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Suomalainen OP, Martinez-Majander N, Broman J, Mannismäki L, Aro A, Curtze S, Pakarinen S, Lehto M, Putaala J. Stroke in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: Epidemiology, Screening, and Prognosis. J Clin Med 2023; 13:30. [PMID: 38202037 PMCID: PMC10779359 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13010030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrythmia and one of the strongest risk factors and causal mechanisms of ischemic stroke (IS). Acute IS due to AF tends to be more severe than with other etiology of IS and patients with treated AF have reported to experience worse outcomes after endovascular treatment compared with patients without AF. As cardioembolism accounts for more than a fifth of ISs and the risk of future stroke can be mitigated with effective anticoagulation, which has been shown to be effective and safe in patients with paroxysmal or sustained AF, the screening of patients with cryptogenic IS (CIS) for AF is paramount. Embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) is a subtype of CIS with a high likelihood of cardioembolism. The European Stroke Organization and European Society of Cardiology guidelines recommend at least 72 h of screening when AF is suspected. The longer the screening and the earlier the time point after acute IS, the more likely the AF paroxysm is found. Several methods are available for short-term screening of AF, including in-hospital monitoring and wearable electrocardiogram recorders for home monitoring. Implantable loop monitors provide an effective long-term method to screen patients with high risk of AF after IS and artificial intelligence and convolutional neural networks may enhance the efficacy of AF screening in the future. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are preferred over vitamin K antagonists in both primary and secondary prevention of IS in AF patients. Recent data from the randomized controlled trials (RCT) also suggest that early initiation of DOAC treatment after acute IS is safe compared to later initiation. Anticoagulation treatment may still predispose for intracranial bleeding, particularly among patients with prior cerebrovascular events. Left atrial appendix closure offers an optional treatment choice for patients with prior intracranial hemorrhage and may offer an alternative to oral anticoagulation even for patients with IS, but these indications await validation in ongoing RCTs. There are still controversies related to the association of found AF paroxysms in CIS patients with prolonged screening, pertaining to the optimal duration of screening and screening strategies with prolonged monitoring techniques in patients with ESUS. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of epidemiology, screening, and prognosis in AF patients with stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olli Pekka Suomalainen
- Departments of Neurology, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 4, P.O. Box 340, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; (N.M.-M.); (J.B.); (L.M.); (S.C.); (J.P.)
| | - Nicolas Martinez-Majander
- Departments of Neurology, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 4, P.O. Box 340, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; (N.M.-M.); (J.B.); (L.M.); (S.C.); (J.P.)
| | - Jenna Broman
- Departments of Neurology, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 4, P.O. Box 340, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; (N.M.-M.); (J.B.); (L.M.); (S.C.); (J.P.)
| | - Laura Mannismäki
- Departments of Neurology, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 4, P.O. Box 340, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; (N.M.-M.); (J.B.); (L.M.); (S.C.); (J.P.)
| | - Aapo Aro
- Departments of Cardiology, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; (A.A.); (S.P.); (M.L.)
| | - Sami Curtze
- Departments of Neurology, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 4, P.O. Box 340, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; (N.M.-M.); (J.B.); (L.M.); (S.C.); (J.P.)
| | - Sami Pakarinen
- Departments of Cardiology, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; (A.A.); (S.P.); (M.L.)
| | - Mika Lehto
- Departments of Cardiology, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; (A.A.); (S.P.); (M.L.)
| | - Jukka Putaala
- Departments of Neurology, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 4, P.O. Box 340, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; (N.M.-M.); (J.B.); (L.M.); (S.C.); (J.P.)
