AIMS: Treatment patterns were compared between randomized groups in EAST-AFNET 4 to assess whether differences in anticoagulation, therapy of concomitant diseases, or intensity of care can explain the clinical benefit achieved with early rhythm control in EAST-AFNET 4. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cardiovascular treatment patterns and number of visits were compared between randomized groups in EAST-AFNET 4. Oral anticoagulation was used in >90% of patients during follow-up without differences between randomized groups. There were no differences in treatment of concomitant conditions between groups. The type of rhythm control varied by country and centre. Over time, antiarrhythmic drugs were given to 1171/1395 (84%) patients in early therapy, and to 202/1394 (14%) in usual care. Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation was performed in 340/1395 (24%) patients randomized to early therapy, and in 168/1394 (12%) patients randomized to usual care. 97% of rhythm control therapies were within class I and class III recommendations of AF guidelines. Patients randomized to early therapy transmitted 297 166 telemetric electrocardiograms (ECGs) to a core lab. In total, 97 978 abnormal ECGs were sent to study sites. The resulting difference between study visits was low (0.06 visits/patient/year), with slightly more visits in early therapy (usual care 0.39 visits/patient/year; early rhythm control 0.45 visits/patient/year, P < 0.001), mainly due to visits for symptomatic AF recurrences or recurrent AF on telemetric ECGs. CONCLUSION: The clinical benefit of early, systematic rhythm control therapy was achieved using variable treatment patterns of antiarrhythmic drugs and AF ablation, applied within guideline recommendations.

• Klíčová slova
• Ablation, Antiarrhythmic drugs, Anticoagulation, Atrial fibrillation, Cardiovascular death, Heart failure, Rhythm control therapy, Stroke,
• MeSH
• antiarytmika terapeutické užití   MeSH
• antikoagulancia terapeutické užití   MeSH
• cévní mozková příhoda * terapie   MeSH
• fibrilace síní * diagnóza   farmakoterapie   MeSH
• katetrizační ablace * škodlivé účinky   metody   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• sekundární prevence MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• randomizované kontrolované studie MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antiarytmika MeSH
• antikoagulancia MeSH

AIMS: This post hoc analysis of ELIMINATE-AF evaluated requirements of unfractionated heparin (UFH) and procedure-related bleeding in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients undergoing ablation with uninterrupted edoxaban or vitamin K antagonist (VKA) therapy. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients were randomized 2:1 to once-daily edoxaban 60 mg (or dose-reduced 30 mg) or dose-adjusted VKA (target international normalized ratio: 2.0-3.0). Uninterrupted anticoagulation was mandated for 21-28 days' pre-ablation and 90 days' post-ablation. During ablation, UFH administration targeted an activated clotting time (ACT) of 300-400 s. Periprocedural bleeding was differentiated between procedure-related (bleeding at puncture side, cardiac tamponade) and unrelated events. Of 614 randomized patients, 553 received study drug and underwent catheter ablation (edoxaban n = 375; VKA n = 178). The median (Q1-Q3) time from last dose to ablation procedure was 14.8 (13.3-16.5) vs. 16.5 (14.8-19.5) h (edoxaban vs. VKA group, respectively). Mean ACT (SD) ≥300 s was observed in 52% edoxaban- vs. 76% VKA-treated patients, despite a higher mean (SD) UFH dose in the edoxaban vs. VKA group [14 261 (6397) IU vs. 11 473 (4300) IU; exploratory P-value < 0.0001]. In the edoxaban group, 13 patients (3.5%) had procedure-related bleeds of whom 9 had received an UFH dose above the median (13 000 IU). In the VKA arm, 7 patients (3.9%) had procedure-related bleeds of whom 3 had received an UFH dose above the median (10 225 IU). CONCLUSION: The rate of procedure-related major/clinically relevant non-major bleeding did not differ between the treatment arms despite higher doses of UFH used with edoxaban vs. VKA to achieve a target ACT during AF ablation.

