Browsing by Author "Atwater, Brett D"

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    Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in patients with diabetes mellitus.
    (Heart rhythm O2, 2020-08) Wang, Allen; Truong, Tracy; Black-Maier, Eric; Green, Cynthia; Campbell, Kristen B; Barnett, Adam S; Febre, Janice; Loring, Zak; Al-Khatib, Sana M; Atwater, Brett D; Daubert, James P; Frazier-Mills, Camille; Hegland, Donald D; Jackson, Kevin P; Jackson, Larry R; Koontz, Jason I; Lewis, Robert K; Pokorney, Sean D; Sun, Albert Y; Thomas, Kevin L; Bahnson, Tristam D; Piccini, Jonathan P

    Background

    Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an independent risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF). Few studies have compared clinical outcomes after catheter ablation between patients with and those without DM.

    Objective

    The purpose of this study was to compare AF ablation outcomes in patients with and those without DM.

    Methods

    We performed a retrospective analysis of 351 consecutive patients who underwent first-time AF ablation. Clinical outcomes included freedom from recurrent atrial arrhythmia, symptom burden (Mayo AF Symptom Inventory score), cardiovascular and all-cause hospitalizations, and periprocedural complications.

    Results

    Patients with DM (n = 65) were older, had a higher body mass index, more persistent AF, more hypertension, and larger left atrial diameter (P <.05 for all). Median (Q1, Q3) total radiofrequency duration [64.0 (43.6, 81.4) minutes vs 54.3 (39.2, 76.4) minutes; P = .132] and periprocedural complications (P = .868) did not differ between patients with and those without DM. After a median follow-up of 29.5 months, arrhythmia recurrence was significantly higher in the DM group compared to the no-DM group after adjustment for baseline differences (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 2.24; 95% confidence [CI] 1.42-3.55; P = .001). There was a nonsignificant trend toward higher AF recurrence with worse glycemic levels (HR 1.29; 95% CI 0.99-1.69; P = .064).

    Conclusion

    Although safety outcomes associated with AF ablation were similar between patients with and those without DM, arrhythmia-free survival was significantly lower among patients with DM. Poor glycemic control seems to an important risk factor for AF recurrence.
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    Effectiveness of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation according to heart failure etiology.
    (Journal of arrhythmia, 2020-02) Black-Maier, Eric; Steinberg, Benjamin A; Trulock, Kevin M; Wang, Frances; Lokhnygina, Yuliya; O'Neal, Wanda; Al-Khatib, Sana; Atwater, Brett D; Daubert, James P; Frazier-Mills, Camille; Hegland, Donald D; Jackson, Kevin P; Jackson, Larry R; Koontz, Jason I; Lewis, Robert K; Sun, Albert Y; Thomas, Kevin L; Bahnson, Tristram D; Piccini, Jonathan P

    Background

    Catheter ablation is an important rhythm control therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) with concomitant heart failure (HF). The objective of this study was to assess the comparative efficacy of AF ablation patients with ischemic vs nonischemic heart failure.

    Methods

    We conducted a retrospective, observational cohort study of patients with HF who underwent AF ablation. Outcomes were compared based on HF etiology and included in-hospital events, symptoms (Mayo AF Symptom Inventory [MAFSI]), and functional status (New York Heart Association class) and freedom from atrial arrhythmias at 12 months.

    Results

    Among 242 patients (n = 70 [29%] ischemic, n = 172 [71%] nonischemic), patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy were younger (mean age 64 ± 11.5 vs 69 ± 9.1, P = .002), more often female (36% vs 17%, P = .004), and had higher mean left-ventricular ejection fraction (47% vs 42%, P = .0007). There were no significant differences in periprocedural characteristics, including mean procedure time (243 ± 74.2 vs 259 ± 81.8 minutes, P = .1) and nonleft atrial ablation (17% vs 20%, P = .6). All-cause adverse events were similar in each group (15% vs 17%, P = .7). NYHA and MAFSI scores improved significantly at follow-up and did not differ according to HF etiology (P = .5; P = .10-1.00 after Bonferroni correction). There were no significant differences in freedom from recurrent atrial arrhythmia at 12-months between ischemic (74%) and nonischemic patients (78%): adjusted RR 0.63, 95% confidence interval 0.33-1.19.

