1
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Cheng YJ, Deng H, Liao YJ, Fang XH, Liao HT, Liu FZ, He Q, Wang JJ, Wu SL, Lin WD, Xue YM. Role of ideal cardiovascular health metrics in reducing risk of incident arrhythmias. Eur J Prev Cardiol 2024; 31:658-666. [PMID: 37966902 DOI: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwad357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Cardiovascular health (CVH) has been proven to reduce cardiovascular disease burden and mortality, but data are lacking regarding cardiac arrhythmias. The aim of this study was to assess the association between CVH metrics and atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF), ventricular arrhythmias, and bradyarrhythmias. METHODS AND RESULTS This study analysed data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) cohort, with participants recruited from four different communities across the United States. Cardiovascular health metrics were scored at baseline (1987-89) following the American Heart Association's recommendations and categorized as poor, intermediate, or ideal. Arrhythmia episodes were diagnosed by International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 code. Adjusted associations were estimated using Cox models and event rates and population attributable fractions were calculated by CVH metrics category. The study population consisted of 13 078 participants, with 2548 AF, 1363 ventricular arrhythmias, and 706 bradyarrhythmias occurred. The adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for ideal (vs. poor) CVH metrics were 0.59 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.50-0.69] for AF, 0.38 (95% CI: 0.28-0.51) for ventricular arrhythmias, and 0.70 (95% CI: 0.51-0.97) for bradyarrhythmia. The risk of incident arrhythmias decreased steadily as the CVH metrics improved from 0 to 14 scores. The adjusted population attributable fractions were calculated to be 29.9% for AF, 54.4% for ventricular arrhythmias, and 21.9% for bradyarrhythmia, respectively. The association between CVH metrics and incident arrhythmias was also seen in people who remained free of coronary heart disease over the follow-up. CONCLUSION Achieving ideal CVH metrics recommendations by AHA in midlife was associated with a lower risk of incident arrhythmias later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Jiu Cheng
- Department of Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, No. 106 Zhongshan Rd II, Guangzhou 519041, China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, No. 1023-1063 ShaTaiNan Rd, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Hai Deng
- Department of Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, No. 106 Zhongshan Rd II, Guangzhou 519041, China
| | - Yi-Jian Liao
- The First Clinical Medical College, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Xian-Hong Fang
- Department of Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, No. 106 Zhongshan Rd II, Guangzhou 519041, China
| | - Hong-Tao Liao
- Department of Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, No. 106 Zhongshan Rd II, Guangzhou 519041, China
| | - Fang-Zhou Liu
- Department of Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, No. 106 Zhongshan Rd II, Guangzhou 519041, China
| | - Qian He
- Department of Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, No. 106 Zhongshan Rd II, Guangzhou 519041, China
| | - Jin-Jie Wang
- Department of Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, No. 106 Zhongshan Rd II, Guangzhou 519041, China
| | - Shu-Lin Wu
- Department of Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, No. 106 Zhongshan Rd II, Guangzhou 519041, China
| | - Wei-Dong Lin
- Department of Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, No. 106 Zhongshan Rd II, Guangzhou 519041, China
| | - Yu-Mei Xue
- Department of Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, No. 106 Zhongshan Rd II, Guangzhou 519041, China
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2
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Margolis G, Cohen O, Roguin A. Vigorous physical activity and atrial fibrillation in healthy individuals: What is the correct approach? Clin Cardiol 2024; 47:e24237. [PMID: 38440948 PMCID: PMC10913085 DOI: 10.1002/clc.24237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Sport activity compared to sedentary life is associated with improved wellbeing and risk reduction in many different health conditions including atrial fibrillation (AF). Vigorous physical activity is associated with increased AF risk. We describe four individuals, who regularly perform endurance sport activity and developed AF. We discuss the changes occurring in the heart of endurance athletes and the possible etiology for AF, as well as currently available treatment options in this seemingly healthy population. Although the etiology of AF in the general population differs from the one in the usually younger endurance sport activity population, the treatment options are similar. There are several factors unique to those involved in vigorous physical activity that can influence their management. Despite a lack of evidence, endurance athletes with AF have traditionally been advised to "de-training," to reduce both the amount and intensity of exercise. Some of the current offered treatment options (beta-blockers, class III antiarrhythmic) have a varied range of adverse effect, hindering them unattractive for these individuals. Depending on risk stratification tools, anticoagulation may be indicated. Some suggest an intermittent dosing therapy, while others recommend following current guidelines. AF ablation is recommended in exercising individuals with recurrent, symptomatic AF and/or in those who do not want drug therapy, given its impact on athletic performance, AF treatment decisions should be individualized for those engaging vigorous physical activity, while considering the potential risks, the urgency of returning to training, and the will and expectations of the patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilad Margolis
- Hillel Yaffe Medical CenterCardiology DepartmentHaderaIsrael
- Ruth and Bruc Rappaport Faculty of MedicineTechnion Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
| | - Oshri Cohen
- Hillel Yaffe Medical CenterCardiology DepartmentHaderaIsrael
- Ruth and Bruc Rappaport Faculty of MedicineTechnion Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
| | - Ariel Roguin
- Hillel Yaffe Medical CenterCardiology DepartmentHaderaIsrael
- Ruth and Bruc Rappaport Faculty of MedicineTechnion Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
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3
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Zacher J, Filipovic K, Predel G, Schmidt T. Exercise and Atrial Fibrillation: The Dose Makes the Poison? A Narrative Review. Int J Sports Med 2024; 45:17-22. [PMID: 37802082 PMCID: PMC10776210 DOI: 10.1055/a-2152-7628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
"All things are poison, and nothing is without poison; the dosage alone makes it so a thing is not a poison" (Paracelsus, ~ 1538 AD). This well-known quote seems to aptly summarize the current understanding of the interaction between exercise and atrial fibrillation (AF). A host of data strongly suggests that regular exercise has a protective effect against developing AF. A small but well-conducted group of trials also demonstrates beneficial effects of exercise in the treatment of AF. Recently, however, potentially detrimental effects of large volumes of high-intensity exercise on the probability of developing AF have moved into the sports-cardiological focus. This effect is well documented for elite athletes; data regarding the general population is less clear. This review presents the current data regarding the protective, therapeutic and potentially risk-enhancing effects of exercise regarding AF. The authors demonstrate that the benefits are clear and strongly outweigh the potential disadvantages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Zacher
- Institute of Cardiology and Sports Medicine, Preventative and
Rehabilitative Sports and Performance Medicine, German Sport University Cologne,
Köln, Germany
| | - Karlo Filipovic
- Department of Electrophysiology, University of Cologne, Heart Center,
Uniklinik Köln, Köln, Germany
| | - Georg Predel
- Institute of Cardiology and Sports Medicine, Preventative and
Rehabilitative Sports and Performance Medicine, German Sport University Cologne,
Köln, Germany
| | - Thomas Schmidt
- Institute of Cardiology and Sports Medicine, Preventative and
Rehabilitative Sports and Performance Medicine, German Sport University Cologne,
Köln, Germany
- Schüchtermann-Klinik Bad Rothenfelde, Bad Rothenfelde,
Germany
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4
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Kim JY, Cho SJ, Kim J, Chung TW, Park SJ, Park KM, Kim JS, On YK. Exercise capacity and risk of incident atrial fibrillation in healthy adults. Korean J Intern Med 2023; 38:872-878. [PMID: 37939668 PMCID: PMC10636553 DOI: 10.3904/kjim.2023.075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia and is associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It is important to identify and control the modifiable risk factors of AF. We aimed to examine the association of exercise capacity with the risk of incident AF within 3 years in healthy subjects. METHODS We evaluated asymptomatic adults who had undergone more than two consecutive health checkups. We included subjects who exhibited normal sinus rhythm on the first health examination and who developed AF on the second or subsequent health examinations. Subjects who underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing within 3 years before the diagnosis of AF were examined. RESULTS The study population in the analyses included 428 cases (mean age 58.4 ± 7.6 yr, male 95.6%). There were significant differences in maximal systolic blood pressure (SBP; case 169.4 ± 24.2 vs. control 173.9 ± 22.3 mmHg), peak VO2 (29.5 ± 5.4 vs. 30.4 ± 4.8 mL/kg per minute), and maximal metabolic equivalents (METs; 8.5 ± 1.6 vs. 8.7 ± 1.4) between the two groups. In the multivariable logistic models, adjusted odds ratios were 0.99 for maximal SBP (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.98-0.99), 0.97 for peak VO2 (95% CI 0.95-0.99), and 0.91 for maximal METs (95% CI 0.83-0.98). CONCLUSION We demonstrated that poorer exercise capacity was associated with the development of AF in a healthy population. A prospective, systematic trial is necessary to confirm that appropriate exercise training will be beneficial in preventing the development of AF in such patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju Youn Kim
