Ethanol Infusion of the Vein of Marshall in Catheter Ablation of Persistent Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Mitral Valve Replacement.

Background: The effectiveness of ethanol infusion of the vein of Marshall (EIVOM) for persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with mitral valve replacement (MVR) remains to be determined.

Objectives: This study investigated the effectiveness and safety of EIVOM in catheter ablation of persistent AF in patients with MVR.

Methods: This is a retrospective case-control study.

Impact of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitor on Recurrence After Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With or Without Metabolic Syndrome.

Aims: The impact of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) on atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after catheter ablation is still inconclusive. Besides, their efficacy on AF recurrence stratified by metabolic syndrome (MetS) status remains unknown.

Methods: Patients with AF undergoing initial catheter ablation between January 2017 and December 2023 from the China-AF Registry were included.

Influenza vaccination to improve outcomes for patients with acute heart failure (PANDA II): a multiregional, seasonal, hospital-based, cluster-randomised, controlled trial in China.

Background: Influenza vaccination is widely recommended to prevent death and serious illness in vulnerable people, including those with heart failure. However, the randomised evidence to support this practice is limited and few people are vaccinated in many parts of the world. We aimed to determine whether influenza vaccination can improve the outcome of patients after an episode of acute heart failure requiring admission to hospital in China.

Statistical Analysis Plan for a Randomized Controlled Trial of Intensive Blood Pressure Control on Cardiovascular risk Reduction in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

Introduction: Elevated blood pressure (BP) is a key modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) complications in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). While current guidelines recommend modest BP targets, the optimal target in AF patients remains uncertain. The Cardiovascular Risk Reduction in Atrial Fibrillation Trial (CRAFT) is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded-endpoint trial that evaluates whether intensive home systolic BP control (<120 mmHg) is superior to standard BP control (<135 mmHg) in reducing major CV events.

Orthostatic Systolic Blood Pressure Elevation and Incident Atrial Fibrillation: Insights From the SPRINT Trial.

Exaggerated orthostatic changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP) were associated with adverse cardiovascular events. We aim to assess the association between orthostatic SBP changes and incident atrial fibrillation (AF). We performed a post hoc analysis of SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial).

Catheter Ablation vs Drug Therapy in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Nonmodifiable Recurrence Risk Factors: A Secondary Analysis of the CABANA Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Large-scale randomized studies evaluating the impact of catheter ablation on cardiovascular prognoses across different atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence risk profiles are lacking.

Objective: To investigate the benefits of catheter ablation in patients with varying numbers of nonmodifiable recurrence risk factors (NMRRFs).

Design, Setting, And Participants: This study was a post hoc subanalysis of the multinational, multicenter, open-label Catheter Ablation vs Anti-Arrhythmic Drug Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation (CABANA) randomized clinical trial, for which enrollment occurred from November 2009 to April 2016, with follow-up until December 31, 2017.

Population prevalence and correlates of prolonged and shortened QTc intervals in a nationwide survey of adults in China: a report from Chinese arrhythmia epidemiology cross-sectional study.

Objective: QT interval irregularities correlate with severe arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. However, epidemiological data on QT intervals in Chinese adults are lacking. This study aimed to elucidate the distribution of the QT interval (QTc) patterns in Chinese adults and the risk factors associated with a prolonged QTc interval and shortened QTc interval.

Clinical Characteristics and Prognosis of Acute Heart Failure in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

This study describes clinical profiles of acute heart failure (AHF) patients from the Heart Failure Registry of Patient Outcomes (HERO) study and evaluates the prognostic impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). HERO enrolled 5,620 hospitalized AHF patients (November 2017 to 2018); 4,428 were followed. Primary endpoint: composite all-cause death or heart failure (HF) readmission.

Impact of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor on recurrence and cardiovascular outcomes after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Background: The effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) on atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after catheter ablation in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains uncertain.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether SGLT2i treatment is associated with a reduced risk of AF recurrence after catheter ablation in patients with CKD.

Methods: From the prospective Chinese Atrial Fibrillation Registry, we identified 628 patients with AF and CKD undergoing initial catheter ablation from January 2019 to December 2023.

Catheter Ablation for Refractory Ventricular Tachycardia Early After Acute Myocardial Infarction: Management, electrophysiological characteristics and outcomes.

Background And Aims: Refractory ventricular tachycardia (VT) is a rare but lethal condition in the early phase of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Its intracardiac mechanism and role of catheter ablation is under-determined. The current study is to evaluate the feasibility and safety of catheter ablation for refractory ventricular tachycardia in early AMI.

Catheter Ablation for Ventricular Tachycardia in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Electrophysiological Characteristics and Long-Term Outcomes.

Background: Studies on catheter ablation of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)- ventricular tachycardia (VT) are relatively limited and mainly focused on feasibility and safety, whereas the VT distribution and electrophysiological properties remain insufficiently characterized.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to detail the site-specific electrophysiological properties and ablation outcomes in HCM-VT.

Methods: A total of 32 patients with HCM-VT who underwent catheter ablation were included.

Impact of disease progression avoidance by catheter ablation on clinical outcomes in atrial fibrillation: Insights from the CABANA trial.

Background: Delaying disease progression by catheter ablation has been recognized in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF); however, its direct association with clinical outcome improvement remains unclear.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of catheter ablation on reducing AF progression and associations with outcomes.