    Conclusions

    Catheter ablation in patients with AF and concomitant heart failure leads to significant improvements in functional and symptom status without significant differences between patients with ischemic vs nonischemic HF etiology.
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    Frequency and causes of QRS prolongation during exercise electrocardiogram testing in biventricular paced patients with heart failure.
    (HeartRhythm case reports, 2020-06) Atwater, Brett D; Emerek, Kasper; Loring, Zak; Polcwiartek, Christoffer; Jackson, Kevin P; Friedman, Daniel J
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    Predicting atrial fibrillation recurrence after ablation in patients with heart failure: Validity of the APPLE and CAAP-AF risk scoring systems.
    (Pacing and clinical electrophysiology : PACE, 2019-11) Black-Maier, Eric; Parish, Alice; Steinberg, Benjamin A; Green, Cynthia L; Loring, Zak; Barnett, Adam S; Al-Khatib, Sana M; Atwater, Brett D; Daubert, James P; Frazier-Mills, Camille; Hegland, Donald D; Jackson, Kevin P; Jackson, Larry R; Koontz, Jason; Lewis, Robert K; Pokorney, Sean D; Sun, Albert Y; Thomas, Kevin L; Bahnson, Tristam D; Piccini, Jonathan P

    Background

    Compared with medical therapy, catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with heart failure (HF) improves cardiovascular outcomes. Risk scores (CAAP-AF and APPLE) have been developed to predict the likelihood of AF recurrence after ablation, have not been validated specifically in patients with AF and HF.

    Methods

    We analyzed baseline characteristics, risk scores, and rates of AF recurrence 12 months postablation in a cohort of 230 consecutive patients with AF and HF undergoing PVI in the Duke Center for Atrial Fibrillation registry from 2009-2013.

    Results

    During a follow-up period of 12 months, 76 of 230 (33%) patients with HF experienced recurrent AF after ablation. The median APPLE and CAAP-AF scores were 1.5 ([Q1, Q3]: [1.0, 2.0]) and 4.0 ([Q1, Q3]: [3.0, 5.0]), respectively and were not different from those patients with and without recurrent AF. Freedom from AF was not different according to APPLE and CAAP-AF scores. Discrimination for recurrent AF with the CAAP-AF score was modest with a C-statistic of 0.60 (95% CI 0.52-0.67). Discrimination with the APPLE score was similarly modest, with a C-statistic of 0.54 (95% CI: 0.47-0.62).

    Conclusions

    Validated predictive risk scores for recurrent AF after catheter ablation exhibit limited predictive ability in cohorts of AF and HF. Additional tools are needed to facilitate risk stratification and patient selection for AF ablation in patients with concomitant HF.
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    VVI pacing with normal QRS duration and ventricular function: MOST trial findings relevant to leadless pacemakers.
    (Pacing and clinical electrophysiology : PACE, 2020-12) Loring, Zak; North, Rebecca; Hellkamp, Anne S; Atwater, Brett D; Frazier-Mills, Camille G; Jackson, Kevin P; Pokorney, Sean D; Lamas, Gervasio A; Piccini, Jonathan P

    Background

    Leadless pacemakers (LPs) provide ventricular pacing without the risks associated with transvenous leads and device pockets. LPs are appealing for patients who need pacing, but do not need defibrillator or cardiac resynchronization therapy. Most implanted LPs provide right ventricular pacing without atrioventricular synchrony (VVIR mode). The Mode Selection Trial in Sinus Node Dysfunction (MOST) showed similar outcomes in patients randomized to dual-chamber (DDDR) versus ventricular pacing (VVIR). We compared outcomes by pacing mode in LP-eligible patients from MOST.

    Methods

    Patients enrolled in the MOST study with an left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) >35%, QRS duration (QRSd) <120 ms and no history of ventricular arrhythmias or prior implantable cardioverter defibrillators were included (LP-eligible population). Cox proportional hazards models were used to test the association between pacing mode and death, stroke or heart failure (HF) hospitalization and atrial fibrillation (AF).

    Results

    Of the 2010 patients enrolled in MOST, 1284 patients (64%) met inclusion criteria. Baseline characteristics were well balanced across included patients randomized to DDDR (N = 630) and VVIR (N = 654). Over 4 years of follow-up, there was no association between pacing mode and death, stroke or HF hospitalization (VVIR HR 1.28 [0.92-1.75]). VVIR pacing was associated with higher risk of AF (HR 1.32 [1.08-1.61], P = .007), particularly in patients with no history of AF (HR 2.38 [1.52-3.85], P < .001).

    Conclusion

    In patients without reduced LVEF or prolonged QRSd who would be eligible for LP, DDDR, and VVIR pacing demonstrated similar rates of death, stroke or HF hospitalization; however, VVIR pacing significantly increased the risk of AF development.