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Heart Vascular Stroke Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul,
Korea
| | - Soo Jin Cho
- Center for Health Promotion, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul,
Korea
| | - Juwon Kim
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Heart Vascular Stroke Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul,
Korea
| | - Tae-Wan Chung
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Heart Vascular Stroke Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul,
Korea
| | - Seung-Jung Park
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Heart Vascular Stroke Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul,
Korea
| | - Kyoung-Min Park
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Heart Vascular Stroke Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul,
Korea
| | - June Soo Kim
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Heart Vascular Stroke Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul,
Korea
| | - Young Keun On
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Heart Vascular Stroke Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul,
Korea
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5
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Grzeczka A, Graczyk S, Kordowitzki P. DNA Methylation and Telomeres-Their Impact on the Occurrence of Atrial Fibrillation during Cardiac Aging. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15699. [PMID: 37958686 PMCID: PMC10650750 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in humans. AF is characterized by irregular and increased atrial muscle activation. This high-frequency activation obliterates the synchronous work of the atria and ventricles, reducing myocardial performance, which can lead to severe heart failure or stroke. The risk of developing atrial fibrillation depends largely on the patient's history. Cardiovascular diseases are considered aging-related pathologies; therefore, deciphering the role of telomeres and DNA methylation (mDNA), two hallmarks of aging, is likely to contribute to a better understanding and prophylaxis of AF. In honor of Prof. Elizabeth Blackburn's 75th birthday, we dedicate this review to the discovery of telomeres and her contribution to research on aging.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Pawel Kordowitzki
- Department for Basic and Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Szosa Bydgoska 13, 87-100 Torun, Poland
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6
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Petrungaro M, Fusco L, Cavarretta E, Scarà A, Borrelli A, Romano S, Petroni R, D'Ascenzi F, Sciarra L. Long-Term Sports Practice and Atrial Fibrillation: An Updated Review of a Complex Relationship. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2023; 10:jcdd10050218. [PMID: 37233185 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd10050218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia in clinical practice, and it is an enormous burden worldwide because of its high morbidity, disability and mortality. It is generally acknowledged that physical activity (PA) is strongly associated with a significant reduction in the risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease and all-cause mortality. Moreover, it has been observed that moderate and regular physical activity has the potential to reduce the risk of AF, in addition to improving overall well-being. Nevertheless, some studies have associated intense physical activity with an increased risk of AF. This paper aims to review the main related literature to investigate the association between PA and AF incidence and draw pathophysiological and epidemiological conclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Petrungaro
- Unit of Electrophysiology, Belcolle Hospital, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
- Cardiology Department, University of Rome Sapienza, 00100 Rome, Italy
| | - Liuba Fusco
- Cardiology Unit, University Hospital of Northamptonshire, Northampton NN1 5BD, UK
| | - Elena Cavarretta
- Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, 04100 Latina, Italy
- Mediterranea Cardiocentro, 80133 Naples, Italy
| | - Antonio Scarà
- Unit of Cardiology and Electrophysiology, San Carlo di Nancy Hospital, 00100 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessio Borrelli
- Unit of Cardiology and Electrophysiology, San Carlo di Nancy Hospital, 00100 Rome, Italy
| | - Silvio Romano
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Renata Petroni
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
- Department of Medicine, Di Lorenzo Clinic, 67052 Avezzano, Italy
| | - Flavio D'Ascenzi
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, Division of Cardiology, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Luigi Sciarra
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
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7
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Abstract
The global prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) has increased substantially over the past three decades and is currently approximately 60 million cases. Incident AF and its clinical consequences are largely the result of risk factors that can be modified by lifestyle changes. In this Review, we provide evidence that the lifetime risk of AF is modified not only by sex and race but also through the clinical risk factor and comorbidity burden of individual patients. We begin by summarizing the epidemiology of AF, focusing on non-modifiable and modifiable risk factors, as well as targets and strategies for the primary prevention of AF. Furthermore, we evaluate the role of modifiable risk factors in the secondary prevention of AF as well as the potential effects of risk factor interventions on the frequency and severity of subsequent AF episodes. We end the Review by proposing strategies that require evaluation as well as global policy changes that are needed for the prevention of incident AF and the management of recurrent episodes in patients already affected by AF.
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8
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Scridon A. Autonomic imbalance and atrial ectopic activity-a pathophysiological and clinical view. Front Physiol 2022; 13:1058427. [PMID: 36531175 PMCID: PMC9755506 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1058427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The heart is one of the most richly innervated organs and the impact of the complex cardiac autonomic network on atrial electrophysiology and arrhythmogenesis, including on atrial ectopy, is widely recognized. The aim of this review is to discuss the main mechanisms involved in atrial ectopic activity. An overview of the anatomic and physiological aspects of the cardiac autonomic nervous system is provided as well as a discussion of the main pathophysiological pathways linking autonomic imbalance and atrial ectopic activity. The most relevant data on cardiac neuromodulation strategies are emphasized. Unanswered questions and hotspots for future research are also identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Scridon
- Physiology Department, Center for Advanced Medical and Pharmaceutical Research, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Târgu Mureș, Târgu Mureș, Romania
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9
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Graziano F, Juhasz V, Brunetti G, Cipriani A, Szabo L, Merkely B, Corrado D, D’Ascenzi F, Vago H, Zorzi A. May Strenuous Endurance Sports Activity Damage the Cardiovascular System of Healthy Athletes? A Narrative Review. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2022; 9:jcdd9100347. [PMID: 36286299 PMCID: PMC9604467 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd9100347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The positive effects of physical activity are countless, not only on the cardiovascular system but on health in general. However, some studies suggest a U-shape relationship between exercise volume and effects on the cardiovascular system. On the basis of this perspective, moderate-dose exercise would be beneficial compared to a sedentary lifestyle, while very high-dose physical activity would paradoxically be detrimental. We reviewed the available evidence on the potential adverse effects of very intense, prolonged exercise on the cardiovascular system, both acute and chronic, in healthy athletes without pre-existing cardiovascular conditions. We found that endurance sports activities may cause reversible electrocardiographic changes, ventricular dysfunction, and troponin elevation with complete recovery within a few days. The theory that repeated bouts of acute stress on the heart may lead to chronic myocardial damage remains to be demonstrated. However, male veteran athletes with a long sports career show an increased prevalence of cardiovascular abnormalities such as electrical conduction delay, atrial fibrillation, myocardial fibrosis, and coronary calcifications compared to non-athletes. It must be underlined that the cause-effect relationship between such abnormalities and the exercise and, most importantly, the prognostic relevance of such findings remains to be established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Graziano
