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Background As treatment options for atrial fibrillation (AF) increase, more attention is focused on patients' experiences and quality of life (QoL). However, little is known about the factors associated with these outcomes. Methods The Atrial Fibrillation Effect on QualiTy-of-life (AFEQT) is a disease-specific QoL tool for AF, with domain and summary scores ranging from 0 (the worst QoL) to 100. Using multivariable linear regression, we evaluated factors associated with baseline AFEQT Summary and Subscale Scores in ORBIT AF, a large, community-based AF registry. Independent associations were reported as coefficient estimates in scores and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results Overall, AFEQT was assessed in 2007 AF outpatients from 99 sites. Median age (IQR) was 76 years (67–82) and 43% were female. The median AFEQT summary score was 82 (67–94). Female sex, younger age, new onset AF, higher heart rate, obstructive sleep apnea, symptomatic heart failure (HF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and coronary artery disease were all independently associated with reduced QoL. Female sex [Estimate −7.03, 95% CI (−9.31, −4.75)] and new onset versus permanent AF [Estimate −7.44, 95% CI (−11.03, −3.84)] were independently associated with increased symptoms. NYHA Class III or IV HF [Estimate −14.44, 95% CI (−19.46, −8.76)] and female sex [Estimate −7.91, 95% CI (−9.95, −5.88)] were most independently associated with impaired daily activities. Conclusions QoL in patients with AF varies widely and is associated with several patient factors. Understanding patient factors independently associated with worse QoL can be a foundation for tailoring treatment.

Background— Current guidelines recommend surgical revascularization (coronary artery bypass graft [CABG]) over percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with diabetes mellitus and multivessel coronary artery disease. Few data are available describing revascularization patterns among these patients in the setting of non–ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction. Methods and Results— Using Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network Registry–Get with the Guidelines (ACTION Registry–GWTG), we compared the in-hospital use of different revascularization strategies (PCI versus CABG versus no revascularization) in diabetes mellitus patients with non–ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction who had angiography, demonstrating multivessel coronary artery disease between July 2008 and December 2014. Factors associated with use of CABG versus PCI were identified using logistic multivariable regression analyses. A total of 29 769 patients from 539 hospitals were included in the study, of which 10 852 (36.4%) were treated with CABG, 13 760 (46.2%) were treated with PCI, and 5157 (17.3%) were treated without revascularization. The overall use of revascularization increased over the study period with an increase in the proportion undergoing PCI (45% to 48.9%; P trend =0.0002) and no change in the proportion undergoing CABG (36.1% to 34.7%; p trend =0.88). There was significant variability between participating hospitals in the use of PCI and CABG (range: 22%–100%; 0%–78%, respectively; P value Conclusions— Among patients with diabetes mellitus and multivessel coronary artery disease presenting with non–ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction, only one third undergo CABG during the index admission. Furthermore, the use of PCI, but not CABG, increased modestly over the past 6 years.

Background Ticagrelor is a P2Y 12 receptor inhibitor with superior clinical efficacy compared with clopidogrel. However, it is associated with reduced efficacy when combined with a high‐dose aspirin. Methods and Results Patients in the acute coronary treatment and intervention outcomes network ( ACTION ) Registry‐Get With The Guidelines ( GWTG ) with acute myocardial infarction from October 2013 through December 2014 were included in the study (167 455 patients; 622 sites). We evaluated temporal trends in the prescription of P2Y 12 inhibitors, and identified factors associated with ticagrelor use at discharge. Among patients discharged on ticagrelor and aspirin (21 262 patients), we evaluated the temporal trends and independent factors associated with high‐dose aspirin prescription at discharge. Ticagrelor prescription at discharge increased significantly from 12% to 16.7% ( P P P P P =0.01). Conclusions Our contemporary analysis shows a modest but significant increase in the use of ticagrelor and a high rate of adherence to the use of low‐dose aspirin at discharge.

Clinical outcomes in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) worsen with increasing delay between symptom onset and clinical presentation. Previous studies have shown that black patients with AMI have longer presentation delays. The objective of this analysis is to explore the potential contribution of community factors to presentation delays in black patients with AMI. We linked clinical data for 346,499 consecutive patients with AMI from Acute Coronary Treatment Intervention Outcomes Network Registry-Get With the Guidelines™ (2007-2014) to socioeconomic and community information from the American Community Survey. Black patients with AMI had longer symptom onset to first medical contact times than white patients (114 vs 101 minutes, p

Elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is associated with increased risk of myocardial infarction and is a target for disease prevention. The association between initial LDL-C and statin treatment in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)/unstable angina pectoris (UAP) has not been well characterized. We explored detailed LDL-C levels and statin treatment in 22,938 patients with NSTEMI/UAP enrolled in the Can Rapid Risk Stratification of Unstable Angina Patients Suppress Adverse Outcomes With Early Implementation of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Guidelines Registry (2003 to 2006). Patients reporting home statin use or previous cardiovascular disease were excluded. We examined statin receipt at discharge across 4 categories of baseline LDL-C: very low (70 mg/dl), low (70 to 99 mg/dl), high (100 to 129 mg/dl), and very high (≥130 mg/dl). The largest proportion of patients had LDL-C ≥130 mg/dl (32.6%), followed by LDL-C 100 to 129 mg/dl (32.1%), LDL-C 70 to 99 mg/dl (24.9%), and LDL-C70 mg/dl (10.4%). Compared with high LDL-C categories, patients in the lowest LDL-C category had their first NSTEMI/UAP event at a significantly older age and had higher rates of other cardiovascular risk factors (including hypertension and diabetes) but were less likely to have a family history of coronary artery disease. Overall, 80.3% of eligible patients with NSTEMI/UAP received statins at discharge, ranging from 63.8% in those with very low LDL-C (70 mg/dl) to 88.1% in those with very high LDL-C (130 mg/dl). In conclusion,1/3 of patients with NSTEMI/UAP had an LDL-C level100. Those with low LDL-C were older, had more co-morbidities, and were less likely to be prescribed a statin at discharge than those with higher LDL-C.

Despite the frequency of atrial fibrillation (AF) in clinical practice, relatively little is known about sex differences in symptoms and quality of life and how they may affect treatment and outcomes.To determine whether symptoms, quality of life, treatment, and outcomes differ between women and men with AF.This observational cohort study included 10 135 patients with AF. The Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation is a prospective, nationwide, multicenter outpatient registry of patients with incident and prevalent AF enrolled at 176 sites between June 2010 and August 2011.Symptoms, quality of life as measured by Atrial Fibrillation Effects on Quality of Life scores, AF treatment, cardiovascular outcomes, stroke or non-central nervous system embolism, and all-cause mortality.Overall, 4293 of the cohort (42%) were female. Compared with men, women were older (77 years; interquartile range [IQR], 69-83, vs 73 years; IQR, 65-80; P .001) and had higher median CHA2DS2-VASc scores (5; IQR, 4-6, vs 3; IQR, 2-5; P .001), but less sleep apnea (578 [13.5%] vs 1264 [21.6%]; P .001). Only 32.1% of women (n = 1378) were asymptomatic (European Heart Rhythm Association class I) compared with 42.5% of men (n = 2483) in unadjusted analyses (P .001). Women had lower (more severe) unadjusted baseline overall Atrial Fibrillation Effects on Quality of Life scores (n = 2007; 80; IQR, 62-92 vs 83; IQR, 69-94; P .001). Women had similar rates of anticoagulation and similar time in therapeutic range. In follow-up, women experienced lower risk-adjusted all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.49-0.67) and cardiovascular death (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.44-0.72); however, they had a higher risk for stroke or non-central nervous system embolism (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.05-1.84; P = .02) compared with men.Women with AF have more symptoms and worse quality of life. Despite higher risk, women have lower risk-adjusted all-cause and cardiovascular death compared with men, but higher stroke rates. Future studies should focus on how treatment and interventions specifically affect AF-related quality of life and cardiovascular outcomes in women.clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01165710.

Background Therapeutic decisions in atrial fibrillation (AF) are often influenced by assessment of bleeding risk. However, existing bleeding risk scores have limitations. Objectives We sought to develop and validate a novel bleeding risk score using routinely available clinical information to predict major bleeding in a large, community-based AF population. Methods We analysed data from Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (ORBIT-AF), a prospective registry that enrolled incident and prevalent AF patients at 176 US sites. Using Cox proportional hazards regression, we identified factors independently associated with major bleeding among patients taking oral anticoagulation (OAC) over a median follow-up of 2 years (interquartile range = 1.6–2.5). We also created a numerical bedside risk score that included the five most predictive risk factors weighted according to their strength of association with major bleeding. The predictive performance of the full model, the simple five-item score, and two existing risk scores (hypertension, abnormal renal/liver function, stroke, bleeding history or predisposition, labile INR, elderly, drugs/alcohol concomitantly, HAS-BLED, and anticoagulation and risk factors in atrial fibrillation, ATRIA) were then assessed in both the ORBIT-AF cohort and a separate clinical trial population, Rivaroxaban Once-daily oral direct factor Xa inhibition compared with vitamin K antagonism for prevention of stroke and embolism trial in atrial fibrillation (ROCKET-AF). Results Among 7411 ORBIT-AF patients taking OAC, the rate of major bleeding was 4.0/100 person-years. The full continuous model (12 variables) and five-factor ORBIT risk score (older age [75+ years], reduced haemoglobin/haematocrit/history of anaemia, bleeding history, insufficient kidney function, and treatment with antiplatelet) both had good ability to identify those who bled vs. not (C-index 0.69 and 0.67, respectively). These scores both had similar discrimination, but markedly better calibration when compared with the HAS-BLED and ATRIA scores in an external validation population from the ROCKET-AF trial. Conclusions The five-element ORBIT bleeding risk score had better ability to predict major bleeding in AF patients when compared with HAS-BLED and ATRIA risk scores. The ORBIT risk score can provide a simple, easily remembered tool to support clinical decision making. [10.1093/eurheartj/ehv415][1] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1093/eurheartj/ehv415