Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Patients in the Polish Atrial Fibrillation (POL-AF) Registry

Asymptomatic vs. symptomatic atrial fibrillation: Clinical outcomes in heart failure patients

BACKGROUND

The outcome implications of asymptomatic vs. symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) in specific groups of patients according to clinical heart failure (HF) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) need to be clarified.

METHODS

In a prospective observational study, patients were categorized according to overt HF with LVEF≤40 %, or with LVEF>40 %, or without overt HF with LVEF40 %≤ or > 40 %, as well as according to the presence of asymptomatic or symptomatic AF.

RESULTS

A total of 8096 patients, divided into 8 groups according to HF and LVEF, were included with similar proportions of asymptomatic AF (ranging from 43 to 48 %). After a median follow-up of 730 [699 -748] days, the composite outcome (all-cause death and MACE) was significantly worse for patients with asymptomatic AF associated with HF and reduced LVEF vs. symptomatic AF patients of the same group (p = 0.004). On adjusted Cox regression analysis, asymptomatic AF patients with HF and reduced LVEF were independently associated with a higher risk for the composite outcome (aHR 1.32, 95 % CI 1.04-1.69) and all-cause death (aHR 1.33, 95 % CI 1.02-1.73) compared to symptomatic AF patients with HF and reduced LVEF. Kaplan-Meier curves showed that HF-LVEF≤40 % asymptomatic patients had the highest cumulative incidence of all-cause death and MACE (p < 0.001 for both).

CONCLUSIONS

In a large European cohort of AF patients, the risk of the composite outcome at 2 years was not different between asymptomatic and symptomatic AF in the whole cohort but adverse implications for poor outcomes were found for asymptomatic AF in HF with LVEF≤40 %.

Asymptomatic atrial fibrillation among hospitalized patients: clinical correlates and in-hospital outcomes in Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-Atrial Fibrillation

AIMS

The clinical correlates and outcomes of asymptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) in hospitalized patients are largely unknown. We aimed to investigate the clinical correlates and in-hospital outcomes of asymptomatic AF in hospitalized Chinese patients.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We conducted a cross-sectional registry study of inpatients with AF enrolled in the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-Atrial Fibrillation Project between February 2015 and December 2019. We investigated the clinical characteristics of asymptomatic AF and the association between the clinical correlates and the in-hospital outcomes of asymptomatic AF. Asymptomatic and symptomatic AF were defined according to the European Heart Rhythm Association score. Asymptomatic patients were more commonly males (56.3%) and had more comorbidities such as hypertension (57.4%), diabetes mellitus (18.6%), peripheral artery disease (PAD; 2.3%), coronary artery disease (55.5%), previous history of stroke/transient ischaemic attack (TIA; 17.9%), and myocardial infarction (MI; 5.4%); however, they had less prevalent heart failure (9.6%) or left ventricular ejection fractions ≤40% (7.3%). Asymptomatic patients were more often hospitalized with a non-AF diagnosis as the main diagnosis and were more commonly first diagnosed with AF (23.9%) and long-standing persistent/permanent AF (17.0%). The independent determinants of asymptomatic presentation were male sex, long-standing persistent AF/permanent AF, previous history of stroke/TIA, MI, PAD, and previous treatment with anti-platelet drugs. The incidence of in-hospital clinical events such as all-cause death, ischaemic stroke/TIA, and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) was higher in asymptomatic patients than in symptomatic patients, and asymptomatic clinical status was an independent risk factor for in-hospital all-cause death, ischaemic stroke/TIA, and ACS.

CONCLUSION

Asymptomatic AF is common among hospitalized patients with AF. Asymptomatic clinical status is associated with male sex, comorbidities, and a higher risk of in-hospital outcomes. The adoption of effective management strategies for patients with AF should not be solely based on clinical symptoms.

