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AF Awareness Month calls attention to common arrhythmia
September is Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month. Designated by Congress in 2009 following efforts from the Heart Rhythm Society, StopAFib.org and other organizations, Septembers since then have been devoted to the promotion of AF awareness programs and initiatives.
This year’s efforts include the creation of a song.
Healio routinely covers research on AF, including diagnosis, medical therapy, catheter ablation and stroke prevention. Below is a list of some recent highlights.
Wearable smart devices effectively identify patients with suspected AF
PARIS — A mobile app using photoplethysmography via smartwatch technology successfully identified individuals in China with suspected AF, and a majority of those identified as having AF were successfully anticoagulated after follow-up with clinicians, according to the results of the HUAWEI Heart Study.
ENTRUST-AF PCI: Dual therapy with edoxaban noninferior to triple therapy in AF, PCI
PARIS — In patients with AF who underwent PCI, an antithrombotic strategy of edoxaban plus a P2Y12 inhibitor was noninferior to a vitamin K antagonist-based triple regimen for bleeding, with no significant differences in ischemic events.
Rivaroxaban monotherapy noninferior to combo therapy for AF, stable CAD
PARIS — In the AFIRE trial, rivaroxaban monotherapy was noninferior to rivaroxaban plus an antiplatelet agent with respect to CV events and death from any cause, and was superior for major bleeding in patients with AF and stable CAD.
Cardioversion with maximum-fixed shocks confers better outcomes vs. low-escalating energy shocks
PARIS — Cardioversion with maximum-fixed energy shocks was more effective than low-escalating energy shocks for the treatment of patients with AF, according to a late-breaking science presentation at the European Society of Cardiology Congress.
Antiplatelet therapy reduces stroke risk at 2 years in patients with AF undergoing TAVR
In patients with prior AF undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement, 6 months of uninterrupted antiplatelet therapy, with or without concomitant oral anticoagulation, was associated with a reduced risk for stroke at 2 years, whereas oral anticoagulation alone did not reduce risk in this population.
Operator experience not tied to outcomes after left atrial appendage occlusion
In a single-center study, there was no difference in outcomes after left atrial appendage occlusion for AF according to operator volume.