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Trohman RG, Huang HD, Sharma PS. Atrial fibrillation: primary prevention, secondary prevention, and prevention of thromboembolic complications: part 1. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1060030. [PMID: 37396596 PMCID: PMC10311453 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1060030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF), is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia. It was once thought to be benign as long as the ventricular rate was controlled, however, AF is associated with significant cardiac morbidity and mortality. Increasing life expectancy driven by improved health care and decreased fertility rates has, in most of the world, resulted in the population aged ≥65 years growing more rapidly than the overall population. As the population ages, projections suggest that the burden of AF may increase more than 60% by 2050. Although considerable progress has been made in the treatment and management of AF, primary prevention, secondary prevention, and prevention of thromboembolic complications remain a work in progress. This narrative review was facilitated by a MEDLINE search to identify peer-reviewed clinical trials, randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and other clinically relevant studies. The search was limited to English-language reports published between 1950 and 2021. Atrial fibrillation was searched via the terms primary prevention, hyperthyroidism, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, catheter ablation, surgical ablation, hybrid ablation, stroke prevention, anticoagulation, left atrial occlusion and atrial excision. Google and Google scholar as well as bibliographies of identified articles were reviewed for additional references. In these two manuscripts, we discuss the current strategies available to prevent AF, then compare noninvasive and invasive treatment strategies to diminish AF recurrence. In addition, we examine the pharmacological, percutaneous device and surgical approaches to prevent stroke as well as other types of thromboembolic events.
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Pakarinen S, Lehto M, Ruiter J, de Voogt WG. Enhanced detection of atrial tachyarrhythmias with pacing devices by using more accurate atrial sensing. J Interv Card Electrophysiol 2021; 63:601-609. [PMID: 34599455 PMCID: PMC9151574 DOI: 10.1007/s10840-021-01066-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Purpose
Cardiac pacing devices can detect and monitor atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATA) which increase the risk of thromboembolic complications. The aim of this study was to compare (1) two different atrial leads and (2) standard and optimized settings to detect ATA and reject far-field R-wave signal (FFRW). Methods This was a prospective, randomized multi-center trial comparing St. Jude Medical OptiSense lead (tip-to-ring spacing 1.1 mm) and Tendril lead (tip-to-ring spacing 10.0 mm), having programmed atrial sensitivity at 0.2 mV and post-ventricular atrial blanking at 60 ms. We measured intra-atrial amplitudes of FFRW, intrinsic atrial signals, the amount of FFRW oversensing, and other inappropriate mode switching. Results One hundred and ten patients were enrolled. The mean amplitude of sensed and paced FFRW bipolar signal was 0.13 mV vs. 0.21 mV (p < 0.001) and 0.13 mV vs. 0.26 mV (p < 0.001) with OptiSense and Tendril lead, respectively. The mean amplitude of the atrial bipolar signal was 2.84 mV with OptiSense and 3.48 mV with Tendril lead, p = 0.014. With the optimized settings with OptiSense lead, one patient out of 20 (5%) had FFRW oversensing, none had undersensing of ATAs due to 2:1-blanking of atrial depolarizations, and the concordance of the ATAs by Holter and pacemaker memory was high (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient = 0.90). In the Tendril group, 12 out of 25 patients (48%) had oversensing and 4 had atrial undersensing (p < 0.001). Conclusions The technique with an atrial lead with short tip-to-ring spacing combined with optimized pacemaker programming resulted in reliable and accurate atrial arrhythmia detection. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT01074749.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sami Pakarinen
- Department of Cardiology, Heart and Lung Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 4, 00290, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Mika Lehto
- Department of Cardiology, Heart and Lung Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 4, 00290, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jaap Ruiter
- Medical Center Alkmaar, Alkmaar, The Netherlands
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Marino B, Jaiswal A, Goldbarg S. Inappropriate mode switching clarified by using a chest radiograph. J Arrhythm 2015; 31:246-8. [PMID: 26336569 DOI: 10.1016/j.joa.2015.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2014] [Revised: 12/23/2014] [Accepted: 01/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
An 80-year-old woman with a history of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and atrioventricular node disease status post-dual chamber pacemaker placement was noted to have abnormal pacing episodes during a percutaneous coronary intervention. Pacemaker interrogation revealed a high number of short duration mode switching episodes. Representative electrograms demonstrated high frequency nonphysiologic recordings predominantly in the atrial lead. Intrinsic pacemaker malfunction was excluded. A chest radiograph showed excess atrial and ventricular lead slack in the right ventricular inflow. It was suspected that lead-lead interaction resulted in artifacts and oversensing, causing frequent short episodes of inappropriate mode switching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Marino
