Long-term prospective study on the natural history of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome detected during a heart screening program at school

Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2023 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association

BACKGROUND

The American Heart Association, in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, annually reports the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors, including core health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, diet, and weight) and health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose control) that contribute to cardiovascular health. The Statistical Update presents the latest data on a range of major clinical heart and circulatory disease conditions (including stroke, congenital heart disease, rhythm disorders, subclinical atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, heart failure, valvular disease, venous disease, and peripheral artery disease) and the associated outcomes (including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs).

METHODS

The American Heart Association, through its Epidemiology and Prevention Statistics Committee, continuously monitors and evaluates sources of data on heart disease and stroke in the United States to provide the most current information available in the annual Statistical Update with review of published literature through the year before writing. The 2023 Statistical Update is the product of a full year's worth of effort in 2022 by dedicated volunteer clinicians and scientists, committed government professionals, and American Heart Association staff members. The American Heart Association strives to further understand and help heal health problems inflicted by structural racism, a public health crisis that can significantly damage physical and mental health and perpetuate disparities in access to health care, education, income, housing, and several other factors vital to healthy lives. This year's edition includes additional COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) publications, as well as data on the monitoring and benefits of cardiovascular health in the population, with an enhanced focus on health equity across several key domains.

RESULTS

Each of the chapters in the Statistical Update focuses on a different topic related to heart disease and stroke statistics.

CONCLUSIONS

The Statistical Update represents a critical resource for the lay public, policymakers, media professionals, clinicians, health care administrators, researchers, health advocates, and others seeking the best available data on these factors and conditions.

Management of Young Athletes with Asymptomatic Preexcitation-A Review of the Literature

INTRODUCTION

The management of young athletes with asymptomatic preexcitation remains a challenge, regardless of the progress we have made in understanding the basis of condition and developing catheter ablation procedures. The risk of sudden death, however small, yet definite, being the first symptom is determining our approach. The aim of the study was to establish the current state of knowledge regarding the management of young athletes diagnosed with asymptomatic preexcitation, by conducting a literature review.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A comprehensive literature review was completed in accordance to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The search was limited to English language publications using the following search terms: "asymptomatic" or "incidental" and "pre-excitation" or "Wolff-Parkinson-White" or "delta wave" and "athlete" or "sport". The search was supplemented by hand review of the bibliographies of previous relevant systematic reviews.

RESULTS

The search resulted in 85 of abstracts, and the manual search of the bibliographies resulted in 24 additional papers. After careful analysis 10 publications were included in the review. In all but one of the presented papers, the authors used non-invasive methods and then either trans-esophageal or invasive EPS as a way to risk stratify asymptomatic patients. Evidence of rapid conduction through the accessory pathway was considered high risk and prompted sport disqualification. In the analysed reports there were combined: 142 episodes of the life-threatening events (LTE)/sudden death (SCD), of which 56 were reported to occur at rest, 61 during activity and no data were available for 25.

CONCLUSIONS

athletic activity may impose an increased risk of life-threatening arrhythmias in patients with asymptomatic preexcitation; hence, a separate approach could be considered, especially in patients willing to engage in high-intensity, endurance and competitive sports.

Radiofrequency ablation in children with asymptomatic Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

BACKGROUND

Ventricular fibrillation can be the presenting arrhythmia in children with asymptomatic Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Deaths due to this arrhythmia are potentially preventable.

METHODS

We performed a randomized study in which prophylactic radiofrequency catheter ablation of accessory pathways was compared with no ablation in asymptomatic children (age range, 5 to 12 years) with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome who were at high risk for arrhythmias. The primary end point was the occurrence of arrhythmic events during follow-up.

RESULTS

Of the 165 eligible children, 60 were determined to be at high risk for arrhythmias. After randomization, but before any ablation had been performed, the parents withdrew 13 children from the study. Of the remaining children, 20 underwent prophylactic ablation and 27 had no treatment. The characteristics of the two groups were similar. There were three ablation-related complications, one of which led to hospitalization. During follow-up, 1 child in the ablation group (5 percent) and 12 in the control group (44 percent) had arrhythmic events. Two children in the control group had ventricular fibrillation, and one died suddenly. The cumulative rate of arrhythmic events was lower among children at high risk who underwent ablation than among those at high risk who did not. The reduction in risk associated with ablation remained significant after adjustment in a Cox regression analysis. In both the ablation and the control groups, the independent predictors of arrhythmic events were the absence of prophylactic ablation and the presence of multiple accessory pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

In asymptomatic, high-risk children with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, prophylactic catheter ablation performed by an experienced operator reduces the risk of life-threatening arrhythmias.