Epidemiology of atrial fibrillation in a representative sample of the European part of the Russian Federation. Analysis of EPOCH-CHF study

Clinical characteristics and frequency of anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure: results of a retrospective big data analysis

Aim. To evaluate the clinical characteristics and frequency of prescribed anticoagulant therapy for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) in subjects of the Russian Federation based on a retrospective big data analysis using artificial intelligence technologies.

Material and methods. For retrospective analysis, information was obtained from the Webiomed predictive analytics platform, which includes depersonalized data from electronic health records of outand/ or inpatients in 6 subjects of the Russian Federation, extracted using artificial intelligence technologies. From the database of patients with AF (n=144431), a group of individuals (n=20970) with an established diagnosis of HF and information on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was selected.

Results. Patients with AF and HF (men, 43,7%; age 72,1±13,2 years; LVEF, 58,9±11,0%) had a history of smoking in 36,6% of cases, hypertension — in 86,7%, type 2 diabetes — in 26,6%, gout — in 2,7%, stage III and IV-V chronic kidney disease — in 50,9 and 15,6%, lower limb peripheral arterial disease — in 15,8%. The incidence of ischemic stroke, LV myocardial infarction and pulmonary embolism was 8,8, 14,7 and 2,4%, respectively. Anticoagulants, including direct oral ones, were administered to patients with AF and HF in 62,5% and 32,0% of cases, respectively. The frequency of their appointment did not significantly differ depending on LVEF.

Conclusion. Patients with AF and HF are characterized by significant comorbidity, a higher incidence of cardiovascular events compared with the group of individuals with AF without HF, and an unsatisfactory percentage of anticoagulant therapy.

Features of Left Atrial Appendage Thrombosis in Patients With Persistent Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation After COVID-19

Aim      To evaluate the incidence and characteristic features of left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombosis in patients with persistent nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) after COVID-19.Material and methods  Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was performed for 469 patients (57.4 % males; mean age, 64.0 [58.0; 70.0] years) with persistent nonvalvular AF before scheduled sinus rhythm restoration. In 131 of these patients (27.9 %), the most recent episode of arrhythmia developed during the coronavirus infection. The time from the onset of COVID-19 to TEE was 145 [62; 303] days. All patients received an adequate anticoagulant therapy, in most cases, with direct oral anticoagulants for at least 3 weeks preceding the study.Results A LAA thrombus was detected in 20 (5.9 %) patients who have had no coronavirus infection and in 19 (14.5 %) patients after COVID-19 (р=0.0045). 18 of 19 (94.7 %) thrombi found in patients who have had COVID-19 were mural whereas only 5 (25.0 %) of such thrombi were found in patients who have had no COVID-19 (p<0.0001). In the absence of LAA thrombus, the LAA emptying velocity was 32.0 [25.0; 40.0] cm/sec whereas in the presence of a mural thrombus, it was 25.0 [20.0; 32.3] cm/sec, and in the presence of a typical thrombus, it was 17.0 [13.5; 20.0] cm/sec (р<0.0001). A Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the median time of mural thrombus dissolution was 35.0 (95 % confidence interval (CI), 24.0-55.0) days and for a typical thrombus, this time was 69.0 (95 % CI, 41.0-180.0) days (р=0.0018).Conclusion      Patients with persistent AF who have had COVID-19 had LAA thrombosis 2,5 times more frequently and, in most cases, the thrombus was mural. Mural thrombi, in contrast to typical, are not associated with a pronounced decrease in LAA emptying velocity and dissolve twice as fast as typical thrombi with an adequate anticoagulant treatment.

Social and psychological risk factors for decreased adherence among patients with atrial fibrillation

Adherence has a direct impact on reducing the effectiveness of atrial fibrillation therapy and increasing the risk of thromboembolic events. Among the factors involved in the decrease of adherence, the social and psychological characteristics of patients remain insufficiently studied. At the same time, the available publications allow us to conclude that there are markers of the risk of reduced adherence in patients with atrial fibrillation, which include age, cognitive impairment, psychoemotional disorders (including depression and anxiety) and specific behavioral patterns.