Proton pump inhibitors as also inhibitors of atrial fibrillation

Symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease predicts low voltage zones in the posteroinferior left atrium in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation

Background

The presence of low voltage zones (LVZs) in the left atrium (LA) is associated with the recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after pulmonary vein isolation. Numerous studies have posited a link between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and AF, attributing this relationship to the anatomical proximity of the esophagus to the posteroinferior wall of the LA.

Objective

The objective of this study was to investigate whether GERD can predict the presence of LVZs in the posteroinferior wall of the LA.

Methods

Five hundred fifty-one patients with persistent AF, scheduled for their first AF ablation procedure, were prospectively enrolled. Voltage maps were collected using a multipolar catheter, and LVZs were defined as areas measuring ≥3 cm2 with a peak-to-peak bipolar voltage of <0.5 mV. Information on GERD symptoms was collected from the participants through a self-administered questionnaire.

Results

Long-standing persistent AF was present in 22.3% of the total cohort. GERD was present in 29% of patients and LVZs in the posteroinferior wall in 12.7%. In the multivariable analysis, patients with GERD were found to have more than twice the odds (odds ratio 2.26; 95% confidence interval 1.24-4.13; P = .008) of exhibiting LVZs in the posteroinferior wall of the LA than patients without GERD. GERD was not associated with LVZs in any other region of the LA.

Conclusion

GERD was found to be independently associated with LVZs in the posteroinferior LA. This association may be attributable to inflammation and may partly explain the link between GERD and AF.

Effects of the beta-blocker carvedilol on arrhythmia and long-term clinical outcomes in benign prostate hypertrophy patients

Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) is associated with autonomic dysfunction and sympathetic nervous system mediated by the alpha receptor. However, limited data exist regarding the effects of the beta-blocker (BB) carvedilol on arrhythmia and urologic outcomes in BPH patients. Our database of patients diagnosed with BPH from 2015 to 2020 was used to obtain echocardiography and electrocardiogram data. Inclusion criteria were BPH patients taking BBs. International Prostate Symptom Score questionnaire were used to evaluate the urinary symptoms and quality of life. Among 448 patients with BPH (69.2 ± 10.9 years) taking BBs, 219 patients took carvedilol (48.9%) and 229 patients took a non-carvedilol BB (51.1%; bisoprolol, 184 patients, 80% or nebivolol, 45 patients, 20%). Difference in the baseline characteristics was not observed. During the median 36-month follow-up, a lower incidence of arrhythmic events (P = .029), total urologic events (P < .001), and less use of additive alpha-blocker was observed in the carvedilol group (P = .022). In multivariate analysis, less carvedilol use (P = .019), heart failure (P < .001), stroke (P < .001), and cardiomyopathy (P = .046) were independent risk factors for arrhythmic events. In addition, less carvedilol use (P = .009) and older age (P = .005) were independent risk factors for urologic events based on BB type at the median 36-month follow-up. The use of carvedilol was associated with less arrhythmic events in BPH patients with palpitation and decreased the incidence of urologic events in BPH compared with the use of non-carvedilol BBs in long-term follow-up.

Acid suppressants use and risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in middle-aged and older adults

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Concerns regarding adverse events associated with the use of acid suppressants have increased. However, the impact of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) on the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains unknown. This study aimed to estimate the risk of ASCVD in association with the use of PPIs and H2RAs.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study included participants without cardiovascular diseases or anti-hypertensive treatment at baseline (2006-2010) in the UK Biobank. The outcomes were ASCVD and each subtype (coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, peripheral artery disease, and ischemic stroke). The association was estimated by Cox proportional-hazards models.

RESULTS

Among 316,730 individuals (aged 50-88 years), during a median of 12.5 years of follow-up, we documented 13,503 (4.3%) incident ASCVD. Regular PPIs use was associated with a higher risk of ASCVD (HR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.09-1.23) and every subtype of ASCVD. Among each type of PPIs, omeprazole (HR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.11-1.28), lansoprazole (HR: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.02-1.22), and pantoprazole (HR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.00-1.97) were associated with a higher risk of ASCVD. Stratification analysis showed that PPIs use was associated with a higher risk of ASCVD among individuals without indications of medications for PPIs. In addition, use of H2RAs was not related to the risk of ASCVD (HR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.85-1.11).

CONCLUSIONS

PPIs were associated with increased risk of ASCVD, particularly amongst participants without indications for medication. Our findings are of important practical significance and suggest that clinicians should be cautious in prophylactic use of PPIs.

