scholarly journals Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Co-existing Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction: Time to Revisit the Management Guidelines?

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Baher ◽  
Nassir F Marrouche ◽  
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...  

AF in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is common and is associated with an increased risk of stroke, heart failure hospitalisation and all-cause mortality. Rhythm control of AF in this population has been traditionally limited to the use of antiarrhythmic drugs. Clinical trials assessing superiority of pharmacological rhythm control over rate control have been largely disappointing. Catheter ablation has emerged as a viable alternative to pharmacological rhythm control in symptomatic AF and has enjoyed significant technological advancements over the past decade. Recent clinical trials have suggested that catheter ablation is superior to pharmacological interventions in patients with co-existing AF and HFrEF. In this article, we will review the therapeutic options for AF in patients with HFrEF in the context of the latest clinical trials beyond the current established guidelines.

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
D.J Vazquez Andres ◽  
A Hernandez Vicente ◽  
M Diez Diez ◽  
M Gomez Molina ◽  
A Quintas ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Somatic mutations in hematopoietic cells are associated with age and have been associated with higher mortality in apparently healthy adults, especially due to atherosclerotic disease. In animal models, somatic mutations are associated with atherosclerosis progression and myocardial dysfunction, especially when gene TET2 is affected. Preliminary clinical data, referred to ischemic heart failure (HF), have associate the presence of these acquired mutations with impaired prognosis. Purpose To study the prevalence of somatic mutations in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and their impact on long-term prognosis. Methods We studied a cohort of elderly patients (more than 60 years old) hospitalized with HFrEF (LVEF<45%). The presence of somatic mutations was assessed using next generation sequencing (Illumina HiSeq 2500), with a mutated allelic fraction of at least 2% and a panel of 55 genes related with clonal hematopoiesis. Patients were followed-up for a median of three years. The study endpoint was a composite of death or readmission for worsening HF. Kaplan-Meier analysis (log-rank test) and Cox proportional hazards regression models were performed adjusting for age, sex and LVEF. Results A total of 62 patients (46 males (74.2%), age 74±7.5 years) with HFrEF (LVEF 29.7±7.8%) were enrolled in the study. The ischemic etiology was present in 54% of patients. Somatic mutations in Dnmt3a or Tet2 were present in 11 patients (17.7%). No differences existed in baseline characteristics except for a higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation in patients with somatic mutations (70% vs. 40%, p=0.007). During the follow-up period, 40 patients (64.5%) died and 38 (61.3%) had HF re-admission. The KM survival analysis for the combined event is shown in Figure 1. Compared with patients without somatic mutations and after adjusting for covariates, there was an increased risk of adverse outcomes when the somatic mutations were present (HR 3.6, 95% CI [1.6, 7.8], p=0.0014). This results remains considering death as a competing risk (Gray's test p=0.0097) and adjusting for covariates (HR = 2.21 95% CI [0.98, 5], p=0.0556). Conclusions Somatic mutation are present in patients with HFrEF and determine a higher risk of adverse events in the follow-up. Further studies are needed to assess the clinical implications of these findings. Figure 1 Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None


Heart ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 106 (15) ◽  
pp. 1160-1168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mi Kyoung Son ◽  
Jin Joo Park ◽  
Nam-Kyoo Lim ◽  
Won-Ho Kim ◽  
Dong-Ju Choi

