Zakeri, R, Morgan, JM, Phillips, P et al. (9 more authors) (2020) Prevalence and prognostic significance of device-detected subclinical atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction. International Journal of Cardiology, 312. pp. 64-70. ISSN 0167-5273
Abstract
Background
Cardiac implanted electronic devices (CIEDs) can detect short durations of previously unrecognised atrial fibrillation (AF). The prognostic significance of device-detected subclinical AF, in the context of contemporary heart failure (HF) therapy, is unclear.
Methods
Amongst patients enrolled in the Remote Monitoring in HF with implanted devices (REM-HF) trial, three categories were defined based on total AF duration in the first year of follow-up: no AF, subclinical AF (≥6 min to ≤24 h), and AF >24 h. All-cause mortality, stroke, and cardiovascular hospitalisation were assessed.
Results
1561 patients (94.6%) had rhythm data: 71 (4.6%) had subclinical AF (median of 4 episodes, total duration 3.1 h) and 279 (17.9%) had AF >24 h. During 2.8 ± 0.8 years' follow-up, 39 (2.5%) patients had a stroke. Stroke rate was highest amongst patients with subclinical AF (2.0 per 100-person years) versus no AF or AF >24 h (0.8 and 1.0 per 100-person years, respectively). In the overall cohort, AF >24 h was not an independent predictor of stroke. However, amongst patients with no history of AF (n = 932), new-onset subclinical AF conferred a three-fold higher stroke risk (adjusted HR 3.35, 95%CI 1.15–9.77, p = 0.027). AF >24 h was associated with more frequent emergency cardiovascular hospitalisation (adjusted HR 1.46, 95%CI 1.19–1.79, p < 0.0005). Neither AF classification was associated with mortality.
Conclusions
In patients with HF and a CIED, subclinical AF was infrequent but, as a new finding, was associated with an increased risk of stroke. Anticoagulation remains an important consideration in this population, particularly when the clinical profile indicates a high stroke risk.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Keywords: | Atrial fibrillation; Heart failure; Cardiac implanted electronic device; Stroke |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Medicine (Leeds) > Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine (LICAMM) > Clinical & Population Science Dept (Leeds) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number NIHR National Inst Health Research NIHR-CS--012-032 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 05 Jun 2020 12:24 |
Last Modified: | 05 Jun 2020 12:24 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier BV |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.ijcard.2020.03.008 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:161460 |