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Vencel Juhasz
- Heart and Vascular Center of Semmelweis University, Hataror Rd. 18, 1122 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Giulia Brunetti
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Alberto Cipriani
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Liliana Szabo
- Heart and Vascular Center of Semmelweis University, Hataror Rd. 18, 1122 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Béla Merkely
- Heart and Vascular Center of Semmelweis University, Hataror Rd. 18, 1122 Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Sports Medicine, Semmelweis University, Gaal Jozsef Str. 9-11, 1122 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Domenico Corrado
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Flavio D’Ascenzi
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, Division of Cardiology, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Hajnalka Vago
- Heart and Vascular Center of Semmelweis University, Hataror Rd. 18, 1122 Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Sports Medicine, Semmelweis University, Gaal Jozsef Str. 9-11, 1122 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Alessandro Zorzi
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-049-8212322
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10
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Ennezat PV, Alavi Z, Le Jemtel TH, Hansen MR. Consideration Regarding the Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials in the Era of Evidence-based Medicine. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 2022; 79:605-619. [PMID: 34983917 DOI: 10.1097/fjc.0000000000001215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is the cornerstone of evidence-based medicine, therapeutic guidelines and ultimately daily practice. However, 2 issues contribute to cloud the analysis of RCTs. Industry-sponsored RCTs aim at capturing as large indications as possible and clinicians rely excessively on P value statistical significance for the evaluation of the findings. To be most valuable to practitioners, analysis of RCTs needs to provide absolute risk reduction, number of patients needed to treat, fragility index along with the estimation of lost to follow-up patients, and outcome postponement (gain in survival time). We analyzed few major cardiovascular RCTs and assessed the robustness of their findings. Our suggested analytic parameters may be further used in future systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre V Ennezat
- Department of Cardiology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Henri Mondor, Créteil, France
| | - Zarrin Alavi
- INSERM, CIC 1412, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Brest, Brest, France
| | | | - Morten R Hansen
- Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; and
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
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11
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De Bosscher R, Dausin C, Janssens K, Bogaert J, Elliott A, Ghekiere O, Van De Heyning CM, Sanders P, Kalman J, Fatkin D, Herbots L, Willems R, Heidbuchel H, La Gerche A, Claessen G. Rationale and design of the PROspective ATHletic Heart (Pro@Heart) study: long-term assessment of the determinants of cardiac remodelling and its clinical consequences in endurance athletes. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2022; 8:e001309. [PMID: 35368514 PMCID: PMC8935177 DOI: 10.1136/bmjsem-2022-001309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Exercise-induced cardiac remodelling (EICR) results from the structural, functional and electrical adaptations to exercise. Despite similar sports participation, EICR varies and some athletes develop phenotypic features that overlap with cardiomyopathies. Training load and genotype may explain some of the variation; however, exercise ‘dose’ has lacked rigorous quantification. Few have investigated the association between EICR and genotype. Objectives (1) To identify the impact of training load and genotype on the variance of EICR in elite endurance athletes and (2) determine how EICR and its determinants are associated with physical performance, health benefits and cardiac pathology. Methods The Pro@Heart study is a multicentre prospective cohort trial. Three hundred elite endurance athletes aged 14–23 years will have comprehensive cardiovascular phenotyping using echocardiography, cardiac MRI, 12-lead ECG, exercise-ECG and 24-hour-Holter monitoring. Genotype will be determined using a custom cardiomyopathy gene panel and high-density single-nucleotide polymorphism arrays. Follow-up will include online tracking of training load. Cardiac phenotyping will be repeated at 2, 5, 10 and 20 years. Results The primary endpoint of the Pro@Heart study is the association of EICR with both training load and genotype. The latter will include rare variants in cardiomyopathy-associated genes and polygenic risk scores for cardiovascular traits. Secondary endpoints are the incidence of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, physical performance and health benefits and their association with training load and genotype. Conclusion The Pro@Heart study is the first long-term cohort study to assess the impact of training load and genotype on EICR. Trial registration number NCT05164328; ACTRN12618000716268.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben De Bosscher
- Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Cardiology, KU Leuven University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Kristel Janssens
- Cardiology, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jan Bogaert
- Radiology, KU Leuven University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Adrian Elliott
- Cardiology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Olivier Ghekiere
- Cardiology, Jessa Hospital Campus Virga Jesse, Hasselt, Belgium.,Cardivacsular Sciences, University Hasselt Biomedical Research Institute Rehabilitation Research Center, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Caroline M Van De Heyning
- Cardiology, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium.,Cardiovascular Sciences, University Hospital Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Prashanthan Sanders
- Cardiology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jonathan Kalman
- Cardiology, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Diane Fatkin
- Inherited Heart Diseases, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Lieven Herbots
- Cardiology, Jessa Hospital Campus Virga Jesse, Hasselt, Belgium.,Cardivacsular Sciences, University Hasselt Biomedical Research Institute Rehabilitation Research Center, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Rik Willems
- Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Cardiology, KU Leuven University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hein Heidbuchel
- Cardiology, University Hospital Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium.,Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - André La Gerche
- Department of Cardiology, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Guido Claessen
- Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Cardiology, KU Leuven University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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12
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Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Associated With the Trigger Sequence of Strenous Exercise Followed By Cold Water Ingestion. J Emerg Med 2022; 62:390-392. [PMID: 35063321 DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2021.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients often present to the emergency department with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. There is increasing recognition that, in a subset of patients, certain clinical triggers mediated via the autonomic nervous system may precipitate episodes of atrial fibrillation. Although identification of these triggers may be critical for prevention of future episodes, they may be overlooked by treating physicians. CASE REPORT We describe an otherwise healthy 64-year-old physician who presented on two separate occasions to the emergency department with atrial fibrillation. He was electrically cardioverted successfully into normal sinus rhythm and discharged without medications both times. The patient ultimately recognized that both episodes occurred in the setting of strenuous exercise followed soon after by ingestion of cold water. Since avoiding this sequence he has not had any episodes of atrial fibrillation in the ensuing 7 years. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Emergency physicians often encounter patients who present with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, some of whom may have autonomic triggers or trigger sequences that precipitated it. Although our single case report cannot prove that the sequence described caused the atrial fibrillation, we hope the case can serve to highlight the increasing awareness that, in a subset of patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, identification of specific triggers could be critical in prevention and should be sought.
