OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to evaluate the associations of transthoracic echocardiographic parameters with recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) and/or stroke. BACKGROUND The Atrial Fibrillation Follow-up Investigation of Rhythm Management (AFFIRM) study, an evaluation of elderly patients with AF at risk for stroke, provided an opportunity to evaluate the implications of echocardiogr...

BACKGROUND A key procedure of the rhythm control strategy in atrial fibrillation (AF) is cardioversion to normal sinus rhythm. The aim of the present study was to provide a review of treatment patterns for the cardioversion of patients with AF in a hospital setting in Poland and document the success rate of various cardioversion procedures. METHODS We herein present the results from Poland of...

BACKGROUND Obesity begets atrial fibrillation (AF). Although cardiorespiratory fitness is protective against incident AF in obese individuals, its effect on AF recurrence or the benefit of cardiorespiratory fitness gain is unknown. OBJECTIVES This study sought to evaluate the role of cardiorespiratory fitness and the incremental benefit of cardiorespiratory fitness improvement on rhythm contr...

The association between non-rheumatic atrial fibrillation (AF) and stroke has been studied in 402 patients consecutively admitted to a stroke unit. Brain infarction patients with sinus rhythm (n = 196) and non-rheumatic AF (n = 92) were further compared. Some findings supported an embolic origin of the stroke: half of the deceased AF patients (n = 24) at autopsy either had left atrial thrombosi...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of 3 months vs. 18 months of amiodarone treatment after atrial fibrillation (AF) conversion in patients who experienced the first episode of persistent AF. METHODS We included 51 patients who experienced the first episode of persistent AF receiving amiodarone (600 mg) daily for 4-6 weeks. If AF persisted, electrical cardioversion (EC...

This systematic review assessed the impact of atrial fibrillation (AF) and pharmacotherapy on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in elderly patients. Highly prevalent in the elderly, AF is associated with morbidity and symptoms affecting HRQOL. A PubMed and EMBASE search (1999-2010) was conducted using the terms atrial fibrillation, elderly, quality of life, Medicare, and Medicaid. In all, ...

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major public health problem and its complications lead to increased hospitalizations, mortality and healthcare costs [1,2]. Advanced age (>75 years), history of prior stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), presence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiac failure and vascular disease are all associated with nonvalvular AF patients and the risk of c omplicati...

BACKGROUND Echocardiographic left atrial (LA) strain parameters have been associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) in prior studies. Our goal was to determine if strain measures [peak systolic longitudinal strain (LAS) and stiffness index (LASt)] changed after cardioversion (CV); and their relation to AF recurrence. METHODS AND RESULTS 46 participants with persistent AF and 41 age-matched par...

The association between non-rheumatic atrial fibrillation (AF) and stroke has been studied in 402 patients consecutively admitted to a stroke unit. Brain infarction patients with sinus rhythm (n = 196) and non-rheumatic AF (n = 92) were further compared. Some findings supported an embolic origin of the stroke: half of the deceased AF patients (n = 24) at autopsy either had left atrial thrombosi...

Continuous monitoring of cardiac rhythm may play an important role in measuring the true symptomatic/asymptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) burden and improve the management of anti-arrhythmic and anti-thrombotic therapies. Forty-seven patients with mitral valve disease and longstanding persistent AF (LSPAF) underwent a left atrial maze procedure with bipolar radiofrequency and valve surgery. Th...