Heart rhythm最新文献

Background: Patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are at risk for cardiovascular diseases. Less is known about the relationship between NAFLD, ventricular arrhythmias (VAs), and cardiovascular events.

Objective: We sought to evaluate the association between NAFLD and VAs and major cardiovascular events in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs).

Methods: A total of 921 patients at high risk of sudden cardiac death who received ICDs were retrospectively analyzed. NAFLD is diagnosed by the presence of hepatic steatosis and lack of secondary causes of hepatic fat accumulation. The primary end points were VAs, defined as sustained ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation documented by the device. The secondary end points were cardiac mortality, heart transplantation, and rehospitalization for heart failure.

Results: The prevalence of NAFLD in patients with ICDs was 24.2% (223/921). The mean age was 58.5 ± 12.7 years, and 25.7% were female. During the mean follow-up of 34.8 months, 272 (29.5%) patients achieved primary end points and 171 (18.6%) achieved secondary end points. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that NAFLD was associated with an increased risk of VAs (hazard ratio [HR], 3.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.87-5.29; log-rank P < .0001) and secondary end points (HR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.72-2.94; log-rank P < .0001). In adjusted Cox regression models, NAFLD was an independent risk factor for VAs (HR, 3.84; CI, 2.87-5.12; P < .001) and secondary end points (HR, 2.26; CI, 1.55-3.28; P < .001).

Conclusion: In our retrospective cohort, NAFLD is significantly associated with VAs and major cardiovascular events in patients with ICDs.

Background: Little has been reported on the predictors of late recurrence (LR) after second radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for persistent atrial fibrillation (AF).

Objective: This study aimed to identify the predictors of LR after second RFCA in patients with persistent AF.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 123 patients who underwent a second RFCA because of LR after the initial RFCA for persistent AF. LR was defined as a recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmia >3 months after the ablation procedure. The initial RFCA included pulmonary vein isolation alone or pulmonary vein isolation plus cavotricuspid isthmus block. The predictors of LR were evaluated by the Cox proportional hazards model.

Results: In the univariate analysis, elevated brain natriuretic peptide levels, absence of pulmonary vein reconnections at the beginning of the second RFCA, and presence of early recurrence (ER, defined as a recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmia within 3 months) after the second RFCA were associated with LR (P = .025, P = .018, and P < .001, respectively). The multivariate analysis revealed that absence of pulmonary vein reconnections and presence of ER were independent predictors of LR after the second RFCA (P = .004 and P < .001, respectively).

Conclusion: Absence of pulmonary vein reconnections and presence of ER were strongly associated with LR after the second RFCA in patients with persistent AF.

Background: Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) results in a right bundle branch (RBB) delay pattern because of preexcitation of the left bundle. The mechanism of right ventricular (RV) activation during LBBAP is largely unknown.

Objective: The aim of the study was to analyze the electrophysiologic characteristics of RV activation by mapping the RBB during LBBAP and its clinical correlation.

Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent successful LBBAP were included. RBB block, RV paced rhythm, and suboptimal intracardiac electrograms were excluded. LBBAP was performed with continuous recording of His bundle (HB) and RBB electrograms. RV activation was classified into 3 types based on the intracardiac electrogram: type I, RBB mediated; type II, transseptal activation; and type III, fusion pattern.

Results: Overall, 86 patients (94% left bundle branch pacing [LBBP]; 6% left ventricular septal pacing) were included. The mean age was 59.6 ± 12.8 years. Nonselective to selective capture transition was noted in 85% (n = 73). In patients with baseline normal QRS (n = 47), during selective LBBP (S-LBBP; n = 39), the most common pattern was type I (n = 34 [87%]), whereas during nonselective LBBP (NS-LBBP; n = 44), type III pattern (n = 40 [91%]) was common. In patients with left bundle branch block (n = 39), type III pattern was common during both S-LBBP and NS-LBBP. Type I pattern was noted only in patients with retrograde HB activation during S-LBBP. Left ventricular septal pacing showed type II activation in both groups. Patients without retrograde HB activation had higher left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, lower left ventricular ejection fraction, and prolonged HV interval compared with those with retrograde HB activation.

Conclusion: Physiologic RBB-mediated (type I) activation of the right ventricle was the most common pattern observed during S-LBBP in patients with intact retrograde HB activation. Type III pattern was the most common pattern observed during NS-LBBP with fusion of multiple wavefronts from anterograde RBB activation, myocardial, and transverse interbundle connections.

Background: QRS axis deviation and rS configuration in V6 affect the ability of V6 R-wave peak time (RWPT) criterion to discriminate capture type during left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP).

Objective: We hypothesized that combining RWPTs from lateral leads: I, aVL, V5, and V6 may better reflect left ventricular activation time and that such a global RWPT may be insensitive to changes in QRS configuration.

Methods: The analysis included 519 electrocardiograms (ECGs) with nonselective left bundle branch pacing (nsLBBP) and 176 ECGs with left ventricular septal pacing (LVSP). Optimal RWPT cutoffs and area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) were determined for each lead and combinations of leads, to find the best RWPT criterion for discriminating nsLBBP from LVSP. Values were reported separately for healthy and diseased left conduction system groups.

Results: The highest AUC of 97.1/89.2% was obtained for the global RWPT, which combined leads I and V6. The AUC for single-lead RWPT, was highest for lead I, followed by V6, V5, and aVL with AUC of 95.1/87.4%, 93.6/87.1%, 93.0/86.5%, and 84.8/74.6%, respectively. The global RWPT criterion was not affected by variations in QRS configuration, as V6 and I RWPTs often showed opposite responses to changes in axis. In contrast, all single-lead RWPT criteria were sensitive to axis deviation and QRS configuration. Diagnostically optimal RWPT cutoffs for global RWPT and lead I RWPT were 162.5/187.5 ms, and 81.5/90.5 ms, respectively.

Conclusion: The global RWPT criterion allows a more accurate diagnosis of LBBAP capture type independent of QRS configuration and axis.