Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with substantial morbidity, in particular stroke. Despite good evidence for the reduction of stroke risk with anticoagulant therapy, there remains significant undertreatment. The main aim of the current study was to investigate whether a clinical decision support tool (CDS) for stroke prevention integrated in the electronic health record could improve adherence to guidelines for stroke prevention in patients with AF. We conducted a cluster-randomized trial where all 43 primary care clinics in the county of Östergötland, Sweden (population 444,347), were randomized to be part of the CDS intervention or to serve as controls. The CDS produced an alert for physicians responsible for patients with AF and at increased risk for thromboembolism (according to the CHA₂DS₂-VASc algorithm) without anticoagulant therapy. The primary endpoint was adherence to guidelines after 1 year. After randomization, there were 22 and 21 primary care clinics in the CDS and control groups, respectively. There were no significant differences in baseline adherence to guidelines regarding anticoagulant therapy between the 2 groups (CDS group 70.3% [5,186/7,370; 95% CI 62.9%–77.7%], control group 70.0% [4,187/6,009; 95% CI 60.4%–79.6%], p = 0.83). After 12 months, analysis with linear regression with adjustment for primary care clinic size and adherence to guidelines at baseline revealed a significant increase in guideline adherence in the CDS (73.0%, 95% CI 64.6%–81.4%) versus the control group (71.2%, 95% CI 60.8%–81.6%, p = 0.013, with a treatment effect estimate of 0.016 [95% CI 0.003–0.028]; number of patients with AF included in the final analysis 8,292 and 6,508 in the CDS and control group, respectively). Over the study period, there was no difference in the incidence of stroke, transient ischemic attack, or systemic thromboembolism in the CDS group versus the control group (49 [95% CI 43–55] per 1,000 patients with AF in the CDS group compared to 47 [95% CI 39–55] per 1,000 patients with AF in the control group, p = 0.64). Regarding safety, the CDS group had a lower incidence of significant bleeding, with events in 12 (95% CI 9–15) per 1,000 patients with AF compared to 16 (95% CI 12–20) per 1,000 patients with AF in the control group (p = 0.04). Limitations of the study design include that the analysis was carried out in a catchment area with a high baseline adherence rate, and issues regarding reproducibility to other regions. The present study demonstrates that a CDS can increase guideline adherence for anticoagulant therapy in patients with AF. Even though the observed difference was small, this is the first randomized study to our knowledge indicating beneficial effects with a CDS in patients with AF. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02635685

Aims: The recurrence rates after catheter ablation (CA) and direct current (DC) cardioversion remain high, although they have been established treatments of rhythm control of atrial fibrillation (AF). This umbrella review systematically appraises published meta-analyses of both observational and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for the association of risk and protective factors for arrhythmia recurrence after CA and DC cardioversion of AF.Methods and results: Three bibliographic databases were searched up to June 2021. Evidence of association was rated as convincing, highly suggestive, suggestive, weak, or not significant with respect to observational studies and as high, moderate, low, or very low with respect to RCTs, according to established criteria. Thirty-one meta-analyses were included. Of the 28 associations between CA and the risk of arrhythmia recurrence, none presented convincing evidence, and only the time from diagnosis to ablation over 1 year provided highly suggestive evidence. The association between hypertension and metabolic profile provided suggestive evidence. The associations of Class IC and III antiarrhythmic drugs use with the recurrence after DC cardioversion were supported by an intermediate level of evidence.Conclusion: Although AF is a major health issue, few risk- and protective factors for AF recurrence have been identified. None of these factors examined were supported by convincing evidence, whereas established factors such as female gender and left atrial volume showed only weak association. An early CA strategy combined with treatment of metabolic syndrome and hypertension prior to CA may reduce the risk of arrhythmia recurrence. The use of antiarrhythmics can increase the success rate of DC cardioversion.Systematic review registration: PROSPERO registry number: CRD42021270613.

