation promising for treating...
Safety and effectiveness of additional left atrial posterior wall ablation using pulsed field ablation for persistent and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation patients.
INTRODUCTION
The unique safety profile of pulsed field ablation (PFA) has made pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) + left atrial posterior wall (LAPW) ablation promising for treating persistent atrial fibrillation (PerAF). The goal of this study was to assess long-term freedom from atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and atrial tachycardia (AF/AFL/AT), as well as the safety and feasibility of LAPW PFA using multipolar, pentaspline Farawave catheter.
METHODS
Retrospective observational study at a single institution. Data for 94 patients were collected from a prespecified intraprocedural registry. The long-term AF/AFL/AT recurrence assessment was based on an analysis of medical history; 24-h Holter ECGs at 3, 6, and 12 months postablation; and 12-lead ECGs recorded during symptomatic episodes or visits.
RESULTS
Half of the patients had ls-PerAF, and half had a history of catheter ablation-mostly RF PVI. The acute ablation success rate was 100%, and the primary safety outcome was observed in 2 patients. Fifty patients experienced AF/AFL/AT recurrence (54.3%). An increase in LAPW low-voltage areas and AF classification were associated with arrhythmia recurrence. After a median follow-up of 13 months, the Kaplan‒Meier estimated median time free of AF/AFL/AT after a single procedure was 14.7 months.
CONCLUSION
PFA PVI + PWA had the best outcome in perAF patients without extensive LA fibrosis. AF recurrence was paroxysmal in significant part of the cohort. The addition of PWA to PVI using multipolar PFA was safe and did not significantly influence the transpired ablation time.
PubMed: 38803029
DOI: 10.1111/jce.16326 -
Journal of Cardiovascular... May 2024Mitral annular flutter (MAF) is the most common left atrial macro-reentrant arrhythmia following catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). The best ablation...
BACKGROUND
Mitral annular flutter (MAF) is the most common left atrial macro-reentrant arrhythmia following catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). The best ablation approach for this arrhythmia remains unclear.
METHODS
This single-center, retrospective study sought to compare the acute and long-term outcomes of patients with MAF treated with an anterior mitral line (AML) versus a mitral isthmus line (MIL). Acute ablation success, complication rates, and long-term arrhythmia recurrence were compared between the two groups.
RESULTS
Between 2015 and 2021, a total of 81 patients underwent ablation of MAF (58 with an AML and 23 with a MIL). Acute procedural success defined as bidirectional block was achieved in 88% of the AML and 91% of the MIL patients respectively (p = 1.0). One year freedom from atrial arrhythmias was 49.5% versus 77.5% and at 4 years was 24% versus 59.6% for AML versus MIL, respectively (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.38, confidence interval [CI]: 0.17-0.82, p = .009). Fewer patients in the MIL group had recurrent atrial flutter when compared to the AML group (HR: 0.32, CI: 0.12-0.83, p = .009). The incidence of recurrent AF, on the other side, was not different between both groups (21.7% vs. 18.9%; p = .76). There were no serious adverse events in either group.
CONCLUSION
In this retrospective study of patients with MAF, a MIL compared to AML was associated with a long-term reduction in recurrent atrial arrhythmias driven by a reduction in macroreentrant atrial flutters.
PubMed: 38802972
DOI: 10.1111/jce.16325 -
HeartRhythm Case Reports May 2024
PubMed: 38799592
DOI: 10.1016/j.hrcr.2024.02.018 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine May 2024Atypical atrial flutter (AFL) can be challenging to ablate, especially when involving dual-loop re-entry. We sought to assess the electroanatomical characteristics of...
Atypical atrial flutter (AFL) can be challenging to ablate, especially when involving dual-loop re-entry. We sought to assess the electroanatomical characteristics of single- and dual-loop AFLs in patients undergoing catheter ablation. We analyzed 25 non-cavotricuspid isthmus-dependent macro-re-entrant AFL in 19 consecutive patients. Three-dimensional high-density activation mapping was performed, and active re-entry loops were confirmed by entrainment mapping. Of 25 AFLs (24 left, 1 right atrial), 13 (52%) exhibited dual-loop re-entry. The most common circuits included, in 6/13 (46% of dual loops), a perimitral re-entry with a second loop around the right/left pulmonary veins (PV) and, in 6/13 (46%), involved a right PV ostium with a second loop around either a functional conduction block or another PV. Ablation at the common isthmus of dual-loop AFLs and at the critical isthmus of single-loop AFLs terminated the arrhythmia more frequently than ablation at a secondary isthmus of dual-loop AFLs (5/6 (83%) and 8/11 (73%) versus 1/8 (13%), respectively, = 0.013). More than half of AFLs exhibited a dual-loop re-entrant mechanism. Most critical isthmuses were found at the mitral isthmus, the left atrial roof or right PV ostia. Ablation targeting the common isthmus resulted in a higher termination rate.
