BackgroundAtrial fibrillation is associated with higher mortality. Identification of causes of death and contemporary risk factors for all‐cause mortality may guide interventions.Methods and ResultsIn the Rivaroxaban Once Daily Oral Direct Factor Xa Inhibition Compared with Vitamin K Antagonism for Prevention of Stroke and Embolism Trial in Atrial Fibrillation (ROCKET AF) study, patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation were randomized to rivaroxaban or dose‐adjusted warfarin. Cox proportional hazards regression with backward elimination identified factors at randomization that were independently associated with all‐cause mortality in the 14 171 participants in the intention‐to‐treat population. The median age was 73 years, and the mean CHADS 2 score was 3.5. Over 1.9 years of median follow‐up, 1214 (8.6%) patients died. Kaplan–Meier mortality rates were 4.2% at 1 year and 8.9% at 2 years. The majority of classified deaths (1081) were cardiovascular (72%), whereas only 6% were nonhemorrhagic stroke or systemic embolism. No significant difference in all‐cause mortality was observed between the rivaroxaban and warfarin arms (P=0.15). Heart failure (hazard ratio 1.51, 95% CI 1.33–1.70, P<0.0001) and age ≥75 years (hazard ratio 1.69, 95% CI 1.51–1.90, P<0.0001) were associated with higher all‐cause mortality. Multiple additional characteristics were independently associated with higher mortality, with decreasing creatinine clearance, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, male sex, peripheral vascular disease, and diabetes being among the most strongly associated (model C‐index 0.677).ConclusionsIn a large population of patients anticoagulated for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, ≈7 in 10 deaths were cardiovascular, whereas <1 in 10 deaths were caused by nonhemorrhagic stroke or systemic embolism. Optimal prevention and treatment of heart failure, renal impairment, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes may improve survival.Clinical Trial Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/. Unique identifier: NCT00403767.

Classe I: evidência ou concordância geral de que o tratamento é benéfico, útil e eficaz.Classe II: evidência conflitante e/ou divergência de opinião quanto à utilidade e à eficácia do tratamento.Classe IIa: forças das evidências/opiniões em favor da utilidade e da eficácia.Classe IIb: forças das evidências/opiniões menos bem estabelecidas quanto à utilidade e à eficácia.Classe III: evidência ou concordância geral de que o tratamento não é útil/eficaz e em alguns casos pode ser prejudicial. Nível de evidência A: presença de múltiplos estudos clínicos randomizados.Nível de evidência B: presença de um único estudo clínico randomizado ou de estudos não-randomizados.Nível de evidência C: consenso de especialistas.O nível de evidência será apresentado apenas para os tratamentos do infarto do miocárdio, não se aplicando aos procedimentos diagnósticos. Todos os métodos complementares deverão ser realizados por profissionais experientes, segundo as recomendações específicas de cada especialidade.

In a prospective study 51 consecutive patients who survived the acute phase of inferior wall myocardial infarction underwent coronary arteriography. Eleven patients developed some degree of atrioventricular (AV) block in the acute phase of infarction that disappeared within a few days and was considered by electrocardiographic analysis to be located in the AV node. Patients with AV block during acute myocardial infarction had a significantly higher prevalence of left anterior descending coronary artery obstruction (91 versus 55%, p less than 0.05) than did patients without AV block and the obstruction preceded the exit of the first septal perforator branch in 73% of cases with heart block and in 30% of cases without block (p less than 0.01). The sensitivity, specificity and predictive values were 31, 95 and 91%, respectively, for the existence of left anterior descending coronary artery obstruction when AV block occurred during acute inferior myocardial infarction, and 40, 90 and 73%, respectively, for the occurrence of the coronary artery obstruction before the exit of the first septal perforator branch. Patients with inferior myocardial infarction and left anterior descending coronary artery obstruction have a sixfold greater chance of developing heart block in the acute phase of infarction than do patients with inferior infarction without such obstruction (p less than 0.05). These findings also support the observations that the proximal AV conduction system usually has a dual arterial blood supply from both the right and left anterior descending coronary arteries, and may explain the transient behavior of heart block and lack of necrosis of the AV node seen in these patients.

Background Risk stratification in Brugada Syndrome (BS) remains a clinical challenge. Several electrocardiografic (ECG) risk markers had been described, as a spontaneous type 1 Brugada pattern (ST1B), maximal time interval between the peak and the end of the t wave in precordial leads (Tpe Max), the presence of an S Wave on DI, a PR interval (PRi) ≥ 200ms and fragmented QRS (f-QRS). Purpose Evaluate the association of ECG risk markers with sudden cardiac death (SCD) or appropriate shocks (A-Sh) by implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in patients (p) with BS. Methods From a registry of 97 p with BS with a median follow up of 2.3 years (Q1 0.7-Q3 7.8), 12 lead ECG were recorded in every p. QT peak interval (QTp) was measured between the QRS onset and the peak of the T wave. Tpe was calculated between the difference of QT and QTp in precordial leads (V1 to V6). TpeMax was defined as the most prolonged Tpe. If an S-DI was present, duration and amplitude was measured. PRi was measured on DII. Baseline characteristics: Age 44 ± 13 years, male 74 (76%), secondary prevention 2 (3%), malignant syncope 10 (10%), inducible electrophysiology study 22/43 (51%), SCD on first grade family &lt; 35 years 12 (12%) and ICD 34 (35%). A-Sh and SCD were compared among p with ST1B vs no ST1B, TpeMax≥100 vs &lt;100ms, S-DI ≥0.4 vs &lt;0.4ms, S-D ≥0.1 vs &lt;0.1mV, PRi≥200 vs &lt;200ms and presence of f-QRS ≥ 2 spike ≥ 2 leads. Variables that were associated with A-Sh or SCD were combined. For variables with significant difference sensibility (Sen) and specificity (Spe) was calculated. Results During follow up 6 p presented A-Sh and no p SCD. Results are described in the Table. Conclusion In our study population, there was a significant higher incidence of A-Sh in p with ST1B, Tpe Max ≥ 100ms and S-DI ≥ 0.1mV. We found that the presence of one ECG risk marker had a high sensibility to predict A-Sh. The presence of the 3 ECG risk markers highly increased specificity to predict A-Sh. Further trials should be carried out to asses if ECG risk markers would allow us to differentiate which asymptomatic patients could benefit from electrophysiological study for risk stratification (high sensibility - One ECG Risk marker) or would benefit from ICD implantation (high specificity - 3 ECG Risk markers). Abstract Figure.

Introduction The benefit of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients (pts) with left ventricular dysfunction is mainly evaluated in multicenter studies with a follow up of 6, 12 or 24 months (m). Objectives To describe the response of pts implanted with a CRT-D/P, from a single center prospective registry, at 12, 24, 36 and 48 m. Methods Between june 2009 and june 2018, 381 pts implanted with CRT-D/P were followed at 12, 24, 36 and 48 m. Indications were performed according to international guidelines. Primary prevention: 335 pts (88%). The A-V and V-V delay were programmed according the results of Cardiac Doppler after implantation and when it was necesary. All pts had an out patient control and 10% remote monitoring control. The pts were considered Responders: decrease ≥ 1 FC NYHA or increase LVEF ≥ 5% (absolute), Super-Responders: increase LVEF ≥ 10% (absolute) and with LVEF normalization: LVEF ≥ 50%. Baseline characteristics: Age 64 ± 11 years, men 268 p (70%), ischemic cardiomyopathy 144 pts (38%), nonischemic cardiomyopathy 237 (62%), FC II-III NYHA 341 p (90%), LBBB 246 p (72%), mean QRSd 165 ± 27ms, mean LVDD 68 ± 10mm, mean LVSD 56 ± 12mm, and mean LVEF 24 ± 9%. Pts were on β-blockers (93%), ACEi/ARBs (90%), mineral receptor blockers (83%) and diuretics (73%). Results Responders: 227/276 pts (82%) at 12 m, 184/224 pts (82%) at 24 m, 141/180 p (78%) at 36 m and 112/137 (82%) at 48 m. Super-Responders: 92/186 pts (49%) at 12 m, 92/172 pts (53%) at 24 m, 71/128 (55%) at 36 m and 66/116 (57%) at 48 m. LVEF normalization: 22/186 pts (12%) at 12 m, 31/172 pts (18%) at 24 m, 24/128 pts (19%) at 36 m and 23/116 pts (20%) at 48 m. Conclusion In our study population, pts with CRT-D/P implanted according an appropriate indication, programming and follow up, with in-office and/or remote monitoring control, showed an elevated percentage of Responders, Super-Responders and LVEF normalization. The benefit was sustained or even incresed over time.