Methods: The Catheter Ablation vs Antiarrhythmic Drug Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation (CABANA) trial compared the efficacy of catheter ablation with drug therapy in 2204 patients with AF.

Predictive value of sudden cardiac death risk stratification for outcomes of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Prediction models for sudden cardiac death (SCD) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) incorporate factors that influence outcomes of catheter ablation (CA) of atrial fibrillation (AF).

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the outcomes of CA of AF in patients with HCM stratified by SCD risk.

Methods: Of the 23,904 patients who underwent CA of AF, 417 patients with HCM were screened.

Intensive Blood Pressure Control in Patients With Diabetes and Previous Stroke: A Post-Hoc Analysis of ACCORD-BP Trial.

Intensive systolic blood pressure (SBP) control reduces cardiovascular outcomes in hypertensive patients, but its effects in those with diabetes and prior stroke need further evidence. Among 4733 patients with elevated SBP enrolled in the ACCORD-BP (Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes-Blood Pressure) trial, this post-hoc analysis focused on 307 patients with type 2 diabetes and prior stroke to evaluate intensive versus standard SBP control. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), a composite of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke.

Development and validation of risk stratification and shared decision-making tool for catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure: a multicentre cohort study.

Background: The coexistence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) presents a significant challenge in risk evaluation and treatment decision-making. This study aimed to develop a shared decision-making tool that aids in risk stratification and guides radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) decisions for patients with AF and HF.

Methods: In this multicentre cohort study, we derived a shared decision-making tool by applying unsupervised clustering and supervised learning models to data from the China-AF registry, collected from 31 hospitals between August 1, 2011, and December 31, 2022.

Walking as a viable alternative to moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for improving cardiovascular outcomes in coronary artery disease patients.

Background: Home-based cardiac rehabilitation is recommended for coronary artery disease (CAD) patients, while exercise is the most important component. There is lack of evidence on whether walking alone can improve cardiovascular prognosis in CAD patients, particularly those unable to tolerate moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).

Methods: Participants with diagnosed CAD from the UK Biobank with baseline PA assessment were included.

Factors contributing to transient and persistent worsening renal function in elderly patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

Background: The aim of this study is to analyze the distinct characteristics and risk factors contributing to the development of worsening renal function (WRF) in elderly patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), while also examining the subset of persistent WRF among elderly patients with ADHF.

Methods: In this retrospective study, patients were stratified into two groups, non-WRF and WRF, based on alterations in creatinine levels. Subsequently, the WRF group was further delineated into transient and persistent WRF subgroups, contingent upon temporal changes in creatinine levels.

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and in-hospital bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation: findings from CCC-AF project.

Background And Aims: Emerging evidence indicates a relationship between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and bleeding. However, data regarding the relationship between LDL-C levels and bleeding events in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) remain unfilled. This study is aimed to examine the relationship between LDL-C levels and the risk of in-hospital bleeding in patients with AF.

Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Induced triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells 2 (TREM2) Downregulation Exacerbates Platelet Activation and Myocardial Infarction in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: Coronary artery disease is characterized by chronic immune-inflammation, excessive endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and platelet hyperactivity; however, whether there is a signaling hub linking these events remains unclear. Here, we identified that TREM2 (triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2), an important pattern recognition receptor of the innate immune system, may serve as one such hub.

Methods: TREM2 expression and ER stress were assessed in platelets.

Screening cognitive impairment in patients with atrial fibrillation: A deep learning model based on retinal fundus photographs.

Background: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) have a higher risk of cognitive impairment (CI). However, complexity of CI diagnosis and lack of simple screening approaches limited early screening and intervention of CI in AF patients.

Objective: Our study aimed to develop deep learning models based on fundus photographs for easy screening of CI in AF patients.

Association between cardiometabolic comorbidity and mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) often suffer from cardiometabolic comorbidities, but the impact of the type and number of cardiometabolic comorbidities on the prognosis of AF patients remain unclear.

Methods: From August 2011 to December 2018, 23,838 AF patients from the Chinese Atrial Fibrillation Registry (China-AF) Study were enrolled in this study. The all-cause and cardiovascular-cause mortality was described.

Left atrial posterior volume and posterior-anterior volume ratio as predictive factors for atrial fibrillation recurrence: Insights from regional atrial remodeling.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after catheter ablation poses a persistent clinical challenge. This study investigates the predictive value of left atrial posterior (LA-P) volume and the posterior-anterior volume ratio (PAVR) using computed tomography angiography (CTA).

Objective: This study aimed to assess the predictive significance of LA-P volume and PAVR for AF recurrence using CTA in patients undergoing catheter ablation.

Impact of atrial remodeling on efficacy of catheter ablation in reducing cardiovascular risk in atrial fibrillation: Results from CABANA trial.

Background: The efficacy of catheter ablation in reducing major adverse events in atrial fibrillation (AF) is still inconclusive, warranting identification of clinical markers.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore whether the benefits of catheter ablation varied across different extents of atrial remodeling in the CABANA (Catheter Ablation vs Antiarrhythmic Drug Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation) trial.

Methods: The CABANA trial randomized 2204 participants with AF to catheter ablation or drug therapy.

Patterns of Postablation Recurrence and Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Atrial arrhythmia recurrence after atrial fibrillation (AF) catheter ablation is conventionally assessed as a binary end point. However, the prognostic value of recurrence patterns is less studied.

Methods And Results: This study included patients undergoing catheter ablation from the multicenter China Atrial Fibrillation Registry study (2011-2022).