Better survival in morbidly obese patients with atrial fibrillation treated with non-vitamin K-dependent oral anticoagulants

Background

The efficacy and safety of non-vitamin K-dependent anticoagulants (NOAC) are not well investigated in the obese population, and fixed dosing could lead to under-anticoagulation. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of obesity on anticoagulation outcomes and survival in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) patients.

Methods

We enrolled 755 patients who required anticoagulation for AF from 2015 to 2016. We grouped the patients into four groups. Group 1 (n = 297) included patients with BMI< 40 kg/m2 treated with NOACs, Group 2 (n = 358) included patients on warfarin with BMI< 40 kg/m2, Group 3 (n = 57) had patients on NOACs with BMI≥ 40 kg/m2 and Group 4 (n = 43) included patients on warfarin and BMI≥ 40 kg/m2. Study outcomes were the composite endpoint of stroke, bleeding, and survival.

Results

Competing risk regression showed that stroke and bleeding were not affected by obesity or treatment (SHR: 1.09 (95% CI: 0.79-1.51); P = 0.62). Older age was the predictor of stroke/bleeding (HR:1.03 (95% CI:1.01-1.06); P = 0.02). Predictors of mortality were heart failure (HR:2.23 (95% CI:1.25-3.97); P = 0.007), lower creatinine clearance (HR: 0.98 (95% CI:0.97-0.98): P < 0.001), non-obese patients on warfarin (HR:3.51 (95%CI:1.6-7.7): P = 0.002) and obese patients on warfarin (HR: 6.7 (95% CI:2.51-17.92); P < 0.001).

Conclusion

NOACs could have a similar risk profile to warfarin in obese and non-obese patients with non-valvular AF but could have better survival. Larger randomized trials are recommended.

Impact of Smoking Status and Nicotine Dependence on Academic Performance of Health Sciences Students

Background

Smoking behavior has been associated with poor academic performance among adult students worldwide. However, the detrimental effect of nicotine dependence on several students' academic achievement indicators is still unclear. This study aims to assess the impact of smoking status and nicotine dependence on grade point average (GPA), absenteeism rate and academic warnings among undergraduate health sciences students in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

A validated cross-sectional survey was conducted, in which, participants responded to questions evaluated cigarette consumption, urge to consume and dependency, learning performance, days of absentees, and academic warnings.

Results

A total of 501 students from different health specialties have completed the survey. Of whom, 66% were male, 95% ranging between the age of 18-30 years old, and 81% reported no health issues or chronic diseases. Current smokers estimated to be 30% of the respondents, of which 36% revealed smoking history of 2-3 years. The prevalence of nicotine dependency (high to extremely high) was 50%. Overall, smokers had significantly lower GPA, higher absenteeism rate, and higher number of academic warnings when compared to nonsmokers (p<0.001). Heavy smokers demonstrated significantly less GPA (p=0.036), higher days of absences (p=0.017), and more academic warnings (p=0.021) compared to light smokers. The linear regression model indicated a significant association between smoking history (increased pack-per-year) and poor GPA (p=0.01) and increased number of academic warning last semester (p=0.01), while increased cigarette consumption was substantially linked with higher academic warnings (p=0.002), lower GPA (p=0.01), and higher absenteeism rate for last semester (p=0.01).

Conclusion

Smoking status and nicotine dependence were predictive of worsening academic performance, including lower GPA, higher absenteeism rate and academic warnings. In addition, there is a substantial and unfavorable dose-response association between smoking history and cigarette consumption with impaired academic performance indicators.

Time in therapeutic range for virtual anticoagulation clinic versus in-person clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic: a crossover study

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 infection affects the quality of the medical services globally. The pandemic required changes to medical services in several institutions. We established a virtual clinic for anticoagulation management during the pandemic using the Whatsapp application.

OBJECTIVES

Compare anticoagulation management quality in virtual versus in-person clinics.

DESIGN

A retrospective crossover study SETTINGS: Specialized cardiac care center PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included patients who presented to Prince Sultan Cardiac Center in Riyadh for anticoagulation management during the pandemic from March 2020 to January 2021. We compared time in therapeutic range (TTR) in the same patients during virtual and in-person clinics. All international normalized ratio (INR) measures during the virtual clinic visits and prior ten INR measures from the in-person clinic were recorded. Patients who had no prior follow-up in the in-person clinic were excluded.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

TTR calculated using the Rosendaal method.

SAMPLE SIZE

192 patients RESULTS: The mean age was 58.6 (16.6) years and 116 (60.4%) were males. Patients were diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (n=101, 52.6%), mechanical mitral valve (n=88, 45.8%), mechanical aortic valve (n=79, 41%), left ventricular thrombus (n=5, 2.6%) and venous thromboembolism (n=8, 4.2%). Riyadh residents represented 56.7% of the study population (n=93). The median (IQR) percent TTR was 54.6 (27.3) in the in-person clinic versus 50.0 (33.3) (P=.07).

CONCLUSION

Virtual clinic results were comparable to in-person clinics for anticoagulation management during the COVID-19 pandemic.

LIMITATIONS

Number of INR measures during the virtual clinic visits, retrospective nature and single-center experience.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

None.

Antithrombotic Therapy for Transcatheter Valvular Interventions: A Revisit

BACKGROUND

The optimal antithrombotic therapies for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and MitraClip implantation have not been well established. We conducted a narrative review from currently available studies between January 2002 and May 2016 to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of antithrombotic therapy use in cardiac catheter-based therapeutic techniques. Recently, these techniques have dramatically altered the approach towards valvular heart diseases management. The introduction into clinical practice, of TAVI for severe aortic stenosis and MitraClip for mitral regurgitation, has revolutionized interventional cardiology. However, TAVI is associated with a risk of cerebral embolization and ischaemic vascular events leading to neurological impairment and even death. These ischaemic complications might occur perioperatively or much later, although the estimated rate of occurrence is variable.

CONCLUSION

We will discuss prior experience with MitraClip for antithrombotic use. It is imperative for patients undergoing transcatheter valvular interventions to have optimal antithrombotic therapy that balances between ischaemic and haemorrhagic complications. The appropriate timing, combination, and duration of antithrombotic medications need consensus to weigh between the efficacy, efficiency and adverse effects in patients with transcatheter valvular interventions.

Recurrent syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion due to tolterodine in an elderly male patient

Hyponatremia is defined as serum sodium of <135 mmol/L and equates with a low serum osmolality once translocational hyponatremia and pseudohyponatremia are ruled out. True hyponatremia develops when normal urine-diluting mechanisms are disturbed. In elderly patients, this complication is not uncommon, especially in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Medications are often the most common cause of hyponatremia in these patients. Herewith, we reported a 65-year-old Saudi male, a known case of benign prostatic hypertrophy and hypertension, who developed recurrent hyponatremia secondary to tolterodine. To our knowledge, this is the fifth case reported in literature of such association.