• Klíčová slova
• Ablation, Anticoagulant, Atrial fibrillation, Edoxaban, Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants, Periprocedural anticoagulation,
• MeSH
• antikoagulancia škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• aplikace orální MeSH
• fibrilace síní * diagnóza   farmakoterapie   chirurgie   MeSH
• heparin škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• katetrizační ablace * škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• pyridiny MeSH
• thiazoly MeSH
• vitamin K MeSH
• výsledek terapie MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• randomizované kontrolované studie MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antikoagulancia MeSH
• edoxaban MeSH Prohlížeč
• heparin MeSH
• pyridiny MeSH
• thiazoly MeSH
• vitamin K MeSH

• MeSH
• hodnocení rizik MeSH
• konsensus MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• srdeční arytmie * diagnóza   terapie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Asie MeSH
• Latinská Amerika MeSH

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated atrial fibrillation (AF) patients' perceptions of anticoagulation treatment with dabigatran or a vitamin K antagonist (VKA) for stroke prevention, according to accepted indications. METHODS: The RE-SONANCE observational, prospective, multicentre, international study used the validated Perception on Anticoagulant Treatment Questionnaire (PACT-Q) to assess patients with AF already taking a VKA who were switched to dabigatran (cohort A), and newly diagnosed patients initiated on either dabigatran or a VKA (cohort B). Visit 1 (V1) was at baseline, and visit 2 (V2) and visit 3 (V3) were at 30-45 and 150-210 days after baseline, respectively. Primary outcomes were treatment satisfaction and convenience in cohort A at V2 and V3 versus baseline, and in cohort B for dabigatran and a VKA at V2 and V3. RESULTS: The main analysis set comprised 4100 patients in cohort A and 5365 in cohort B (dabigatran: 3179; VKA: 2186). In cohort A, PACT-Q2 improved significantly (p<0.001 for all) for treatment convenience (mean change V1 vs V2=20.72; SD=21.50; V1 vs V3=24.54; SD=22.85) and treatment satisfaction (mean change V1 vs V2=17.60; SD=18.76; V1 vs V3=21.04; SD=20.24). In cohort B, mean PACT-Q2 scores at V2 and V3 were significantly higher (p<0.001 for all) for dabigatran versus a VKA for treatment convenience (V2=18.38; SE =0.51; V3=23.34; SE=0.51) and satisfaction (V2=15.88; SE=0.39; V3=19.01; SE=0.41). CONCLUSIONS: Switching to dabigatran from long-term VKA therapy or newly initiated dabigatran is associated with improved patient treatment convenience and satisfaction compared with VKA therapy.

• Klíčová slova
• atrial fibrillation, quality of care and outcomes, stroke,
• MeSH
• antikoagulancia aplikace a dávkování   škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• antitrombiny aplikace a dávkování   škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• aplikace orální MeSH
• časové faktory MeSH
• cévní mozková příhoda diagnóza   etiologie   prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• dabigatran aplikace a dávkování   škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• fibrilace síní komplikace   diagnóza   farmakoterapie   MeSH
• krvácení chemicky indukované   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• náhrada léků MeSH
• ochranné faktory MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• spokojenost pacientů * MeSH
• vitamin K antagonisté a inhibitory   MeSH
• výsledek terapie MeSH
• zdraví - znalosti, postoje, praxe * MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• multicentrická studie MeSH
• pozorovací studie MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH
• Izrael MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antikoagulancia MeSH
• antitrombiny MeSH
• dabigatran MeSH
• vitamin K MeSH

Self-terminating atrial arrhythmias are commonly detected on continuous rhythm monitoring, e.g. by pacemakers or defibrillators. It is unclear whether the presence of these arrhythmias has therapeutic consequences. We sought to summarize evidence on the prevalence of atrial high-rate episodes (AHREs) and their impact on risk of stroke. We performed a comprehensive, tabulated review of published literature on the prevalence of AHRE. In patients with AHRE, but without atrial fibrillation (AF), we reviewed the stroke risk and the potential risk/benefit of oral anticoagulation. Atrial high-rate episodes are found in 10-30% of AF-free patients. Presence of AHRE slightly increases stroke risk (0.8% to 1%/year) compared with patients without AHRE. Atrial high-rate episode of longer duration (e.g. those >24 h) could be associated with a higher stroke risk. Oral anticoagulation has the potential to reduce stroke risk in patients with AHRE but is associated with a rate of major bleeding of 2%/year. Oral anticoagulation is not effective in patients with heart failure or survivors of a stroke without AF. It remains unclear whether anticoagulation is effective and safe in patients with AHRE. Atrial high-rate episodes are common and confer a slight increase in stroke risk. There is true equipoise on the best way to reduce stroke risk in patients with AHRE. Two ongoing trials (NOAH-AFNET 6 and ARTESiA) will provide much-needed information on the effectiveness and safety of oral anticoagulation using non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants in patients with AHRE.

