rome and Atrial-Fibrillation

Gut microbiota is emerging as a novel risk factor for atherothrombosis, but the predictive role of gut-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is unknown. We analyzed (1) the association between LPS and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in atrial fibrillation (AF) and (2) its relationship with adherence to a Mediterranean diet (Med-diet).. This was a prospective single-center study including 912 AF patients treated with vitamin K antagonists (3716 patient-years). The primary end point was a composite of MACE. Baseline serum LPS, adherence to Med-diet (n=704), and urinary excretion of 11-dehydro-thromboxane B. In this cohort of AF patients, LPS levels were predictive of MACE and negatively affected by high adherence to Med-diet. LPS may contribute to MACE incidence in AF by increasing platelet activation.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anticoagulants; Atrial Fibrillation; Bacteria; Biomarkers; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Diet, Mediterranean; Female; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Humans; Intestines; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Lipopolysaccharides; Male; Myocardial Ischemia; Patient Compliance; Platelet Activation; Prospective Studies; Protective Factors; Risk Factors; Rome; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Vitamin K

There are limited prospective data evaluating the role of urinary F2-IsoP and NOX2 as predictive markers in atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of this study was to analyse the role of urinary prostaglandin PGF2alpha (8-iso-PGF2α) and NOX2, markers of systemic oxidative stress, in predicting cardiovascular (CV) events and mortality in anticoagulated non-valvular AF patients. This was a prospective study including 1,002 anticoagulated AF patients, followed for a median time of 25.7 months (interquartile range: 14.8-50.9). All major CV events, CV deaths and all-cause deaths were considered as primary outcomes of the study. CV events included fatal/nonfatal ischaemic stroke, fatal/nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), cardiac revascularisation and transient ischaemic attack (TIA). Oxidative stress biomarkers, such as urinary 8-iso-PGF2α and serum sNOX2-dp, a marker of NOX2 activation, were measured. A CV event occurred in 125 patients (12.5 %); 78 CV deaths and 31 non-CV deaths were registered. 8-iso-PGF2α and sNOX2-dp were correlated (Rs=0.765 p< 0.001). A significant increased cumulative incidence of CV events and CV deaths was observed across tertiles for 8-iso-PGF2α and sNOX2-dp. An increased rate of all-cause death was observed across tertiles of urinary 8-iso-PGF2α. In Cox or Fine and Gray models, 8-iso-PGF2α predicted CV events and CV and non-CV deaths. The addition of tertiles of 8-iso-PGF2α to CHA2DS2-VASc score improved ROC curves for each outcome and NRI for CV events (0.24 [0.06-0.53] p=0.0067). The study shows that in AF patients 8-iso-PGF2α and NOX2 levels are predictive of CV events and total mortality. F2-IsoP may complement conventional risk factors in prediction of CV events.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Area Under Curve; Atrial Fibrillation; Biomarkers; Brain Ischemia; Cause of Death; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Dinoprost; Female; Humans; Incidence; Ischemic Attack, Transient; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Male; Membrane Glycoproteins; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; NADPH Oxidase 2; NADPH Oxidases; Oxidative Stress; Predictive Value of Tests; Proportional Hazards Models; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; ROC Curve; Rome; Stroke; Time Factors

The Cardioversion of Atrial Fibrillation in Emergency (CAFE) study was an observational, retrospective, multicenter study focusing on patients with recent onset atrial fibrillation (AF) seen in six different Emergency Departments (ED) of Rome, Italy.. The aim of this study was to present the baseline characteristics and risk factors of the patients enrolled to the CAFE study.. We retrospectively reviewed 3085 eligible patients diagnosed with recent onset AF in any of the EDs between January 2008 and December 2009. Inclusion criteria required documented ICD-9 primary discharge/admission diagnosis of AF in the ED and stable hemodynamic conditions at presentation (systolic blood pressure > 90 mmHg). Exclusion criteria were permanent AF or an ongoing acute coronary syndrome.. Median age was 71 years (interquartile ranges, 62-78 years) and 50.8% were men. Palpitations was the most common symptom at ED presentation and was present in 73.5% of the study subjects. Hypertension was the most prevalent comorbidity, affecting 59.3% of the patients evaluated, and the presence of previous episode(s) of AF was also common (52.3%). Regarding home treatment, the drugs most prescribed were antiplatelets (31.2%) and diuretics (25.2%). A CHADS2 score of 0 was found in 814 patients (26.4%), while a CHADS2 score of 1 was reported in 1114 patients (36.1%). Finally, a CHADS2 score ≥ 2 was reported in 1157 patients (37.5%).. The present study represents an important snapshot of demographics, comorbidities, risk factors and anticoagulation management about patients with recent onset AF. Disparities were noted in anticoagulation management, suggesting that this is still a main problem among patients with AF.