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13
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Oesterle A, Giancaterino S, Van Noord MG, Pellegrini CN, Fan D, Srivatsa UN, Amsterdam EA. Effects of Supervised Exercise Training on Atrial Fibrillation: A META-ANALYSIS OF RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS. J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev 2022; 42:258-265. [PMID: 35235540 DOI: 10.1097/hcr.0000000000000665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with the comorbidities of a sedentary lifestyle. Endurance athletes also show an increased incidence of AF. The role of exercise in the treatment of AF is unknown so this study aimed to examine the effects of supervised exercise on AF. METHODS A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining supervised exercise training in participants with AF was performed. The primary outcome was AF recurrence and burden. Secondary outcomes included AF symptoms, quality of life, and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). RESULTS Thirteen RCTs, involving 1155 participants, were included. Paroxysmal AF was present in 34% and persistent AF in 64%. The types of exercise were diverse and included cardiac rehabilitation (64%), aerobic training (7%), Qi Gong (4%), interval training (11%), and yoga (15%). Exercise training reduced AF recurrence (relative risk = 0.77: 95% CI, 0.60-0.99), improved quality of life in 5 of the 10 components of the Short Form 36 survey, and improved CRF (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.56: 95% CI, 0.27-0.85). The AF burden was reduced only in studies that included continuous ambulatory monitoring (SMD =-0.49: 95% CI, -0.96 to -0.01) but not when all studies were included (SMD =-0.12: 95% CI, -0.61 to 0.38). There was no difference in adverse events between exercise and control. CONCLUSIONS Supervised exercise training is safe, reduces AF recurrence, and improves quality of life and CRF in participants with AF. Further large RCTs with ambulatory monitoring and robust exercise regimens are needed to assess the effects of exercise training on AF burden and AF symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Oesterle
- Department of Cardiology, University of California, San Francisco-Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco (Drs Oesterle and Pellegrini); Department of Cardiology, University of California, Davis (Drs Giancaterino, Fan, Srivatsa and Amsterdam); and University of California, Davis (Ms Van Noord)
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14
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Lin CH, Timofeeva M, O'Brien T, Lyons OD. Obstructive sleep apnea and nocturnal attacks of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. J Clin Sleep Med 2021; 18:1279-1286. [PMID: 34931608 PMCID: PMC9059602 DOI: 10.5664/jcsm.9840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is commonly seen in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) but it is unclear to what extent this relationship is one of causation or association. We examined a cohort of patients with paroxysmal AF to determine if the presence of OSA (apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 15) affects the time of onset of symptomatic AF episodes. METHODS Subjects with a recent emergency room (ER) visit for a symptomatic episode of paroxysmal AF were recruited from an AF clinic. The time of onset of the AF attack was classified as occurring in "sleeping hours" or "waking hours" based on direct history from the subject and ER visit documentation. RESULTS Of 152 patients with paroxysmal AF, 67 underwent polysomnography; 1 (1.5%) had central sleep apnea, 46 (68.7%) had mild or no OSA (M-NSA), 20 (29.8%) had OSA. In the OSA group, 14/20 (70.0%) had their symptomatic AF attack in sleeping hours compared to 12/46 (26.1%) in the M-NSA group (p=0.001). Compared with those having a paroxysmal AF attack in waking hours, and adjusting for confounders, those having a paroxysmal AF attack in sleeping hours had almost six times the odds of having OSA (odds ratio: 5.53; p=0.007). CONCLUSIONS Compared to paroxysmal AF patients with M-NSA, those with OSA were far more likely to have a symptomatic AF attack during sleeping hours, supporting a causal role for OSA in the pathogenesis of AF in this population. These findings strongly suggest that patients having nocturnal AF attacks should be evaluated for OSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chou-Han Lin
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Canada.,Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Maria Timofeeva
- Department of Medicine, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Tara O'Brien
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Owen D Lyons
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Canada.,Women's College Research Institute, Toronto, Canada.,The Sleep Research Laboratory of UHN-TRI KITE, Toronto, Canada
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15
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Heidbuchel H, Adami PE, Antz M, Braunschweig F, Delise P, Scherr D, Solberg EE, Wilhelm M, Pelliccia A. Recommendations for participation in leisure-time physical activity and competitive sports in patients with arrhythmias and potentially arrhythmogenic conditions: Part 1: Supraventricular arrhythmias. A position statement of the Section of Sports Cardiology and Exercise from the European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC) and the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA), both associations of the European Society of Cardiology. Eur J Prev Cardiol 2021; 28:1539-1551. [PMID: 32597206 DOI: 10.1177/2047487320925635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Symptoms attributable to arrhythmias are frequently encountered in clinical practice. Cardiologists and sport physicians are required to identify high-risk individuals harbouring such conditions and provide appropriate advice regarding participation in regular exercise programmes and competitive sport. The three aspects that need to be considered are: (a) the risk of life-threatening arrhythmias by participating in sports; (b) control of symptoms due to arrhythmias that are not life-threatening but may hamper performance and/or reduce the quality of life; and (c) the impact of sports on the natural progression of the underlying arrhythmogenic condition. In many cases, there is no unequivocal answer to each aspect and therefore an open discussion with the athlete is necessary, in order to reach a balanced decision. In 2006 the Sports Cardiology and Exercise Section of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology published recommendations for participation in leisure-time physical activity and competitive sport in individuals with arrhythmias and potentially arrhythmogenic conditions. More than a decade on, these recommendations are partly obsolete given the evolving knowledge of the diagnosis, management and treatment of these conditions. The present document presents a combined effort by the Sports Cardiology and Exercise Section of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology and the European Heart Rhythm Association to offer a comprehensive overview of the most updated recommendations for practising cardiologists and sport physicians managing athletes with supraventricular arrhythmias, and provides pragmatic advice for safe participation in recreational physical activities, as well as competitive sport at amateur and professional level. A companion text on recommendations in athletes with ventricular arrhythmias, inherited arrhythmogenic conditions, pacemakers and implantable defibrillators is published as Part 2 in Europace.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hein Heidbuchel
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Paolo E Adami
- Italian National Olympic Committee, Institute of Sport Medicine and Science, Italy
| | - Matthias Antz
- Department of Electrophysiology, Hospital Braunschweig, Germany
| | | | | | - Daniel Scherr
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Austria
| | | | | | - Antonio Pelliccia
- Italian National Olympic Committee, Institute of Sport Medicine and Science, Italy
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16
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Guía ESC 2020 sobre cardiología del deporte y el ejercicio en pacientes con enfermedad cardiovascular. Rev Esp Cardiol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.recesp.2020.11.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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17
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Gallagher C, Fitzgerald JL, Stokes MB, Noubiap JJ, Elliott AD, Hendriks JM, Middeldorp ME, Sanders P, Lau DH. Risk Factor Management in Atrial Fibrillation: How to Deliver a Successful Clinic. CURRENT CARDIOVASCULAR RISK REPORTS 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12170-021-00671-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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18
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Pelliccia A, Sharma S, Gati S, Bäck M, Börjesson M, Caselli S, Collet JP, Corrado D, Drezner JA, Halle M, Hansen D, Heidbuchel H, Myers J, Niebauer J, Papadakis M, Piepoli MF, Prescott E, Roos-Hesselink JW, Graham Stuart A, Taylor RS, Thompson PD, Tiberi M, Vanhees L, Wilhelm M. 2020 ESC Guidelines on sports cardiology and exercise in patients with cardiovascular disease. Eur Heart J 2021; 42:17-96. [PMID: 32860412 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 718] [Impact Index Per Article: 239.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
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19
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Mehta A, Kondamudi N, Laukkanen JA, Wisloff U, Franklin BA, Arena R, Lavie CJ, Pandey A. Running away from cardiovascular disease at the right speed: The impact of aerobic physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness on cardiovascular disease risk and associated subclinical phenotypes. Prog Cardiovasc Dis 2020; 63:762-774. [PMID: 33189764 DOI: 10.1016/j.pcad.2020.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Higher levels of physical activity (PA) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are associated with lower risk of incident cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the relationship of aerobic PA and CRF with risk of atherosclerotic CVD outcomes and heart failure (HF) seem to be distinct. Furthermore, recent studies have raised concerns of potential toxicity associated with extreme levels of aerobic exercise, with higher levels of coronary artery calcium and incident atrial fibrillation noted among individuals with very high PA levels. In contrast, the relationship between PA levels and measures of left ventricular structure and function and risk of HF is more linear. Thus, personalizing exercise levels to optimal doses may be key to achieving beneficial outcomes and preventing adverse CVD events among high risk individuals. In this report, we provide a comprehensive review of the literature on the associations of aerobic PA and CRF levels with risk of adverse CVD outcomes and the preceding subclinical cardiac phenotypes to better characterize the optimal exercise dose needed to favorably modify CVD risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anurag Mehta
- Emory Clinical Cardiovascular Research Institute, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Nitin Kondamudi
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jari A Laukkanen
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla, Finland
| | - Ulrik Wisloff
- K. G. Jebsen Center for Exercise in Medicine, Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Barry A Franklin
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, MI, USA
| | - Ross Arena
- Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Carl J Lavie
- John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School - The University of Queensland School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Ambarish Pandey
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
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20