Gastroesophageal Reflux and Its Association With Atrial Fibrillation: A Traditional Review

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common gastroenterology disease; both are highly encountered daily in clinical practice. Since both share common predisposing factors, we can conclude that there is a link between them. To date, the precise mechanism of reflux disease as a possible cause of atrial fibrillation remains uncertain. However, some possibilities can be postulated, such as the inflammation process, and sympathovagal imbalance represents the main factors for how GERD can initiate AF. Vigorous aerobic exercise in healthy people can bring about acidic esophageal reflux, which is a common risk factor for AF. Various inflammatory markers such as C-reaction protein (CRP) and interleukins have been a central role in initiating AF. A large hiatal hernia (HH) can cause direct compression on the left atrium that is possibly predisposing to atrial arrhythmogenesis. It has been sporadically reported that using a proton pump inhibitor to treat GERD in patients with coexisting AF has a noticeable effect on decreasing symptoms of AF and recurrence with less cost and side effects.

Proton Pump Inhibitor Use Before ICU Admission Is Not Associated With Mortality of Critically Ill Patients

Some studies have shown that the long-term use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) is associated with many adverse events that may increase mortality; however, the relationship between premorbid PPI use and in-hospital mortality has yet to be validated in critically ill patients. Therefore, we performed this study to determine whether the preadmission use of PPIs is associated with mortality in patients admitted to the intensive care unit. This was a retrospective study with a large and freely accessible database in critical-care medicine (the Multiparameter Intelligent Monitoring in Intensive Care III project). The clinical data and outcomes of 17 473 patients, consisting of 1895 in the PPI group, 514 in the H₂ -receptor antagonist group, and 15 064 control subjects, were collected during their hospital stay. The study outcome was in-hospital mortality. A total of 17 473 patients were included in our study. PPI use was associated with significantly increased in-hospital mortality in the original model without adjustment for any parameters (odds ratio 1.19; 95%CI 1.03-1.38; P = .02). However, after adjustments had been made for age, sex, Elixhauser score, Simplified Acute Physiology Score, laboratory results, vasopressor use, ventilator use, and other parameters, PPIs were not associated with significantly increased in-hospital mortality (odds ratio 1.04; 95%CI 0.87-1.26; P = .614). In the subgroup analysis among patients with renal or liver disease, we still found that PPIs were not associated with a significant increase in in-hospital mortality. We found no association between PPI use before ICU admission and increased in-hospital mortality in critically ill patients compared with control subjects.

Gastrointestinal and liver diseases and atrial fibrillation: a review of the literature

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia worldwide and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. A number of risk factors have been associated with AF, though few studies have explored the association between gastrointestinal and liver diseases and AF. Additionally, AF and treatment for AF may predispose to gastrointestinal and liver diseases. We review the current literature on the bidirectional associations between gastrointestinal and liver diseases and AF. We highlight the gaps in knowledge and areas requiring future investigation.

Association of atrial fibrillation and gastroesophageal reflux disease: Natural and therapeutic linkage of the two common diseases

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is popular in Japan. The two common diseases share several predisposing factors such as lifestyle and senescence, and inflammation and oxidative stress play an important role in their development and progression. Incidental cases of AF treated successfully by proton pump inhibitor (PPI) applied for coexisting GERD have been sporadically reported. An increasing evidence indicates that GERD induces the initiation and the perpetuation of AF. This is caused by the autonomic nerve influence, mechanical compression, and propagation of local inflammation due to proximity of left atrium (LA) and lower esophagus. Meanwhile, AF also develops GERD by mechanical and inflammatory actions of LA characterized by remodeling and inflammation. The robust association of AF with GERD is not limited to their natural interaction, i.e., pharmacological or nonpharmacological treatment of AF is reported to aggravate GERD. Many cardiac drugs (anticoagulants, calcium antagonists, and nitrates) induce esophageal mucosal damage and lower esophageal sphincter relaxation promoting acid reflux. These drugs are frequently prescribed in patients with AF for stroke prevention, rate control, and for coexisting coronary heart disease. Catheter ablation also yields both GERD and esophageal thermal injury, which is a precursor lesion of atrioesophageal fistula. The notion that AF and GERD are mutually interdependent is widely and empirically recognized. However, mechanistic link of the two common diseases and objective evaluation of PPI as an adjunctive AF treatment warrant future large-scale prospective trials.

Impact of periodontitis as representative of chronic inflammation on long-term clinical outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation

Objectives

Relationship between atrial fibrillation (AF) and inflammation was shown in previous studies. However, there was limited data about the association between the periodontitis and AF in the long-term follow-up. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of periodontitis on long-term clinical outcomes in patients with AF.

