Relationship between red blood cell distribution width levels and atrial fibrillation in hypertensive patients

Background Information on the relationship between red blood cell distribution width(RDW)and atrial fibrillation(AF)in patients with essential hypertension are scarce.The study aimed to assess the relationship between AF and RDW in hypertensive patients.Methods We enrolled 432 hypertensive patients,including 350 AF patients and 82 patients as controls.Patients'demographic,clinical,laboratory and echocardiographic characteristics were recorded.The AF patients were further divided into the persistent and paroxysmal AF subgroups.Electrocardiograms were monitored to identify the cardiac rhythm during blood sampling,and based on the rhythm,the paroxysmal AF group was categorized into the presence(with AF rhythm during blood sampling)and absence(with sinus rhythm during blood sampling)groups.Results The AF group had elevated RDW levels than the controls(12.7%±0.8%vs.12.4%±0.7%,P=0.002),and the persistent AF subgroup had higher RDW levels than the paroxysmal AF subgroup(12.9%±0.8%vs.12.6%±0.8%,P=0.007).Furthermore,in the paroxysmal AF group,the presence group had higher RDW levels than the absence group(13.0%±0.6%vs.12.5%±0.9%,P=0.001).There was no significant difference in RDW levels between the persistent AF subgroup and presence group of the paroxysmal AF subgroup(P=0.533)and between the absence group of the paroxysmal AF subgroup and control group(P=0.262).In multivariate regression analysis,in hypertensive patients,the presence of AF rhythm is an independent predictor for increased RDW concentration(P=0.001).Conclusions The RDW may be associated with the presence of AF rhythm,which implies the importance of maintaining the sinus rhythm in hypertensive patients.

Ablation strategies for arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Catheter ablation for ventricular tachycardia(VT) in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy(ARVC) has significantly evolved over the past decade. However, different ablation strategies showed inconsistency in acute and long-term outcomes. Methods We searched the databases of Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library through October 17, 2019 for studies describing the clinical outcomes of VT ablation in ARVC. Data including VT recurrence, all-cause mortality, acute procedural efficacy and major procedural complications were extracted. A meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis was further performed in comparative studies of endo-epicardial versus endocardial-only ablation. Results A total of 24 studies with 717 participants were enrolled. The literatures of epicardial ablation were mainly published after 2010 with total ICD implantation of 73.7%, acute efficacy of 89.8%, major complication of 5.2%, follow-up of 28.9 months, VT freedom of 75.3%, all-cause mortality of 1.1% and heart transplantation of 0.6%. Meta-analysis of 10 comparative studies revealed that compared with endocardial-only approach, epicardial ablation significantly decreased VT recurrence(OR: 0.50;95% CI: 0.30–0.85;P = 0.010), but somehow increased major procedural complications(OR: 4.64;95% CI: 1.28–16.92;P = 0.02), with not evident improvement of acute efficacy(OR: 2.74;95% CI: 0.98–7.65;P = 0.051) or all-cause mortality(OR: 0.87;95% CI: 0.09–8.31;P = 0.90). Conclusion Catheter ablation for VT in ARVC is feasible and effective. Epicardial ablation is associated with better long-term VT freedom, but with more major complications and unremarkable survival or acute efficacy benefit.

Factors influencing adherence to non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants in the early period after atrial fibrillation catheter ablation in China

Anticoagulants are routinely prescribed in the first several weeks after atrial fibrillation(AF)catheter ablation.Nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants(NOACs)have been recommended over warfarin for their superiority.Unlike warfarin need regular clinical visit to perform blood test,NOACs are more patient friendly.But the lack of routine medical contact may lead to poor adherence.Strict adherence to anticoagulant treatment is essential for both efficacy and safety.Considering NOACs are increasingly commonly used in China,it is therefore necessary to evaluate the adherence of NOACs after AF catheter ablation.The purpose of this research was to investigate the treatment adherence and identify factors that could improve the quality of anticoagulation.