PubMed: 38792389
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13102847 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine May 2024Ischemic stroke is the second, and pulmonary embolism (PE) is the third most common cardiovascular cause of death after myocardial infarction. Data regarding risk...
Ischemic stroke is the second, and pulmonary embolism (PE) is the third most common cardiovascular cause of death after myocardial infarction. Data regarding risk factors for ischemic stroke in patients with acute PE are limited. Patients were selected by screening the German nationwide in-patient sample for PE (ICD-code I26) and were stratified by ischemic stroke (ICD code I63) and compared. The nationwide in-patient sample comprised 346,586 hospitalized PE patients (53.3% females) in Germany from 2011 to 2014; among these, 6704 (1.9%) patients had additionally an ischemic stroke. PE patients with ischemic stroke had a higher in-hospital mortality rate than those without (28.9% vs. 14.5%, < 0.001). Ischemic stroke was independently associated with in-hospital death (OR 2.424, 95%CI 2.278-2.579, < 0.001). Deep venous thrombosis and/or thrombophlebitis (DVT) combined with heart septal defect (OR 24.714 [95%CI 20.693-29.517], < 0.001) as well as atrial fibrillation/flutter (OR 2.060 [95%CI 1.943-2.183], < 0.001) were independent risk factors for stroke in PE patients. Systemic thrombolysis was associated with a better survival in PE patients with ischemic thrombolysis who underwent cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR, OR 0.55 [95%CI 0.36-0.84], = 0.006). Ischemic stroke did negatively affect the survival of PE. Combination of DVT and heart septal defect and atrial fibrillation/flutter were strong and independent risk factors for ischemic stroke in PE patients. In PE patients with ischemic stroke, who had to underwent CPR, systemic thrombolysis was associated with improved survival.
PubMed: 38792272
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13102730 -
IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health... May 2024Deep learning models for detecting episodes of atrial fibrillation (AF) using rhythm information in long-term ambulatory ECG recordings have shown high performance....
INTRODUCTION
Deep learning models for detecting episodes of atrial fibrillation (AF) using rhythm information in long-term ambulatory ECG recordings have shown high performance. However, the rhythm-based approach does not take advantage of the morphological information conveyed by the different ECG waveforms, particularly the f-waves. As a result, the performance of such models may be inherently limited.
METHODS
To address this limitation, we have developed a deep learning model, named RawECGNet, to detect episodes of AF and atrial flutter (AFl) using the raw, single-lead ECG. We compare the generalization performance of RawECGNet on two external data sets that account for distribution shifts in geography, ethnicity, and lead position. RawECGNet is further benchmarked against a state-of-the-art deep learning model, named ArNet2, which utilizes rhythm information as input.
RESULTS
Using RawECGNet, the results for the different leads in the external test sets in terms of the F1 score were 0.91-0.94 in RBDB and 0.93 in SHDB, compared to 0.89-0.91 in RBDB and 0.91 in SHDB for ArNet2. The results highlight RawECGNet as a high-performance, generalizable algorithm for detection of AF and AFl episodes, exploiting information on both rhythm and morphology.
PubMed: 38787663
DOI: 10.1109/JBHI.2024.3404877 -
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Anticoagulation therapy plays a crucial role in the management of atrial fibrillation (AF) by significantly reducing the risk of stroke. Direct oral anticoagulants...
Role of a National Health Service Electronic Prescriptions Database in the Detection of Prescribing and Dispensing Issues and Adherence Evaluation of Direct Oral Anticoagulants.
BACKGROUND
Anticoagulation therapy plays a crucial role in the management of atrial fibrillation (AF) by significantly reducing the risk of stroke. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) became preferred over warfarin due to their superior safety and efficacy profile. Assessing adherence to anticoagulation therapy is necessary in clinical practice for optimising patient outcomes and treatment efficacy, thus emphasising its significance.
METHODS
A retrospective study utilised the Latvian National Health Service reimbursement prescriptions database, covering prescriptions for AF and flutter from January 2012 to December 2022. The proportion of days covered method was selected for adherence assessment, categorising it into three groups: (1) below 80%, (2) between 80% and 90%, and (3) above 90%.
RESULTS
A total of 1,646,648 prescriptions were analysed. Dabigatran prescriptions started declining after 2020, coinciding with a decrease in warfarin prescriptions since 2018. The total adherence levels to DOAC therapy were 69.4%. Only 44.2% of users achieved an adherence level exceeding 80%. The rate of paper prescriptions decreased from 98.5% in 2017 to 1.3% in 2022. Additionally, the utilisation of international non-proprietary names reached 79.7% in 2022. Specifically, 16.7% of patients selected a single pharmacy, whereas 27.7% visited one or two pharmacies. Meanwhile, other patients obtained medicines from multiple pharmacies.
CONCLUSIONS
The total adherence level to DOAC therapy is evaluated as low and there was no significant difference in age, gender, or "switcher" status among adherence groups. Physicians' prescribing habits have changed over a decade.
PubMed: 38786385
DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12100975