Background: The primary goal of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) is to improve symptoms and health‐related quality of life (HRQoL). However, most studies have focused on predictors of AF recurrence rather than on predictors of improvement in symptoms and HRQoL.Hypothesis: We sought to explore predictors of improvement in arrhythmia‐specific symptoms and HRQoL after RFA of AF, and to evaluate the effects on symptoms, HRQoL, anxiety, and depression.Methods: We studied 192 patients undergoing their first RFA of AF. The Medical Outcomes Study 36‐Item Short‐Form Health Survey (SF‐36), arrhythmia‐specific questionnaire in tachycardia and arrhythmia (ASTA), and hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) questionnaires were filled out at baseline, at 4 months, and at a 1‐year follow‐up.Results: All questionnaire scale scores improved significantly over time. In the ASTA symptom scale score, female gender and > 10 AF episodes the month before RFA were significant positive predictors of improvement, while diabetes and AF recurrence within 12 months after RFA were significant negative predictors (R² = 0.18; P < 0.001). In the ASTA HRQoL scale score, the presence of heart failure and > 10 AF episodes the month before RFA were significant positive predictors of improvement, while diabetes, maximum left atrial volume and AF recurrence were significant negative predictors (R² = 0.20; P < 0.001).Conclusion: Left atrial volume, gender, diabetes, heart failure, the frequency of AF attacks prior to RFA, and recurrence of AF after RFA were significant factors affecting improvement in symptoms and HRQoL after RFA of AF. Future studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

Background: There is limited knowledge on the short‐term influence of radiofrequency ablation ( RFA ) of atrial fibrillation ( AF ) on 2 cardiac biomarkers; the N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide ( NT ‐pro BNP ) and the midregional fragment of the N‐terminal of pro‐ ANP ( MR ‐pro ANP ) and 2 extracardiac biomarkers; the c‐terminal provasopressin (copeptin) and the midregional portion of proadrenomedullin ( MR ‐pro ADM ). There are also limited data concerning cardiac production of the latter two. Methods and Results: We studied 192 consecutive patients eligible for RFA of AF referred to the University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden. NT ‐pro BNP , MR ‐pro ANP , copeptin, and MR ‐pro ADM levels were measured in peripheral blood, the coronary sinus ( CS ), and the left atrium before ablation, and in peripheral blood immediately and the day after RFA . The level of NT ‐pro BNP decreased the day after RFA in participants in AF at the time of RFA , compared to the participants in sinus rhythm who showed a slight increase ( P <0.001). Furthermore, regardless of the actual rhythm, the level of MR ‐pro ANP showed an increase immediately after RFA ( P <0.001), followed by a decrease the day after ablation ( P <0.001). Copeptin level showed a 6‐fold increase immediately after RFA compared to baseline ( P <0.001), whereas MR ‐pro ADM level increased the day after RFA ( P <0.001). Levels of copeptin and MR ‐pro ADM were not higher in the CS compared to peripheral blood. Conclusions: RFA of AF is a strong stimulus with a significant and direct impact on different neurohormonal systems. We found no sign of a cardiac release of MR ‐pro ADM or copeptin. Clinical Trial Registration: URL : http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique Identifier: NCT 01553045.

Background: There is no consensus on the most efficient catheter ablation (CA) strategy for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of different CA strategies for AF ablation through network meta-analysis (NMA).Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, and CENTRAL was performed up to October 5th, 2020. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) comparing different CA approaches were included. Efficacy was defined as arrhythmia recurrence after CA and safety as any reported complication related to the procedure during a minimum follow-up time of 6 months.Results: In total, 67 RCTs (n = 9871) comparing 19 different CA strategies were included. The risk of recurrence was significantly decreased compared to pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) alone for PVI with renal denervation (RR: 0.60, CI: 0.38–0.94), PVI with ganglia-plexi ablation (RR: 0.62, CI: 0.41–0.94), PVI with additional ablation lines (RR: 0.8, CI: 0.68–0.95) and PVI in combination with bi-atrial modification (RR: 0.32, CI: 0.11–0.88). Strategies including PVI appeared superior to non-PVI strategies such as electrogram-based approaches. No significant differences in safety were observed.Conclusions: This NMA showed that PVI in combination with additional CA strategies, such as autonomic modulation and additional lines, seem to increase the efficacy of PVI alone. These strategies can be considered in treating patients with AF, since, additionally, no differences in safety were observed. This study provides decision-makers with comprehensive and comparative evidence about the efficacy and safety of different CA strategies.Systematic review registration: PROSPERO registry number:CRD42020169494.