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, New York Hospital Queens/Cornell University Medical College, WA 200, 56-45 Main Street, Flushing, NY 11355, USA
| | - Abhishek Jaiswal
- Department of Cardiology, Tulane University Heart and Vascular Institute, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Seth Goldbarg
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, New York Hospital Queens/Cornell University Medical College, Cardiac Arrhythmia Center, 56-45 Main Street, Flushing, NY 11355, USA
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Kolb C, Nölker G, Lennerz C, Jetter H, Semmler V, Pürner K, Gutleben KJ, Reents T, Lang K, Lotze U. Use of an atrial lead with very short tip-to-ring spacing avoids oversensing of far-field R-wave. PLoS One 2012; 7:e38277. [PMID: 22745661 PMCID: PMC3382193 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0038277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2011] [Accepted: 05/01/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective The AVOID-FFS (Avoidance of Far-Field R-wave Sensing) study aimed to investigate whether an atrial lead with a very short tip-to-ring spacing without optimization of pacemaker settings shows equally low incidence of far-field R-wave sensing (FFS) when compared to a conventional atrial lead in combination with optimization of the programming. Methods Patients receiving a dual chamber pacemaker were randomly assigned to receive an atrial lead with a tip-to-ring spacing of 1.1 mm or a lead with a conventional tip-to-ring spacing of 10 mm. Postventricular atrial blanking (PVAB) was programmed to the shortest possible value of 60 ms in the study group, and to an individually determined optimized value in the control group. Atrial sensing threshold was programmed to 0.3 mV in both groups. False positive mode switch caused by FFS was evaluated at one and three months post implantation. Results A total of 204 patients (121 male; age 73±10 years) were included in the study. False positive mode switch caused by FFS was detected in one (1%) patient of the study group and two (2%) patients of the control group (p = 0.62). Conclusion The use of an atrial electrode with a very short tip-to-ring spacing avoids inappropriate mode switch caused by FFS without the need for individual PVAB optimization. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00512915
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Affiliation(s)
- Christof Kolb
- Deutsches Herzzentrum und 1. Medizinische Klinik rechts der Isar, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
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Atrial pacing for rhythm control of atrial fibrillation. Neth Heart J 2008; 16:189-90. [DOI: 10.1007/bf03086143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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de Voogt WG, van Hemel NM. Diagnostic tools for atrial tachyarrhythmias in implantable pacemakers: a review of technical options and pitfalls. Neth Heart J 2008; 16:201-10. [PMID: 18665205 PMCID: PMC2442663 DOI: 10.1007/bf03086146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Correct pacemaker (PM) diagnosis of paroxysmal atrial tachyarrhythmias is crucial for their prevention and intervention with specific atrial pacing programmes. The PM mode switch to only ventricular pacing after detection of atrial tachyarrhythmias is often used as the parameter to quantify the 'burden' of atrial tachyarrhythmias. OBJECTIVES This review addresses potential errors in the detection and diagnosis of atrial tachyarrhythmias, sometimes resulting in incorrect mode switches. The interpretation of PM-stored data of patients with atrial tachyarrhythmias and the results of trials of pace prevention and intervention can be better appreciated with more insight into the technical options and pitfalls. RESULTS Literature and clinical experience demonstrate that the correctness of PM-derived diagnosis of atrial tachyarrhythmias depends on 1) the sensitivity setting to detect the onset and perpetuation of atrial tachyarrhythmias frequently characterised by variable and low-voltage signals, 2) the rejection of far-field R wave sensing by the atrial sense amplifier, 3) the facility for verification of mode switches by a high-quality intracardiac registration of the nonmodified atrial electrogram. The configuration of the atrial lead also contributes to the diagnostic performance of the PM. CONCLUSION Not only pacing algorithms and diverse technical PM features but also the atrial lead configuration are currently the limiting factors to the fully reliable, automated detection and diagnosis of atrial tachyarrhythmias. If these technical shortcomings can be improved, better signal processing will result. Then atrial pacing to prevent or suppress atrial tachyarrhythmias will be more justified. (Neth Heart J 2008;16:201-10.).
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Affiliation(s)
- W G de Voogt
- Department of Cardiology, St Lucas Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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