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Malik V, Mishima R, D Elliott A, H Lau D, Sanders P. The "Road" to Atrial Fibrillation: The Role of the Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System. J Atr Fibrillation 2020; 13:2400. [PMID: 33024501 DOI: 10.4022/jafib.2400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
At the population level, there is a parallel escalation in the healthcare burden of both, atrial fibrillation (AF) as well its risk factors. Compounding this relationship, AF is associated with escalating burden at an individual level, due its self-perpetuating and progressive nature. The mechanisms by which these risk factors interact to produce atrial remodelling and subsequent AF are unclear. This intersection is critical to the development of strategies to combat this disease at both the individual and population-level. It is well known that AF can manifest from disturbances in autonomic activity. At the population level, there is growing data to suggest a role of the autonomic nervous system in the future incidence of AF. Here, we provide an overview of the association of cardiac autonomic dysfunction with the incidence of AF, review the role of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) as an intermediary between risk factors and the development of AF and finally, we discuss the bidirectional relationship between AF and cardiac autonomic nervous system dysfunction; to determine whether this is implicated in the progression of AF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varun Malik
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Ricardo Mishima
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Adrian D Elliott
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Dennis H Lau
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Prashanthan Sanders
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
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21
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Lu S, Du X, Yang X, Jia Z, Li J, Xia S, Chang S, Zuo S, Guo X, Tang R, Sang C, Bai R, Zhou Y, Dong J, Ma C. Physical activity and atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence in atrial fibrillation patients after catheter ablation. PACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY: PACE 2020; 43:922-929. [PMID: 32638394 DOI: 10.1111/pace.14006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The association between physical activity (PA) and atrial tachyarrhythmia (AT) recurrence after ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) remains unclear. METHODS We consecutively enrolled 496 patients treated with AF ablation therapy in Beijing Anzhen Hospital. After excluding six patients with valvular heart disease, seven patients with congenital heart disease, 33 patients lost to follow-up, and 14 patients who did not provide PA level during follow-ups, 436 patients had their PA level assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form before ablation and each time of follow-up. The association between PA level (measured at the time closest to AT recurrence, or the end of 12-month follow-up if no AT recurrence), as well as active PA during follow-up, and postablation AT recurrence was tested by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS Of the enrolled patients, 134 (30.7%) patients experienced AT recurrence in the first 12 months postablation. Compared to patients with low PA, patients with moderate or high PA had a lower risk of AT recurrence (odds ratio [OR] = .44; 95% confidence interval [CI], .25-.80; P = .01 for patients with moderate PA; and OR = .43 [95% CI, .21-.85], P = .02 for patients with high PA). Compared to patients without active PA, patients with active PA had a lower risk of AT recurrence (OR = .44 [95% CI, .27-.70], P < .01). CONCLUSIONS Moderate and high PA are associated with a lower risk of AT recurrence after AF ablation. Active PA during follow-up is also associated with a significantly lower risk of AT recurrence in the postablation AF population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shangxin Lu
- Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, National Clinical Research Centre for Cardiovascular Diseases, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Du
- Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, National Clinical Research Centre for Cardiovascular Diseases, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Heart Health Research Center, Beijing, China.,The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Xiaoyi Yang
- KLATASDS-MOE, School of Statistics, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhaoxu Jia
- Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, National Clinical Research Centre for Cardiovascular Diseases, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jingye Li
- Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, National Clinical Research Centre for Cardiovascular Diseases, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Shijun Xia
- Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, National Clinical Research Centre for Cardiovascular Diseases, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Sanshuai Chang
- Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, National Clinical Research Centre for Cardiovascular Diseases, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Song Zuo
- Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, National Clinical Research Centre for Cardiovascular Diseases, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xueyuan Guo
- Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, National Clinical Research Centre for Cardiovascular Diseases, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ribo Tang
- Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, National Clinical Research Centre for Cardiovascular Diseases, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Caihua Sang
- Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, National Clinical Research Centre for Cardiovascular Diseases, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Rong Bai
- Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, National Clinical Research Centre for Cardiovascular Diseases, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yingchun Zhou
- KLATASDS-MOE, School of Statistics, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianzeng Dong
- Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, National Clinical Research Centre for Cardiovascular Diseases, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Changsheng Ma
- Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, National Clinical Research Centre for Cardiovascular Diseases, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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22
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia associated with an increasing prevalence with advancing age. It is associated with dyspnea, exercise intolerance, and increased risk for clinical events, especially stroke and heart failure. This article provides a concise review of exercise testing and rehabilitation in patients with persistent or permanent AF. CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS The first goal in the treatment of AF is to reduce symptoms (eg, palpitations) and a fast ventricular rate. The second goal is to reduce the risk of a stroke. Exercise testing and rehabilitation may be useful once these goals are achieved. However, there are no large, randomized exercise training trials involving patients with AF, and what data are available comes from single-site trials, secondary analyses, and observational studies. EXERCISE TESTING AND TRAINING There are no specific indications for performing a graded exercise test in patients with AF; however, such testing may be used to screen for myocardial ischemia or evaluate chronotropic response during exertion. Among patients with AF, exercise capacity is 15% to 20% lower and peak heart rate is higher than in patients in sinus rhythm. Exercise rehabilitation improves exercise capacity, likely improves quality of life, and may improve symptoms associated with AF. Whole-body aerobic exercise is recommended. SUMMARY Atrial fibrillation is a common cardiac condition and in these patients, exercise rehabilitation favorably improves exercise capacity. However, prospective randomized controlled trials are needed to better define the effects of exercise training on safety; quality of life; clinical outcomes; and central, autonomic, and peripheral adaptations.
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Borland M, Bergfeldt L, Nordeman L, Bollano E, Andersson L, Rosenkvist A, Jakobsson M, Olsson K, Corin M, Landh L, Grüner Sveälv B, Scharin Täng M, Philip Wigh J, Lundwall A, Cider Å. Exercise‐based cardiac rehabilitation improves physical fitness in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation – A randomized controlled study. TRANSLATIONAL SPORTS MEDICINE 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/tsm2.166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Borland
- Närhälsan Sörhaga Rehabilitation Center Alingsås Sweden
- Region Västra Götaland, Research and Development Primary Health Care, Research and Development Center Södra Älvsborg Boraas Sweden
- Department of Health and Rehabilitation/Physiotherapy Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology Sahlgrenska AcademyUniversity of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
| | - Lennart Bergfeldt
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine Institute of Medicine Sahlgrenska Academy University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
- Department of Cardiology Sahlgrenska University Hospital Gothenburg Sweden
| | - Lena Nordeman
- Region Västra Götaland, Research and Development Primary Health Care, Research and Development Center Södra Älvsborg Boraas Sweden
- Department of Health and Rehabilitation/Physiotherapy Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology Sahlgrenska AcademyUniversity of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
| | - Entela Bollano
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine Institute of Medicine Sahlgrenska Academy University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
- Department of Cardiology Sahlgrenska University Hospital Gothenburg Sweden
| | | | | | - Marika Jakobsson
- Department of Occupational therapy and Physiotherapy Sahlgrenska University Hospital Gothenburg Sweden
| | - Kristin Olsson
- Department of Occupational therapy and Physiotherapy Sahlgrenska University Hospital Gothenburg Sweden
| | | | | | - Bente Grüner Sveälv
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine Institute of Medicine Sahlgrenska Academy University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
| | | | - Julia Philip Wigh
- Department of Occupational therapy and Physiotherapy Sahlgrenska University Hospital Gothenburg Sweden
| | - Adam Lundwall
- Habo Health Center Bra Liv Health Center Habo Sweden
| | - Åsa Cider
- Department of Health and Rehabilitation/Physiotherapy Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology Sahlgrenska AcademyUniversity of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
- Department of Occupational therapy and Physiotherapy Sahlgrenska University Hospital Gothenburg Sweden
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24
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Elliott AD, Linz D, Mishima R, Kadhim K, Gallagher C, Middeldorp ME, Verdicchio CV, Hendriks JML, Lau DH, La Gerche A, Sanders P. Association between physical activity and risk of incident arrhythmias in 402 406 individuals: evidence from the UK Biobank cohort. Eur Heart J 2020; 41:1479-1486. [DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehz897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 01/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Aims
Physical activity reduces cardiovascular disease burden and mortality, although its relationship with cardiac arrhythmias is less certain. The aim of this study was to assess the association between self-reported physical activity and atrial fibrillation (AF), ventricular arrhythmias and bradyarrhythmias, across the UK Biobank cohort.