Discovery of TBX20 as a Novel Gene Underlying Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most prevalent type of sustained cardiac dysrhythmia globally, confers strikingly enhanced risks for cognitive dysfunction, stroke, chronic cardiac failure, and sudden cardiovascular demise. Aggregating studies underscore the crucial roles of inherited determinants in the occurrence and perpetuation of AF. However, due to conspicuous genetic heterogeneity, the inherited defects accounting for AF remain largely indefinite. Here, via whole-genome genotyping with genetic markers and a linkage assay in a family suffering from AF, a new AF-causative locus was located at human chromosome 7p14.2-p14.3, a ~4.89 cM (~4.43-Mb) interval between the markers D7S526 and D7S2250. An exome-wide sequencing assay unveiled that, at the defined locus, the mutation in the TBX20 gene, NM_001077653.2: c.695A>G; p.(His232Arg), was solely co-segregated with AF in the family. Additionally, a Sanger sequencing assay of TBX20 in another family suffering from AF uncovered a novel mutation, NM_001077653.2: c.862G>C; p.(Asp288His). Neither of the two mutations were observed in 600 unrelated control individuals. Functional investigations demonstrated that the two mutations both significantly reduced the transactivation of the target gene KCNH2 (a well-established AF-causing gene) and the ability to bind the promoter of KCNH2, while they had no effect on the nuclear distribution of TBX20. Conclusively, these findings reveal a new AF-causative locus at human chromosome 7p14.2-p14.3 and strongly indicate TBX20 as a novel AF-predisposing gene, shedding light on the mechanism underlying AF and suggesting clinical significance for the allele-specific treatment of AF patients.

Chronic Kidney Disease with Mild and Mild to Moderate Reduction in Renal Function and Long-Term Recurrences of Atrial Fibrillation after Pulmonary Vein Cryoballoon Ablation

The aim of this research was to evaluate if patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and mild or mild to moderate depression of renal function have an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrences after cryoballoon (CB) ablation. We performed a retrospective analysis of AF patients undergoing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) by CB. The cohort was divided according to the KDIGO CKD-EPI classification into a (1) normal, (2) mildly decreased, or (3) mild to moderate reduction in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Freedom from AF recurrences was the primary endpoint. A total of 1971 patients were included (60 ± 10 years, 29.0% females, 73.6% paroxysmal AF) in the study. Acute success and complication rates were 99.2% and 3.7%, respectively, with no significant differences among the three groups. After a follow-up of 24 months, AF recurrences were higher in the mildly and mild to moderate CKD groups compared to the normal kidney function group (23.4% vs. 28.3% vs. 33.5%, p < 0.05). Mild to moderate CKD was an independent predictor of AF recurrences after the blanking period (hazard ratio:1.38, 95% CI 1.02−1.86, p = 0.037). In conclusion, a multicenter analysis of AF patients treated with cryoablation revealed mild to moderate reductions in renal functions were associated with a higher risk of AF recurrences. Conversely, the procedural success and complication rates were similar in patients with normal, mildly reduced, or mild to moderate reduction in eGFR.

Symptom Status, Clinical Subtypes, and Prognosis in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation from the Middle East Region (from the Gulf-SAFE Registry)