Topics: Aged; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; Anticoagulants; Atrial Fibrillation; Chi-Square Distribution; Comorbidity; Diuretics; Emergency Service, Hospital; Female; Hemodynamics; Humans; Hypertension; Male; Middle Aged; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Predictive Value of Tests; Prevalence; Recurrence; Retrospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Rome

Atrial Fibrillation management is still a matter for debate. Past research has largely been based on the outpatient setting in which patients are followed during ambulatory visits. Very little data exist on the optimal management of AF in the Emergency Department (ED). This study investigated which factors drive different AF treatments in the ED, describing their use in different hospitals. Finally, the efficacy of different strategies in terms of cardioversion in the ED was analyzed. Charts of patients treated for atrial fibrillation (AF) were collected in 6 EDs in a large metropolitan area over a 24-consecutive month period and were reviewed and analysed. Demographics, comorbidities, treatment strategy and ED outcome were collected. Inclusion criteria were symptom onset <3 weeks and stable hemodynamic conditions at presentation. A propensity score was used to adjust for baseline clinical characteristics and to compare the efficacy of different treatments. 3,085 patients were included in the analysis. Variables associated with a rhythm control strategy were onset of symptoms <48 h, age, dyspnea, palpitations, renal failure and the presence of a mechanical valve. Different EDs applied different strategies in terms of drugs used and the electrocardioversion rate, showing heterogeneity in AF management. Adjusting for the propensity score, electrocardioversion and antidysrhythmic drugs of class Ic were more effective than a wait-and-watch strategy in the ED. Despite international guidelines being respected, AF management is heterogeneous in different ED settings. A rhythm control strategy with electrocardioversion and Class Ic drugs is more effective than a wait-and watch approach during the ED visit. Further research, toward an evidence-based approach to the emergent management of AF in the ED, is still needed.

Topics: Aged; Atrial Fibrillation; Electric Countershock; Emergency Service, Hospital; Female; Guideline Adherence; Heart Rate; Humans; Length of Stay; Male; Middle Aged; Propensity Score; Retrospective Studies; Rome; Statistics, Nonparametric; Time Factors; Urban Population

It is known that warfarin treatment is problematic, due to its narrow therapeutic range and to the great interindividual variability. Numerous papers have shown the important contribution of CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genetic variants to this variability. Recently, a new SNP within the CYP4F2 gene was found associated with warfarin dose in the USA.. The aim of our work was to replicate this study in the Italian population and to assess the new CYP4F2 variant relative contribution in explaining warfarin dose variability with respect to CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genetic variants together with age and weight.. CYP4F2 rs2108622 genotyping was performed by allelic discrimination assay by TaqMan technology. Analysis of variance and multiple linear regression analyses were carried out to examine the contribution of genetic and nongenetic factors.. Our TT patients require 5.49 mg/day versus 2.93 mg/day of our CC patients. Analysis of variance indicates that about 7% of mean weekly warfarin dose variance is explained by CYP4F2 genotype. Our linear regression model including CYP4F2, CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genetic variants, age and weight, explains 60.5% of the interindividual variability.. Our data confirm and strengthen the role of this variant.

Topics: Aged; Anticoagulants; Atrial Fibrillation; Cohort Studies; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; Cytochrome P450 Family 4; DNA; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Genetic Variation; Genotype; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; Humans; Italy; Male; Mixed Function Oxygenases; Rome; Venous Thrombosis; Vitamin K Epoxide Reductases; Warfarin

Determinants of long-term outcome are not well defined in minor stroke patients. This study aims to evaluate which factors are independent long-term predictors of death and major stroke recurrence in a cohort of minor ischemic strokes.. A cohort of 322 patients with first-ever minor ischemic strokes (mean age, 55 years; 89% were treated with antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs) with minor (Rankin score=2) or no disability (Rankin score <2) were followed for 10 years, with only 6% lost to follow-up. Death and major stroke recurrence rates were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of factors with P<.1 at the log-rank test were evaluated by multivariate Cox analysis.. The 10-year mortality rate was 32%, with a relative risk of 1.7 (95% CI, 1.4 to 2.1) compared with the age- and sex-matched general population. The 10-year recurrence rate of major strokes was 14%. The hazard ratio (95% CI) of death was 1.1 (1.05 to 1.09) for age (1-year increments), 3.4 (2.2 to 5.2) for minor disability, 1.8 (1.1 to 3.1) for myocardial infarction (MI), 2.0 (1.1 to 3.7) for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, and 1.8 (1.2 to 2.7) for hypercholesterolemia. The hazard ratio (95% CI) of major stroke recurrence was 2.8 (1.3 to 6.2) for recurrent minor strokes, 3.1 (1.9 to 4.6) for nonlacunar stroke, 2.9 (1.3 to 6.8) for MI, and 3.0 (1.4 to 6.4) for hypertension.. In minor ischemic strokes, age, minor disability, MI, nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, and hypercholesterolemia increase the risk of death; recurrent minor strokes, nonlacunar stroke, MI, and hypertension increase the risk of major stroke.

Topics: Age Factors; Aged; Anticoagulants; Atrial Fibrillation; Brain Ischemia; Case-Control Studies; Cause of Death; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Cohort Studies; Confidence Intervals; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; Hypertension; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Myocardial Infarction; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Prognosis; Proportional Hazards Models; Recurrence; Risk Factors; Rome