Methods and results
We included 402 406 individuals (52.5% female), aged 40–69 years, with over 2.8 million person-years of follow-up who underwent self-reported physical activity assessment computed in metabolic equivalent-minutes per week (MET-min/wk) at baseline, detailed physical assessment and medical history evaluation. Arrhythmia episodes were diagnosed through hospital admissions and death reports. Incident AF risk was lower amongst physically active participants, with a more pronounced reduction amongst female participants [hazard ratio (HR) for 1500 vs. 0 MET-min/wk: 0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.74–0.98] than males (HR for 1500 vs. 0 MET-min/wk: 0.90, 95% CI 0.82–1.0). Similarly, we observed a significantly lower risk of ventricular arrhythmias amongst physically active participants (HR for 1500 MET-min/wk 0.78, 95% CI 0.64–0.96) that remained relatively stable over a broad range of physical activity levels between 0 and 2500 MET-min/wk. A lower AF risk amongst female participants who engaged in moderate levels of vigorous physical activity was observed (up to 2500 MET-min/wk). Vigorous physical activity was also associated with reduced ventricular arrhythmia risk. Total or vigorous physical activity was not associated with bradyarrhythmias.
Conclusion
The risk of AF and ventricular arrhythmias is lower amongst physically active individuals. These findings provide observational support that physical activity is associated with reduced risk of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian D Elliott
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
| | - Dominik Linz
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
| | - Ricardo Mishima
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
| | - Kadhim Kadhim
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
| | - Celine Gallagher
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
| | - Melissa E Middeldorp
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
| | - Christian V Verdicchio
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
| | - Jeroen M L Hendriks
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
| | - Dennis H Lau
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
| | - Andre La Gerche
- Sports Cardiology Laboratory, Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia
| | - Prashanthan Sanders
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
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25
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Wingerter R, Steiger N, Burrows A, Estes NAM. Impact of Lifestyle Modification on Atrial Fibrillation. Am J Cardiol 2020; 125:289-297. [PMID: 31761147 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2019.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in adults, and the rapid increase in AF prevalence has been classified by experts as an epidemic. The mechanisms of AF are complex and incompletely understood. While many aspects of management are now based on high quality evidence, other clinical decisions are based on experience and judgment. This article provides an up to date review relating to lifestyle modification and its effect on AF to inform clinical treatment. This comprehensive review used PubMed and Google Scholar to perform keyword searches of articles published between 1998 and the present, with the exception of the 1978 "Holiday Heart" article. Robust data has emerged identifying multiple risk factors for development of AF, including age, sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, alcohol consumption, exercise, and obstructive sleep apnea. Recent evidence indicates that lifestyle modification has a significant role in mitigating the risk and burden of AF. In conclusion, based on the available evidence, an interdisciplinary approach to lifestyle modification will likely reduce risk and/or symptom burden of AF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Wingerter
- College of Medicine at University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
| | | | | | - N A Mark Estes
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Atrial fibrillation: A review of modifiable risk factors and preventive strategies. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 57:99-109. [PMID: 30648669 DOI: 10.2478/rjim-2018-0045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF), as the most common cardiac arrhythmia worldwide, is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Successful therapeutic strategies have been introduced so far, but they are associated with significant costs. Therefore, identification of modifiable risk factors of AF and the development of appropriate preventive strategies may play a substantial role in promoting community health and reducing health care system costs. Modifiable cardiovascular risk factors including obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, alcohol consumption, smoking, and sedentary lifestyles have been proposed as possible contributors to the development and progression of AF. In this review, we discuss the role of modifiable risk factors in the development and management of AF and the evidence for the underlying mechanism for each of the potential risk factor.
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Sharykin AS, Badtieva VA, Trunina II, Osmanov IM. Myocardial fibrosis — a new component of heart remodeling in athletes? КАРДИОВАСКУЛЯРНАЯ ТЕРАПИЯ И ПРОФИЛАКТИКА 2019. [DOI: 10.15829/1728-8800-2019-6-126-135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- A. S. Sharykin
- Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University; Centre for Research & Practice in Medical Rehabilitation, Restorative and Sports Medicine; Children City Clinical Hospital
| | - V. A. Badtieva
- Moscow Centre for Research & Practice in Medical Rehabilitation, Restorative and Sports Medicine; I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University
| | - I. I. Trunina
- Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University; Children City Clinical Hospital
| | - I. M. Osmanov
- Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University; Children City Clinical Hospital
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28
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Centurión OA, Candia JC, Scavenius KE, García LB, Torales JM, Miño LM. The Association Between Atrial Fibrillation and Endurance Physical Activity: How Much is too Much? J Atr Fibrillation 2019; 12:2167. [PMID: 32435330 DOI: 10.4022/jafib.2167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in middle-aged athletes. Physical exercise performed in a regular basis has been shown to be beneficial for cardiovascular health. Moderate physical exercise, aside from producing a nice, peaceful and well-being sensation, has been associated with a reduced risk of AF. However, more strenuous endurance exercise, like the one experiencing marathon runners, seems to increase the risk of AF in healthy athletes without organic heart disease. On the other hand, low physical activity was found to be a risk factor for the appearance of AF. Nevertheless, the relationship of exercise to AF is complex, influenced by the intensity and the duration of the physical activity, and seems to have a U-shaped relationship with the greatest levels of physical activity possibly increasing AF incidence. There is cumulative data associating moderate physical activity to reduced AF incidence, hence physicians should recommend moderate exercise training to patients with AF. This may not only reduce AF risk, but would also contribute to an overall cardiovascular benefit. However, since there is also important data suggesting significant increased incidence of AF in elite athletes with long-term endurance physical activity, it may be a serious concern to go to the extreme. In most things in life it is much better and wiser to be well balanced, always in equilibrium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osmar Antonio Centurión
- Department of Health Science's Investigation. Sanatorio Metropolitano. Fernando de la Mora. Paraguay.,Department of Health Science's Investigation. Sanatorio Metropolitano. Fernando de la Mora. Paraguay
| | - José C Candia
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. Clinical Hospital. Asunción National University (UNA). San Lorenzo. Paraguay
| | - Karina E Scavenius
- Department of Health Science's Investigation. Sanatorio Metropolitano. Fernando de la Mora. Paraguay.,Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. Clinical Hospital. Asunción National University (UNA). San Lorenzo. Paraguay
| | - Laura B García
- Department of Health Science's Investigation. Sanatorio Metropolitano. Fernando de la Mora. Paraguay.,Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. Clinical Hospital. Asunción National University (UNA). San Lorenzo. Paraguay
| | - Judith M Torales
- Department of Health Science's Investigation. Sanatorio Metropolitano. Fernando de la Mora. Paraguay.,Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. Clinical Hospital. Asunción National University (UNA). San Lorenzo. Paraguay
| | - Luís Marcelo Miño
- Department of Health Science's Investigation. Sanatorio Metropolitano. Fernando de la Mora. Paraguay.,Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. Clinical Hospital. Asunción National University (UNA). San Lorenzo. Paraguay
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29
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Physical Activity and Risk of Atrial Fibrillation: A Nationwide Cohort Study in General Population. Sci Rep 2019; 9:13270. [PMID: 31519947 PMCID: PMC6744571 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49686-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Although exercise prevents cardiovascular disease and mortality, vigorous exercise and endurance athletics can cause atrial fibrillation (AF). However, no large cohort study has assessed the relationship between physical activity and AF in the general population. We assessed the effect of physical activity at different energy expenditures on the incidence of AF. We studied 501,690 individuals without pre-existing AF (mean age, 47.6 ± 14.3 years; 250,664 women [50.0%]) included in the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. The physical activity level was assessed using a standardized self-reported questionnaire at baseline. During a median follow-up of 4 years, 3,443 participants (1,432 women [41.6%]) developed AF. The overall incidence of AF at follow-up was 1.79 per 1,000 person-years. The subjects who met the recommended physical activity level (500–1,000 metabolic equivalent task [MET] minutes/week) had a 12% decreased AF risk (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 0.88, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.80–0.97), but not the insufficiently (1–500 MET-minutes/week; HR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.86–1.03) and highly active subjects (≥1,000 MET-minutes/week; HR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.85–1.03). The recommended minimum key target range of physical activity level was associated with the maximum benefit for reduced AF risk in the general population. The dose-response relationship between physical activity level and AF risk showed a U-shaped pattern. Although exceeding the key target range attenuated this benefit, it did not increase the AF risk beyond that during inactivity.