• Klíčová slova
• Anticoagulation, Atrial fibrillation, Atrial high-rate episodes, Continuous monitoring, Pacemaker, Stroke,
• MeSH
• antikoagulancia terapeutické užití   MeSH
• celosvětové zdraví MeSH
• cévní mozková příhoda epidemiologie   etiologie   prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• fibrilace síní komplikace   farmakoterapie   epidemiologie   MeSH
• hodnocení rizik metody   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• prevalence MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• srdeční frekvence fyziologie   MeSH
• srdeční síně patofyziologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antikoagulancia MeSH

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the association of atrial fibrillation symptom burden with quality of life and outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the Prevention of Thromboembolic Events-European Registry in Atrial Fibrillation (n=6196 patients with atrial fibrillation; mean±SD age, 71.8±10.4 years; 39.7% women), we assessed European Heart Rhythm Association score symptoms and calculated correlations with the standardized health status questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L). Patients were followed up for atrial fibrillation therapies and outcomes (stroke/transient ischemic attack/arterial thromboembolism, coronary events, heart failure, and major bleeding) over 1 year. Most individuals (92%) experienced symptoms. Correlations with health status and quality of life were modest. In multivariable-adjusted regression models, the dichotomized European Heart Rhythm Association score (intermediate/frequent versus never/occasional symptoms) was associated with cardioversions (odds ratio [OR], 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.45) and catheter ablation (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.44-2.69), and inversely related with heart rate control (OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.70-0.92) and heart failure incidence (OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.16-2.34). Anxiety was inversely related with stroke/transient ischemic attack/arterial thromboembolism (OR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.32-0.93), whereas chest pain related positively with coronary events (OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.42-4.22). Fatigue (OR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.30-2.60), dyspnea (OR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.63-3.33), and anxiety (OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.16-2.55) were associated with heart failure incidence. Palpitations were positively associated with cardioversion (OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.08-1.61) and ablation therapy (OR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.48-2.76). CONCLUSIONS: A higher symptom burden, in particular palpitations, predicted interventions to restore sinus rhythm. The score itself had limited predictive value, but its individual components were related to different and specific clinical events, and may thus be helpful to target patient management.

• Klíčová slova
• European Heart Rhythm Association score, anticoagulation, atrial fibrillation, atrial fibrillation symptoms, quality of life,
• MeSH
• ablace MeSH
• časové faktory MeSH
• elektrická defibrilace MeSH
• fibrilace síní diagnóza   epidemiologie   patofyziologie   chirurgie   MeSH
• kvalita života * MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• prediktivní hodnota testů MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• registrace MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• srdeční frekvence MeSH
• výsledek terapie MeSH
• zdravotní stav * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• multicentrická studie MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa epidemiologie   MeSH

Beta-blockers are a potential option to manage peri-operative atrial fibrillation. Landiolol is a new ultra-short beta-blocker with a half-life of only 4 minutes and very high beta-1 selectivity which has been used for treatment and prevention of atrial fibrillation in pulmonary surgery and gastro-intestinal surgery. Due to its limited negative inotropic effect and high beta-1 selectivity landiolol allows for control of heart rate with minimal impact on blood pressure. Landiolol is well tolerated by the respiratory system. Additional benefits are related to the regulation of the inflammatory response and blunting of the adrenergic pathway. There is a limited number of trials with total of 61 patients undergoing lung resection or oesophagectomy who developed post-operative atrial fibrillation and were treated with landiolol. The experience with landiolol for prevention is more documented than landiolol application for treatment of post-operative atrial fibrillation. There are 9 comparative studies with a total of 450 patients administered landiolol for prevention of post-operative atrial fibrillation. The use of low dosage (5-10mcg/kg/min) is usually sufficient to rapidly control heart rate which is associated with earlier and higher rate of conversion to sinus rhythm as compared to the controls. The excellent tolerance of landiolol at lower dosage (3-5mcg/kg/min) allows to initiate prophylactic use during surgery and postoperatively. Landiolol prophylaxis is associated with reduced incidence of post-operative atrial fibrillation without triggering adverse events related to a beta-blockade.

• Klíčová slova
• Antiarrhythmic therapy, Atrial fibrillation, Cardioversion, Diastolic dysfunction, Landiolol, Supraventricular arrhythmia,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is frequently associated with heart failure. Guidelines for AFib management have been recently updated and include an algorithm for acute heart rate control based on left ventricular ejection fraction and haemodynamics. Landiolol is an injectable ultra-short beta-blocker with very high beta-1 selectivity, listed in Japanese Guidelines for AFib management as potential option for rate control of patient with heart failure. Landiolol is now available in Europe with indication of controlling heart rate in AFib and supraventricular tachycardia. This review discusses existing clinical data in Japan and perspectives of landiolol use for acute rate control of AFib patients with cardiac dysfunction.

• Klíčová slova
• Atrial fibrillation, Beta-blockers, Heart failure, Landiolol, Supraventricular tachycardia,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH