Background Clinical complexity is increasingly prevalent among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The ‘Atrial fibrillation Better Care’ (ABC) pathway approach has been proposed to streamline a more holistic and integrated approach to AF care; however, there are limited data on its usefulness among clinically complex patients. We aim to determine the impact of ABC pathway in a contemporary cohort of clinically complex AF patients. Methods From the ESC-EHRA EORP-AF General Long-Term Registry, we analysed clinically complex AF patients, defined as the presence of frailty, multimorbidity and/or polypharmacy. A K-medoids cluster analysis was performed to identify different groups of clinical complexity. The impact of an ABC-adherent approach on major outcomes was analysed through Cox-regression analyses and delay of event (DoE) analyses. Results Among 9966 AF patients included, 8289 (83.1%) were clinically complex. Adherence to the ABC pathway in the clinically complex group reduced the risk of all-cause death (adjusted HR [aHR]: 0.72, 95%CI 0.58–0.91), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs; aHR: 0.68, 95%CI 0.52–0.87) and composite outcome (aHR: 0.70, 95%CI: 0.58–0.85). Adherence to the ABC pathway was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of death (aHR: 0.74, 95%CI 0.56–0.98) and composite outcome (aHR: 0.76, 95%CI 0.60–0.96) also in the high-complexity cluster; similar trends were observed for MACEs. In DoE analyses, an ABC-adherent approach resulted in significant gains in event-free survival for all the outcomes investigated in clinically complex patients. Based on absolute risk reduction at 1 year of follow-up, the number needed to treat for ABC pathway adherence was 24 for all-cause death, 31 for MACEs and 20 for the composite outcome. Conclusions An ABC-adherent approach reduces the risk of major outcomes in clinically complex AF patients. Ensuring adherence to the ABC pathway is essential to improve clinical outcomes among clinically complex AF patients.

AbstractThe large epidemiological studies demonstrated that atrial fibrillation is correlated with high mortality and adverse events in patients with acute myocardial infarction. The aim of this study was to determinate predictors of atrial fibrillation develop during the hospital period in patients with acute myocardial infarction as well as short- and long-term mortality depending on the atrial fibrillation presentation. The 600 patients with an acute myocardial infarction were included in the study and follow-up 84 months. Atrial fibrillation develops during the hospital period was registered in 48 patients (8%). After adjustment by logistic regression model the strongest predictor of atrial fibrillation develop during the hospital period was older age, particularly more than 70 years (odds ratio 2.37, CI 1.23-4.58, p=0.010), followed by increased of Body Mass Index (odds ratio 1.17, CI 1.04-1.33, p=0.012), enlarged diameter of left atrium (LA) (odds ratio 1,18, CI 1,03-1,33, p=0,015) presentation of mitral regurgitation (odds ratio 3.56, CI 1.25-10.32, p=0.018) and B-type natriuretic peptide (odds ratio 2.12, CI 1.24-3.33, p=0.048).Patients with atrial fibrillation develop during the hospital period had a higher mortality during the hospital course (10.4% vs. 5.6%) p=0.179. as well as follow-up period of 84 months than patients without it (64.6% vs. 39.1%) p=0.569, than patients without it, but without statistically significance. Patients with AF develop during the hospital period had higher mortality during the hospital course as well as follow up period of 84 months than patients without it, but without statistically significance.

Aims The 4S-AF classification scheme comprises of four domains: stroke risk (St), symptoms (Sy), severity of atrial fibrillation (AF) burden (Sb), and substrate (Su). We sought to examine the implementation of the 4S-AF scheme in the EORP-AF General Long-Term Registry and compare outcomes in AF patients according to the 4S-AF-led decision-making process. Methods and results  Atrial fibrillation patients from 250 centres across 27 European countries were included. A 4S-AF score was calculated as the sum of each domain with a maximum score of 9. Of 6321 patients, 8.4% had low (St), 47.5% EHRA I (Sy), 40.5% newly diagnosed or paroxysmal AF (Sb), and 5.1% no cardiovascular risk factors or left atrial enlargement (Su). Median follow-up was 24 months. Using multivariable Cox regression analysis, independent predictors of all-cause mortality were (St) [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 8.21, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.60–25.9], (Sb) (aHR 1.21, 95% CI: 1.08–1.35), and (Su) (aHR 1.27, 95% CI: 1.14–1.41). For CV mortality and any thromboembolic event, only (Su) (aHR 1.73, 95% CI: 1.45–2.06) and (Sy) (aHR 1.29, 95% CI: 1.00–1.66) were statistically significant, respectively. None of the domains were independently linked to ischaemic stroke or major bleeding. Higher 4S-AF score was related to a significant increase in all-cause mortality, CV mortality, any thromboembolic event, and ischaemic stroke but not major bleeding. Treatment of all 4S-AF domains was associated with an independent decrease in all-cause mortality (aHR 0.71, 95% CI: 0.55–0.92). For each 4S-AF domain left untreated, the risk of all-cause mortality increased substantially (aHR 1.35, 95% CI: 1.16–1.56). Conclusion  Implementation of the novel 4S-AF scheme is feasible, and treatment decisions based on this scheme improve mortality rates in AF.