ObjectiveTo determine the prognostic value of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with heart failure (HF) and preserved, mid-range or reduced ejection fraction (EF).MethodsPatients hospitalised for acute HF were enrolled in the Korean Acute Heart Failure registry, a prospective, observational, multicentre cohort study, between March 2011 and February 2014. HF types were defined as reduced EF (HFrEF, LVEF <40%), mid-range EF (HFmrEF, LVEF 40%–49%) or preserved EF (HFpEF, LVEF ≥50%).ResultsOf 5414 patients enrolled, HFrEF, HFmrEF and HFpEF were seen in 3182 (58.8%), 875 (16.2%) and 1357 (25.1%) patients, respectively. The prevalence of AF significantly increased with increasing EF (HFrEF 28.9%, HFmrEF 39.8%, HFpEF 45.2%; p for trend <0.001). During follow-up (median, 4.03 years; IQR, 1.39–5.58 years), 2806 (51.8%) patients died. The adjusted HR of AF for all-cause death was 1.06 (0.93–1.21) in the HFrEF, 1.10 (0.87–1.39) in the HFmrEF and 1.22 (1.02–1.46) in the HFpEF groups. The HR for the composite of all-cause death or readmission was 0.97 (0.87–1.07), 1.14 (0.93–1.38) and 1.03 (0.88–1.19) in the HFrEF, HFmrEF and HFpEF groups, respectively, and the HR for stroke was 1.53 (1.03–2.29), 1.04 (0.57–1.91) and 1.90 (1.13–3.20), respectively. Similar results were observed after propensity score matching analysis.ConclusionsAF was more common with increasing EF. AF was seen to be associated with increased mortality only in patients with HFpEF and was associated with an increased risk of stroke in patients with HFrEF or HFpEF.Trial registration numberNCT01389843


EP Europace ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Chiocchini ◽  
Maria Terricabras ◽  
Atul Verma

Abstract Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) are two conditions that frequently impact reciprocally on each other. Patients with HFrEF have an increased risk of stroke, hospitalization and mortality after they develop AF and vice versa, AF causing deterioration of the ejection fraction is also associated to increased mortality. Catheter ablation has emerged as an effective alternative to antiarrhythmic drug treatment to maintain sinus rhythm and some randomized trials have shown a potential benefit in terms of mortality and hospitalization. This review discusses the available evidence regarding catheter ablation treatment in this specific patient group.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_G) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaetano Liccardo ◽  
Francesco Cannata ◽  
Mauro Chiarito ◽  
Sara Bombace ◽  
Marta Maccallini ◽  
...  

Abstract Aims Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) are increasing in prevalence worldwide and, when present altogether, are associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Several and recent randomized clinical trials have reported an improvement of clinical outcomes in patients with HF and AF with catheter ablation. To provide a comprehensive and updated synthesis of effect estimates of the available randomized and observational clinical trials comparing pulmonary vein isolation with optimal medical therapy (rate or rhythm) or atrioventricular node ablation and resynchronization. Methods and results MEDLINE database was searched from inception to 4 March 2021 by two reviewers (F.C. and M.C.) for relevant studies. The following key words were used: ‘atrial fibrillation’, ‘heart failure’, ‘ablation’, ‘medical’, ‘drug’, ‘rate’, ‘rhythm’, ‘resynchronization’, and ‘atrial flutter’. The co-primary outcomes were all-cause death and hospitalization for HF. A total of 16 studies enrolling 42 908 patients were included; of these, 9 were randomized controlled trials, 3 unadjusted observational studies, and 4 adjusted observational trials. Patients treated with catheter ablation had a statistically significant reduction for the risk of all-cause death {Figure on the left: odds ratio [OR]: 0.51, [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.31–0.84], P = 0.008, NNT 33} and hospitalization for HF [Figure on the right: OR: 0.52, (95% CI: 0.31–0.87), P 0.014, NNT 24]. Subgroup analysis confirmed these results only in HF with reduced ejection fraction subgroup. Meta-regression analyses showed a direct correlation between a higher burden of persistent/long-standing persistent AF and the positive impact of catheter ablation of AF. Moreover, the age of 70 years emerged as the cut-off age for a greater impact of catheter ablation. Conclusions Catheter ablation of AF is associated with a lower risk of all-cause death and HF hospitalizations in patients with AF and HF, as compared to medical therapy or atrioventricular node ablation and resynchronization. These results are mainly applicable for HF with reduced ejection fraction.


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