Atrial Fibrillation
Study reveals 'substantial incidence' of atrial fibrillation in primary care patients
Researchers reported finding higher rates of atrial fibrillation among a large primary care population compared with previous estimates in community-based research cohorts.
Dronedarone could prevent progression to permanent AF/atrial flutter
Dronedarone was associated with lower incidence of permanent atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter, more return to permanent sinus rhythm and lower AF/atrial flutter burden vs. placebo, according to a post hoc analysis of the ATHENA trial.
CAPLA
Effect of posterior wall isolation added to pulmonary vein isolation on freedom from AF.
Loop monitoring detects bradyarrhythmia in 20% of high-risk patients with no prior AF
Continuous monitoring via implantable loop recorder detected bradyarrhythmia in more than 20% of high-risk patients aged 70 years or older with no history of atrial fibrillation, researchers reported.
Procedural, technological changes improving first-time AF ablation outcomes
Improved atrial fibrillation ablation strategies and technologies during the past decade are associated with a stepwise reduction in the rate of redo AF procedures, increased procedural volume and shortened procedure times, data show.
Novel radiofrequency catheter achieves performance goals in patients with AF
A novel multielectrode radiofrequency balloon catheter achieved its safety and effectiveness performance goals in the STELLAR investigational device exemption study, researchers reported at the AF Symposium.
Electrographic flow-guided ablation appears to benefit redo patients with nonparoxysmal AF
Electrographic flow-guided ablation was associated with improvement in freedom from atrial fibrillation at 1 year compared with standard pulmonary vein isolation in patients with nonparoxysmal AF requiring a redo ablation, data showed.
Long-term insertable cardiac monitoring after ischemic stroke improves AF detection
Long-term insertable cardiac monitoring for atrial fibrillation among patients with ischemic stroke of atherosclerotic origin improved AF detection 10-fold compared with standard of care, a speaker reported.
Dedicated AF center reduces hospital costs, readmissions
Directing patients with atrial fibrillation who presented to the ED to follow‐up at a dedicated AF center reduced overall costs, subsequent inpatient admissions and total length of hospital stay compared with usual care, data show.
Manual review necessary to rule out AF in one-fourth of smartwatch ECG tracings
An analysis of five ECG-capable smartwatches found comparable sensitivity and specificity for detection of atrial fibrillation between devices; however, tracings were labeled inconclusive in about one in four cases.