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Caligiuri G. Mechanotransduction, immunoregulation, and metabolic functions of CD31 in cardiovascular pathophysiology. Cardiovasc Res 2019; 115:1425-1434. [DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvz132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Biomechanical changes in the heart and vessels drive rapid and dynamic regulation of blood flow, a vital process for meeting the changing metabolic needs of the peripheral tissues at any given point in time. The fluid movement of the blood exerts haemodynamic stress upon the solid elements of the cardiovascular system: the heart, vessels, and cellular components of the blood. Cardiovascular diseases can lead to prolonged mechanical stress, such as cardiac remodelling during heart failure or vascular stiffening in atherosclerosis. This can lead to a significantly reduced or increasingly turbulent blood supply, inducing a shift in cellular metabolism that, amongst other effects, can trigger the release of reactive oxygen species and initiate a self-perpetuating cycle of inflammation and oxidative stress. CD31 is the most abundant constitutive co-signalling receptor glycoprotein on endothelial cells, which line the cardiovascular system and form the first-line of cellular contact with the blood. By associating with most endothelial receptors involved in mechanosensing, CD31 regulates the response to biomechanical stimuli. In addition, by relocating in the lipid rafts of endothelial cells as well as of cells stably interacting with the endothelium, including leucocytes and platelets, CD31–CD31 trans-homophilic engagement guides and restrains platelet and immune cell accumulation and activation and at sites of damage. In this way, CD31 is at the centre of mediating mechanical, metabolic, and immunological changes within the circulation and provides a single target that may have pleiotropic beneficial effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppina Caligiuri
- Université de Paris, Cardiovascular Immunobiology, UMRS1148, INSERM, Paris, France
- Cardiology Department and Physiology Departments, AP-HP, University Hospital Xavier Bichat, 46 Rue Henri Huchard, Paris, France
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31
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Linz D, Elliott AD, Hohl M, Malik V, Schotten U, Dobrev D, Nattel S, Böhm M, Floras J, Lau DH, Sanders P. Role of autonomic nervous system in atrial fibrillation. Int J Cardiol 2018; 287:181-188. [PMID: 30497894 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2018.11.091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Revised: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained arrhythmia and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The autonomic nervous system has a significant role in the milieu predisposing to the triggers, perpetuators and substrate for atrial fibrillation. It has direct electrophysiological effects and causes alterations in atrial structure. In a significant portion of patients with atrial fibrillation, the autonomic nervous system activity is likely a composite of reflex excitation due to atrial fibrillation itself and contribution of concomitant risk factors such as hypertension, obesity and sleep-disordered breathing. We review the role of autonomic nervous system activation, with focus on changes in reflex control during atrial fibrillation and the role of combined sympatho-vagal activation for atrial fibrillation initiation, maintenance and progression. Finally, we discuss the potential impact of combined aggressive risk factor management as a strategy to modify the autonomic nervous system in patients with atrial fibrillation and to reverse the arrhythmogenic substrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Linz
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders (CHRD), South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia.
| | - Adrian D Elliott
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders (CHRD), South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Mathias Hohl
- Saarland University, Klinik für Innere Medizin III (Cardiology, Angiology and Intensive Care Medicine), Homburg, Saar, Germany
| | - Varun Malik
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders (CHRD), South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Ulrich Schotten
- University Maastricht, Dept. of Physiology, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Dobromir Dobrev
- Institute of Pharmacology, West German Heart and Vascular Center, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Stanley Nattel
- Institute of Pharmacology, West German Heart and Vascular Center, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Department of Medicine, Montreal Heart Institute, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Michael Böhm
- Saarland University, Klinik für Innere Medizin III (Cardiology, Angiology and Intensive Care Medicine), Homburg, Saar, Germany
| | - John Floras
- University Health Network and Sinai Health System Division of Cardiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dennis H Lau
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders (CHRD), South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Prashanthan Sanders
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders (CHRD), South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
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32
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Sepehri Shamloo A, Arya A, Dagres N, Hindricks G. Exercise and Atrial Fibrillation: Some Good News and Some Bad News. Galen Med J 2018; 7:e1401. [PMID: 34466451 PMCID: PMC8343702 DOI: 10.22086/gmj.v0i0.1401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Revised: 10/14/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is considered as the most common sustained arrhythmia in adults, whose incidence rate is on the rise due to the increase in the mean age of the global population. In recent years, many efforts have been made to identify effective factors in the incidence of AF to prevent them and thereby reduce the consequences of AF. Physical activity is one of the topics that attracted much attention in the last two decades. According to some findings, extreme and prolonged exercise itself can be considered as a risk factor for the onset of AF; however, other studies have shown that exercise can be regarded a protective factor against AF in the general population. The present study reviews the findings of studies on the relationship between AF and exercise and discusses possible mechanisms for this relationship. Additionally, we present some recommendations for researchers and physicians about exercise management in association with AF prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arash Arya
- Department of Electrophysiology, Heart Center Leipzig at University of Leipzig
| | - Nikolaos Dagres
- Department of Electrophysiology, Heart Center Leipzig at University of Leipzig
| | - Gerhard Hindricks
- Department of Electrophysiology, Heart Center Leipzig at University of Leipzig
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34
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Thomas D, Christ T, Fabritz L, Goette A, Hammwöhner M, Heijman J, Kockskämper J, Linz D, Odening KE, Schweizer PA, Wakili R, Voigt N. German Cardiac Society Working Group on Cellular Electrophysiology state-of-the-art paper: impact of molecular mechanisms on clinical arrhythmia management. Clin Res Cardiol 2018; 108:577-599. [PMID: 30306295 DOI: 10.1007/s00392-018-1377-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac arrhythmias remain a common challenge and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Effective and safe rhythm control strategies are a primary, yet unmet need in everyday clinical practice. Despite significant pharmacological and technological advances, including catheter ablation and device-based therapies, the development of more effective alternatives is of significant interest to increase quality of life and to reduce symptom burden, hospitalizations and mortality. The mechanistic understanding of pathophysiological pathways underlying cardiac arrhythmias has advanced profoundly, opening up novel avenues for mechanism-based therapeutic approaches. Current management of arrhythmias, however, is primarily guided by clinical and demographic characteristics of patient groups as opposed to individual, patient-specific mechanisms and pheno-/genotyping. With this state-of-the-art paper, the Working Group on Cellular Electrophysiology of the German Cardiac Society aims to close the gap between advanced molecular understanding and clinical decision-making in cardiac electrophysiology. The significance of cellular electrophysiological findings for clinical arrhythmia management constitutes the main focus of this document. Clinically relevant knowledge of pathophysiological pathways of arrhythmias and cellular mechanisms of antiarrhythmic interventions are summarized. Furthermore, the specific molecular background for the initiation and perpetuation of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias and mechanism-based strategies for therapeutic interventions are highlighted. Current "hot topics" in atrial fibrillation are critically appraised. Finally, the establishment and support of cellular and translational electrophysiology programs in clinical rhythmology departments is called for to improve basic-science-guided patient management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dierk Thomas
- Department of Cardiology, Medical University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. .,HCR (Heidelberg Center for Heart Rhythm Disorders), Heidelberg, Germany. .,DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Torsten Christ
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Larissa Fabritz