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is often asymptomatic. The prognosis of asymptomatic AF is at least similar or worse than symptomatic AF, but there are no such data from Middle East patients with AF. The Gulf-SAFE (Gulf Survey of Atrial Fibrillation Events) registry is a multicenter prospective survey of patients presenting with AF to participate medical institutions in 6 countries in the Gulf region. We investigated the prognostic outcomes of patients with asymptomatic AF in relation to clinical subtypes. A total of 2043 patients with AF were included; 541 were identified as having asymptomatic AF (26.5%) who tended to be older, with higher prevalences of hypertension, heart failure, coronary artery disease, diabetes, stroke, renal dysfunction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and had higher Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age ≥75, Stroke (2 points), Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age ≥75 (2 points), Diabetes, Stroke (2 points), Vascular disease, Age 65-74, Sex category (CHA₂DS₂-VASc), and Hypertension, Age ≥65, Stroke, Bleeding history, liable INR, Elderly, Drug or alcohol use (HAS-BLED) scores (all p <0.05). After multivariable adjustment, asymptomatic AF was associated with higher risks of stroke/systematic embolism (SE) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10 to 4.34), all-cause mortality (aOR 2.85, 95% CI 1.90 to 4.28), and the composite outcome of stroke/SE, bleeding, and all-cause mortality (aOR 1.74, 95% CI 1.26 to 2.41). Patients with asymptomatic AF had fewer admissions for AF (aOR 0.53, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.83) and heart failure (aOR 0.58, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.86). The increased risk of stroke/SE in asymptomatic AF was more prominent among paroxysmal AF subtype (p for interaction = 0.028). In conclusion, in the Gulf-SAFE registry, patients with asymptomatic AF represent a nonbenign entity with worse outcomes compared with symptomatic AF. In paroxysmal AF, the higher risks of events were more prominent. The absence of "warning signs" and lack of timely admission in asymptomatic AF may be major reasons for the unfavorable prognosis.

Increase in Heart Rate-dependent Left Atrial Pressure is Associated with Symptoms in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: Conclusion

BACKGROUND

It remains unclear why some patients with the same heart rate (HR) during an atrial fibrillation (AF) have subjective symptoms, whereas others do not. We assessed the hypothesis that different responses of arterial and left atrial blood pressures to rapid stimulation may be associated with the symptoms of AF.

METHODS

A total of 110 patients who underwent catheter ablation for paroxysmal AF were retrospectively studied. Asymptomatic AF was defined as a European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) score of Ⅰ for AF-related symptoms. The left atrial pressure (LAP) was measured during sinus rhythm (SR), in 10 pacing per minute (ppm) increments from 100 ppm to the Wenckebach block rate in high right atrial pacing.

RESULTS

Asymptomatic AF was observed in 19/110 patients (17%). Patients with symptomatic AF showed higher E/e' ratio and gradual LAP increase that was dependent on the pacing rate. Patients with asymptomatic AF had decreased LAP at 100 ppm compared that at SR, and thereafter, LAP gradually increased depending on the pacing rate. The rate of LAP change compared to that at SR was significantly lower in patients with asymptomatic AF than that in patients with symptomatic AF. The rate of LAP change was independently associated with AF symptoms. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Incremental Value of Genotype Bins over the HAS-BLED Score for the Prediction of Bleeding Risk in Warfarin-Treated Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

Background

This study aimed to analyse the role of the HAS-BLED score with the addition of genotype bins for bleeding risk prediction in warfarin-treated patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods and Results

Consecutive patients with AF on initial warfarin treatment were recruited. For each patient, CYP2C9 ^∗ 3 and VKORC1-1639 A/G genotyping was performed to create 3 genotype functional bins. The predictive values of the HAS-BLED score with or without the addition of genotype bins were compared. According to the carrier status of the genotype bins, the numbers of normal, sensitive, and highly sensitive responders among 526 patients were 64 (12.17%), 422 (80.23%), and 40 (7.60%), respectively. A highly sensitive response was independently associated with clinically relevant bleeding (HR: 3.85, 95% CI: 1.88-7.91, P=0.001) and major bleeding (HR:3.75, 95% CI: 1.17-11.97, P=0.03). With the addition of genotype bins, the performance of the HAS-BLED score for bleeding risk prediction was significantly improved (c-statistic from 0.60 to 0.64 for clinically relevant bleeding and from 0.64 to 0.70 for major bleeding, P < 0.01). Using the integrated discriminatory, net reclassification improvement, and decision curve analysis, the HAS-BLED score plus genotype bins could perform better in predicting any clinically relevant bleeding than the HAS-BLED score alone.

Conclusions

Genotypes have an incremental predictive value when combined with the HAS-BLED score for the prediction of clinically relevant bleeding in warfarin-treated patients with AF.