Methods

The Kosin University echocardiography, ECG and periodontitis database were reviewed from 2013 to 2015 to identify patients with AF. Those patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of periodontitis and clinical events including any arrhythmic attack, thromboembolic and bleeding and death were collected during a median of 18 months.

Results

Among 227 patients with AF, 47 (20.7%) patients had periodontitis. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were significantly higher in patients with periodontitis compared with those without periodontitis (p<0.001). Arrhythmias including AF, atrial tachycardia, atrial premature beat, ventricular tachycardia and ventricular premature beat also occurred in 44 (93.6%) patients, which was higher significantly higher incidence in patients with periodontitis than in those without periodontitis (p<0.001). In univariate analysis, age, CHA₂DS₂-VASc, left atrial volume index (LAVi) and periodontitis were significantly associated with arrhythmic events and MACE including bleeding events, thromboembolic events, arrhythmic events and mortality. In multivariate analysis, LAVi (p=0.005) and periodontitis (p<0.001) were independent risk factors for arrhythmic events and periodontitis (p<0.001) for MACE at the long-term follow-up.

Conclusions

The periodontitis as representative of chronic inflammation was an independent predictor of arrhythmic events and MACE in patients with AF.

Associations of Acid Suppressive Therapy With Cardiac Mortality in Heart Failure Patients

Background

It has been recently reported that histamine H₂ receptor antagonists (H2RAs) are associated with impairment of ventricular remodeling and incident heart failure. In addition, favorable pleiotropic effects and adverse effects of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) on cardiovascular disease have also been reported. We examined the associations of acid suppressive therapy using H2RAs or PPIs with cardiac mortality in patients with heart failure.

Methods and Results

In total, 1191 consecutive heart failure patients were divided into 3 groups: a non–acid suppressive therapy group (n=363), an H2RA group (n=164), and a PPI group (n=664). In the follow‐up period (mean 995 days), 169 cardiac deaths occurred. In the Kaplan–Meier analysis, cardiac mortality was significantly lower in the PPI group than in the H2RA and non–acid suppressive therapy groups (11.0% versus 21.3% and 16.8%, respectively; log‐rank P=0.004). In the multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis, use of PPIs, but not H2RAs, was found to be an independent predictor of cardiac mortality (PPIs: hazard ratio 0.488, P=0.002; H2RAs: hazard ratio 0.855, P=0.579). The propensity‐matched 1:1 cohort was assessed based on propensity score (H2RAs, n=164; PPIs, n=164). Cardiac mortality was significantly lower in the PPI group than in the H2RA group in the postmatched cohort (log‐rank P=0.025). In the Cox proportional hazards analysis, the use of PPIs was a predictor of cardiac mortality in the postmatched cohort (hazard ratio 0.528, P=0.028).

Conclusions

PPIs may be associated with better outcome in patients with heart failure.

The association between cardiac and gastrointestinal disorders: causal or casual link?

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide: among them, coronary artery disease and arrhythmias represent the most frequent pathological conditions. Similarly, the gastrointestinal disorders, that is, gastroesophageal reflux and inflammatory bowel diseases, have a high incidence in the general population. Several pieces of evidence have documented a link between cardiac and gastrointestinal disorders as they often share similar risk factors and symptoms. Furthermore, both can simultaneously occur in the same patient, thus creating problems in the correct clinical diagnosis. It is well known that gastrointestinal disorders may present with chest pain and mimic angina pectoris. In contrast, they can also unmask heart disease, such as in the case of the angina-linked ischemia. The aim of this review was to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the relationship between cardiac and gastrointestinal diseases to better understand the causal or casual character of such a linkage.

Proton pump inhibitor use is not associated with cardiac arrhythmia in critically ill patients

Hypomagnesemia can lead to cardiac arrythmias. Recently, observational data have linked chronic proton pump inhibitor (PPI) exposure to hypomagnesemia. Whether PPI exposure increases the risk for arrhythmias has not been well studied. Using a large, single-center inception cohort of critically ill patients, we examined whether PPI exposure was associated with admission electrocardiogram readings of a cardiac arrhythmia in more than 8000 patients. There were 25.4% PPI users, whereas 6% were taking a histamine 2 antagonist. In all, 14.0% had a cardiac arrhythmia. PPI use was associated with an unadjusted risk of arrhythmia of 1.15 (95% CI,1.00-1.32; P =.04) and an adjusted risk of arrhythmia of 0.91 (95% CI, 0.77-1.06; P =.22). Among diuretic users (n = 2476), PPI use was similarly not associated with an increased risk of cardiac arrhythmia. In summary, in a large cohort of critically ill patients, PPI exposure is not associated with an increased risk of cardiac arrhythmia.