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.,Department of Cardiology, UHB NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK.,Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Division of Rhythmology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Andreas Goette
- St. Vincenz-Hospital, Paderborn, Germany.,Working Group: Molecular Electrophysiology, University Hospital Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Hammwöhner
- St. Vincenz-Hospital, Paderborn, Germany.,Working Group: Molecular Electrophysiology, University Hospital Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Jordi Heijman
- Institute of Pharmacology, West German Heart and Vascular Center, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.,Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Jens Kockskämper
- Biochemical and Pharmacological Center (BPC) Marburg, Institute of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Dominik Linz
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,Experimental Electrophysiology, University Hospital of Saarland, Homburg, Saar, Germany
| | - Katja E Odening
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology I, Heart Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Patrick A Schweizer
- Department of Cardiology, Medical University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,HCR (Heidelberg Center for Heart Rhythm Disorders), Heidelberg, Germany.,DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Heidelberg, Germany.,Heidelberg Research Center for Molecular Medicine (HRCMM), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Reza Wakili
- Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, Medical Faculty, West German Heart Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Niels Voigt
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg-August University Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany. .,DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
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35
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Exercise and Atrial Fibrillation: Prevention or Causation? Heart Lung Circ 2018; 27:1078-1085. [DOI: 10.1016/j.hlc.2018.04.296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Revised: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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36
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Elliott AD, Mahajan R, Linz D, Stokes M, Verdicchio CV, Middeldorp ME, La Gerche A, Lau DH, Sanders P. Atrial remodeling and ectopic burden in recreational athletes: Implications for risk of atrial fibrillation. Clin Cardiol 2018; 41:843-848. [PMID: 29671875 DOI: 10.1002/clc.22967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Atrial remodeling, vagal tone, and atrial ectopic triggers are suggested to contribute to increased incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in endurance athletes. How these parameters change with increased lifetime training hours is debated. HYPOTHESIS Atrial remodeling occurs in proportion to total training history, thus contributing to elevated risk of AF. METHODS We recruited 99 recreational endurance athletes, subsequently grouped according to lifetime training hours, to undergo evaluation of atrial size, autonomic modulation, and atrial ectopy. Athletes were grouped by self-reported lifetime training hours: low (<3000 h), medium (3000-6000 h), and high (>6000 h). Left atrial (LA) volume, left ventricular (LV) dimensions, and LV systolic and diastolic function were assessed by echocardiography. We used 48-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring to determine heart rate, heart rate variability, premature atrial contractions, and premature ventricular contractions. RESULTS LA volume was significantly greater in the high (+5.1 mL/m2 , 95% CI: 1.3-8.9) and medium (+4.2 mL/m2 , 95% CI: 0.2-8.1) groups, compared with the low group. LA dilation was observed in 19.4%, 12.9%, and 0% of the high, medium, and low groups, respectively (P = 0.05). No differences were observed between groups for measures of LV dimensions or function. Minimum heart rate, parasympathetic tone expressed using heart rate variability indices, and premature atrial contraction and premature ventricular contraction frequencies did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS In recreational endurance athletes, increased lifetime training is associated with LA dilation in the absence of increased vagal parameters or atrial ectopy, which may promote incidence of AF in this cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian D Elliott
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Rajiv Mahajan
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Dominik Linz
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Michael Stokes
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Christian V Verdicchio
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Melissa E Middeldorp
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Andre La Gerche
- Sports Cardiology Lab, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Cardiology, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, Australia.,Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dennis H Lau
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Prashanthan Sanders
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
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37
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Goodman JM, Banks L, Connelly KA, Yan AT, Backx PH, Dorian P. Excessive exercise in endurance athletes: Is atrial fibrillation a possible consequence? Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2018; 43:973-976. [PMID: 29842800 DOI: 10.1139/apnm-2017-0764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Moderate physical activity levels are associated with increased longevity and lower risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the relative risk of lone AF is 3-5-fold higher in intensive endurance-trained athletes compared with healthy adults. There is growing concern that "excessive" endurance exercise may promote cardiac remodelling, leading to long-term adverse consequences. The pathogenesis of exercise-induced AF is thought to arise from an interplay of multiple acute and chronic factors, including atrial enlargement, pro-fibrotic tendency, high vagal tone, and genotypic profile, which collectively promote adverse atrial remodelling. Clinical management of athletes with AF, while challenging, can be achieved using various strategies that may allow continued, safe exercise. Based on the overall risk-benefit evidence, it is premature to suggest that excessive exercise is unsafe or should be curtailed. Evidence-based assessment and treatment guidelines are required to ensure optimal and safe exercise among the growing number of endurance athletes with AF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack M Goodman
- a Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 2C9, Canada.,b Division of Cardiology, Mt. Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Laura Banks
- a Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 2C9, Canada
| | - Kim A Connelly
- c Division of Cardiology, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada
| | - Andrew T Yan
- c Division of Cardiology, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada
| | - Peter H Backx
- d Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Paul Dorian
- c Division of Cardiology, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada
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Brandes A, Smit MD, Nguyen BO, Rienstra M, Van Gelder IC. Risk Factor Management in Atrial Fibrillation. Arrhythm Electrophysiol Rev 2018; 7:118-127. [PMID: 29967684 DOI: 10.15420/aer.2018.18.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common clinical arrhythmia and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. There is growing evidence that numerous cardiovascular diseases and risk factors are associated with incident AF and that lone AF is rare. Beyond oral anticoagulant therapy, rate and rhythm control, therapy targeting risk factors and underlying conditions is an emerging AF management strategy that warrants better implementation in clinical practice. This review describes current evidence regarding the association between known modifiable risk factors and underlying conditions and the development and progression of AF. It discusses evidence for the early management of underlying conditions to improve AF outcomes. It also provides perspective on the implementation of tailored AF management in daily clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel Brandes
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiology Research Unit, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark Odense, Denmark
| | - Marcelle D Smit
- Thoraxcentre, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bao Oanh Nguyen
- Thoraxcentre, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Michiel Rienstra
- Thoraxcentre, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Isabelle C Van Gelder
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiology Research Unit, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark Odense, Denmark.,Thoraxcentre, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, The Netherlands
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39
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Obesity and Atrial Fibrillation Prevalence, Pathogenesis, and Prognosis. J Am Coll Cardiol 2017; 70:2022-2035. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2017.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 301] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2017] [Revised: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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