Dritan Poci

Background: Bone morphogenetic protein 10 (BMP10) has atrial-specific and vascular properties and may reflect both atrial and vascular pathophysiology. We investigated whether BMP10 levels were associated with new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and all-cause mortality after open revascularisation for symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) or carotid stenosis (CS). Methods: Patients scheduled for endarterectomy for symptomatic PAD or CS were enrolled. BMP10 concentrations were measured using a multiplex immunoassay. Clinical outcomes were obtained from medical records during one-year follow-up. Associations between BMP10 and outcomes were assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression. Results: A total of 210 patients were included (63% men; 61% underwent surgery for PAD). Women were older than men and had higher BMP10 levels. Forty patients had known preoperative AF. During one-year follow-up, 26 patients experienced MACE and 13 died. Among 170 patients without AF at baseline, 10 developed new-onset AF. In unadjusted Cox regression, higher BMP10 levels were associated with MACE (HR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.03; p = 0.047) and all-cause mortality (HR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01–1.04; p < 0.001), but not with new-onset AF (HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.97–1.03; p = 0.80). Effect estimates were similar after adjustment for age and sex. Model-based point estimates of one-year cumulative incidence were numerically higher at higher BMP10 concentrations for MACE and all-cause mortality, although confidence intervals were wide; no corresponding pattern was observed for new-onset AF. Conclusions: In this exploratory cohort, higher BMP10 levels were associated with MACE and all-cause mortality after endarterectomy for symptomatic PAD or CS. Women had higher BMP10 levels than men. These findings should be interpreted cautiously and considered hypothesis-generating; larger studies are required to validate the observed associations.

Background: Socioeconomic factors impact cardiovascular health. We investigated the association between patient education level and incident heart failure (HF), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and stroke following a first hospitalization with atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: In this nationwide retrospective cohort study using linked Swedish national registers, we included all patients receiving a diagnosis of AF while hospitalized in Sweden from 1995 through 2008; categorized education level as primary, secondary, or academic; and followed patients for up to five years. Outcomes were first hospitalization for HF, AMI, or stroke. Associations were assessed using sex-stratified Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for age, calendar year of AF diagnosis, and measures of comorbidity burden (Charlson Comorbidity Index) and thromboembolic risk (CHA2DS2VA score). Results: The cohort comprised 263,172 patients (mean age 72.5 ± 10.4 years; 56.2% male). Compared with primary education, secondary and academic education attainment were associated with lower adjusted risk of HF and AMI in both females and males. For HF, adjusted hazard ratios (HR) were 0.96 (95% CI 0.93 – 1.00) for secondary and 0.82 (95% CI 0.77 – 0.87) for academic education for females and 0.93 (95% CI 0.90 – 0.96) and 0.76 (95% CI 0.72 – 0.80), respectively, for males. For AMI, adjusted HRs were 0.89 (95% CI 0.85 – 0.93) and 0.71 (95% CI 0.65 – 0.78) for females and 0.91 (95% CI 0.87 – 0.94) and 0.75 (95% CI 0.71 – 0.80) for males. For stroke, lower adjusted risk was observed only in the academic education group. Baseline comorbidity burden and thromboembolic risk were higher in lower education groups. Conclusions: Education level was inversely associated with risk of incident HF and AMI over five years, while the association with stroke risk was weaker. Documenting education level may help identify patients at increased risk who could benefit from careful monitoring and optimized preventive care.

BackgroundAtrial fibrillation (AF) is a rapidly increasing global public health concern entailing a high risk for ischemic stroke that can largely be avoided with anticoagulation therapy. AF is often underdiagnosed and there is a need for a reliable method of detection in individuals with additional risk factors for stroke such as coronary artery disease. We aimed to validate an automatic rhythm interpretation algorithm in thumb ECG in subjects with recent coronary revascularization. MethodsThumb ECG, a patient-operated handheld single-lead ECG recording device with an automatic interpretation algorithm, was performed three times daily for a month after coronary revascularization and 2-week periods 3, 12, and 24 months post-procedure. The detection of AF by the automatic algorithm on subject and single-strip ECG level was compared to manual interpretation. Results48,308 of 30 s thumb ECG recordings from 255 subjects (mean 212 +/- 3.5 recordings per subject) were retrieved from a database (AF 47 subjects/655 recordings; non-AF 208 subjects/47,653 recordings). The algorithm sensitivity at subject level was 100%, specificity 11.2%, positive predictive value (PPV) 20.2%, and negative predictive value (NPV) 100%. At the single-strip ECG level, sensitivity was 87.6%, specificity 94.0%, PPV 16.8%, and NPV 99.8%. The most common reasons for false positive results were technical disturbance and frequent ectopic beats. ConclusionsThe automatic interpretation algorithm in a handheld thumb ECG device can rule out AF in patients recently undergoing coronary revascularization with high accuracy, but manual confirmation is needed to confirm the diagnose of AF because of high false positive rates.