Background Frailty is a medical syndrome characterised by reduced physiological reserve and increased vulnerability to stressors. Data regarding the relationship between frailty and atrial fibrillation (AF) are still inconsistent. Objectives We aim to perform a comprehensive evaluation of frailty in a large European cohort of AF patients. Methods A 40-item frailty index (FI) was built according to the accumulation of deficits model in the AF patients enrolled in the ESC-EHRA EORP-AF General Long-Term Registry. Association of baseline characteristics, clinical management, quality of life, healthcare resources use and risk of outcomes with frailty was examined. Results Among 10,177 patients [mean age (standard deviation) 69.0 (11.4) years, 4,103 (40.3%) females], 6,066 (59.6%) were pre-frail and 2,172 (21.3%) were frail, whereas only 1,939 (19.1%) were considered robust. Baseline thromboembolic and bleeding risks were independently associated with increasing FI. Frail patients with AF were less likely to be treated with oral anticoagulants (OACs) (odds ratio 0.70, 95% confidence interval 0.55–0.89), especially with non-vitamin K antagonist OACs and managed with a rhythm control strategy, compared with robust patients. Increasing frailty was associated with a higher risk for all outcomes examined, with a non-linear exponential relationship. The use of OAC was associated with a lower risk of outcomes, except in patients with very/extremely high frailty. Conclusions In this large cohort of AF patients, there was a high burden of frailty, influencing clinical management and risk of adverse outcomes. The clinical benefit of OAC is maintained in patients with high frailty, but not in very high/extremely frail ones.

We present a case of successful radiofrequency ablation of right-sided accessory pathways (APs) in Ebstein anomaly performed with a guidance of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE). Despite complex cardiac anatomy, the use of ICE enabled precise allocation and tagging of the anatomical tricuspid annulus which then served as ablation target for multiple APs.

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IntroductionAcute aortic type III dissection is one of the most catastrophic events, with in-hospital mortality ranging between 10% and 12%. The majority of patients are treated medically, but complicated dissections, which represent 15% to 20% of cases, require surgical or thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). For the best outcomes adequate blood transfusion support is required. Interest in the relationship between blood type and vascular disease has been established. The aim of our study is to evaluate distribution of blood groups among patients with acute aortic type III dissection and to identify any kind of relationship between blood type and patient’s survival.Material and methodsFrom January 2005 to December 2014, 115 patients with acute aortic type III dissection were enrolled at the Clinic of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery in Belgrade, Serbia and retrospectively analyzed. Patients were separated into two groups. The examination group consisted of patients with a lethal outcome, and the control group consisted of patients who survived.ResultsThe analysis of the blood groups and RhD typing between groups did not reveal a statistically significant difference (p = 0.220).ConclusionsOur results indicated no difference between different blood groups and RhD typing with respect to in-hospital mortality of patients with acute aortic dissection type III.

Background/Aim. The onset of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the acute phase of myocardial infarction (MI) may be a predictor of poor prognosis. The aim of our study was to examine this relationship. Methods. Six hundred patients were enrolled in the study and divided into two groups. The first group included 48 patients with new-onset AF and the second group of 552 patients without this arrhythmia. Patients with previously registered AF were excluded from the study. We investigated the correlation between new-onset AF and intra-hospital mortality as well as mortality during the follow-up period of 48 months. We also analyzed predictors of this arrhythmia. Results. Newonset AF was registered in 48 (8%) patients. The independent predictors of this arrhythmia were older age, particularly more than 70 years [odds ratio 2.37; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.23-4.58) and increased body mass index (odds ratio 1.17; 95% CI 1.04-1.33). Patients with new-onset AF had a higher mortality during the hospital course than patients without AF, but this difference was not statistically significant (10.4% vs 5.6%, p = 0.179). Patients with this arrhythmia had also a higher mortality after follow-up period of 48 months than patients without AF (33.3 % vs 17.8%, p = 0.009). Major adverse cardiac and cardiovascular events (MACCE) defined as death, recurrent MI, revascularization, and stroke were more after registered in patients with new-onset AF than in those with no this arrhythmia after follow-up period of 48 months (52.1% vs 33.9%, p = 0.011). However, multivariate Cox's regression analysis demonstrated that new-onset AF was not an independent predictor of mortality during the follow-up period of 48 months (HR 0.68; 95% CI 0.38-1.20; p = 0.182). Conclusion. New-onset AF in patients with MI was associated with a higher mortality as well as MACCE after the follow-up period of 48 months but was not an independent predictor of mortality during this period.