Background We sought to determine the role of obesity in adolescent men on development of atrial fibrillation (AF) and subsequent associated clinical outcomes in subjects diagnosed with AF. Methods and Results We conducted a nationwide, register‐based, cohort study of 1 704 467 men (mean age, 18.3±0.75 years) enrolled in compulsory military service in Sweden from 1969 through 2005. Height and weight, blood pressure, fitness, muscle strength, intelligence quotient, and medical disorders were recorded at baseline. Records obtained from the National Inpatient Registry and the Cause of Death Register were used to determine incidence and clinical outcomes of AF. During a median follow‐up of 32 years (interquartile range, 24–41 years), 36 693 cases (mean age at diagnosis, 52.4±10.6 years) of AF were recorded. The multivariable‐adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for AF increased from 1.06 (95% CI, 1.03–1.10) in individuals with body mass index (BMI) of 20.0 to 2 to 3.72 (95% CI, 2.44–5.66) among men with BMI of 40.0 to 50.0 kg/m², compared with those with BMI of 18.5 to 30 kg/m² compared with those with BMI 2 were 2.86 (95% CI, 2.30–3.56), 3.42 (95% CI, 2.50–4.68), and 2.34 (95% CI, 1.52–3.61), respectively. Conclusions Increasing BMI in adolescent men is strongly associated with early AF, and with subsequent worse clinical outcomes in those diagnosed with AF with respect to all‐cause mortality, incident heart failure, and ischemic stroke.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrythmia. Both its incidence and prevalence increased significantly during the last decades. AF is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe and evaluate the trends of all-cause mortality in patients first-ever hospitalized for AF, and the effect of age, sex, stroke risk, and education level on mortality over time. Methods: In this observational retrospective cohort study, we enrolled the patients who were hospitalized primarily and for the first time because of AF between 1st January 1995 and 31st December 2004. In regard to the date of the index admission patients were divided into four cohorts and they were followed up to five years. Patients were compared with an age and sex matched control population. All data were collected from Swedish national registries. Kaplan-Meier plots and Cox regression with trend analysis were used for statistical evaluation. Results: In total 64 489 AF patients (mean age 72±10.1 year) were included in this study. The control group comprised 116 893 individuals. 81.9% of the women and 58.5% of the men were older than 65 years of age. 65.5% of women and 58.5% of the men had a stroke risk of CHADS2-VA2Sc ≥2. We found a significantly decreasing trend of the relative risk for all-cause mortality in AF patients over time: trend HR: 0.94 (95% CI: 0.92–0.96, p<0.001) in women and trend HR: 0.91 (95% CI: 0.89–0.93 p<0.001) in men. The mortality trends between AF patients and their controls did not show significant difference: trend HR: 0.99 (95% CI: 0.96–1.02, p=0.59) in women and trend HR: 1.00 (95% CI: 0.97–1.03, p=0.98) in men. The subpopulation analysis showed that the mortality risk remained unchanged over the time in women aged 18–69 years (trend HR: 0.91 – 95% CI: 0.82–1.02, p=0.099), in patients with low stroke risk (trend HR: 1.08 – 95% CI: 0.92–1.26, p=0.36 in women and trend HR: 0.95 – 95% CI: 0.87–1.05, p=0.30 in men) and in patients with post-secondary level of education (trend HR: 0.93 – 95% CI 0.83–1.04, p=0.23 in women and trend HR: 1.04 – 95% CI: 0.96–1.12, p=0.32 in men). Conclusion: The all-cause mortality risk of the AF hospitalized patients was higher compared to control population and had a decreasing tendency during the time of the study. However, this trend is not significantly different from the control population. We found unchanged mortality trend in younger patients, in those with lower stroke risk, and in patients with higher education level. Funding Acknowledgement: Type of funding sources: None.

Background: Primary indication for catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is to reduce symptoms and improve health‐related quality of life (HRQoL). There are data showing differences between the genders and between younger and older patients. To evaluate this, we studied a large Scandinavian cohort of patients referred for catheter ablation of AF.Methods: Consecutive patients filled out the ASTA questionnaire, assessing symptoms, HRQoL, and perception of arrhythmia, prior to ablation. Patients were recruited from four Swedish and one Danish tertiary center.Results: A total of 2493 patients (72% men) filled out the ASTA questionnaire. Women experienced eight of the nine ASTA scale symptoms more often than men. Patients P = .007). Women and patients P < .001). Older patients reported more negative influence in four of the HRQoL items and the younger in one; ability to concentrate.Conclusions: Women experienced a more pronounced symptom burden and were more negatively affected in all HRQoL concerns, except for the negative impact on sexual life, where men reported more influence of AF. Differences between age groups were less pronounced. Disease‐specific patient‐reported outcomes measures (PROMs) add important information where gender differences should be considered in the care.