Introduction: The safety and effectiveness of catheter ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who underwent mechanical mitral valve replacement (MVR) have been reported. However, the impacts of different types of mitral valves on the safety and effectiveness of catheter ablation in patients with AF who underwent MVR have not been elucidated. Methods and results: From 2015 to 2021, 17,496 patients underwent catheter ablation of AF for the first time in Beijing Anzhen Hospital were screened. The inclusion criteria were (1) aged 18 years or older; (2) diagnosed with AF; (3) history of mitral valve replacement. The exclusion criteria were a history of catheter ablation, surgical maze procedure, left atrial appendage closure or resection. A total of 68 patients were enrolled in the study. The patients were divided into two groups: the bioprosthetic MVR group (n=12) and the mechanical MVR group(n=58). The size of the left atrial was larger (49.5mm vs. 46.0mm, p<0.05), the thickness of the left interventricular septum was larger (11.0mm vs. 10.0mm, p<0.05), and the mitral ring area was smaller (2.3mm2 vs. 2.6mm2, p<0.05) for the bioprosthetic MVR group than the mechanical MVR group. During 23.4 (6.1, 36.5) months of follow-up, the incidence of the endpoint events was not significantly different between the two groups (33.3% vs. 30.4%, log-rank p=0.48). There were 2 cases (3.4%) of pseudoaneurysm and 1 case of acute cerebral infarction in the mechanical MVR group. No complication was observed in the bioprosthetic MVR group. No significant clinical bleeding events were observed in the bioprosthetic group while eight patients in the mechanical MVR groups had bleeding events (p=0.368) during the follow-up. Conclusion: The safety and effectiveness of catheter ablation of AF were comparable between the patients with mechanical MVR and bioprosthetic MVR.

AbstractAimsTo describe the role of left atrial (LA) epicardial conduction and targets of ablation in biatrial tachycardias (BiATs).Methods and resultsConsecutive patients with BiAT diagnosed by high-density mapping and appropriate entrainment were enrolled. A systematic review of case reports or series was then performed. Biatrial tachycardia was identified in 20 patients aged 63.5 ± 11.1 years. Among them, eight had LA epicardial conduction, including four via the ligament of Marshall, two via myocardial fibres between the great cardiac vein (GCV) and LA, one via septopulmonary bundle, and one via myocardial fibres between the posterior wall and coronary sinus. Ablation was targeted at the anatomical isthmus in 14, including 5 undergoing vein of Marshall ethanol infusion and 2 undergoing ablation in the GCV. Another six underwent ablation at interatrial connections, including one with septopulmonary bundle at the fossa ovalis and five at the atrial insertions of Bachmann’s bundle. After a mean follow-up of 8.7 ± 3.8 months, five patients had recurrence of atrial fibrillation/flutter. Systematic review enrolled 87 patients in previous and the present reports, showing a higher risk of impairment in atrial physiology in those targeting interatrial connections (30.4 vs. 5.0%, P < 0.001) but no significant difference in short- and long-term effectiveness.ConclusionLeft atrial epicardial conduction is common in BiATs and affects the ablation strategy. Atrial physiology is a major concern in selecting the target of intervention.

Objective:To investigate current use of oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy and influencing factors among coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) in China.Methods:Results of this study derived from “China Atrial Fibrillation Registry Study”, the study prospectively enrolled atrial fibrillation (AF) patients from 31 hospitals, and patients with valvular AF or treated with catheter ablation were excluded. Baseline data such as age, sex and type of atrial fibrillation were collected, and drug history, history of concomitant diseases, laboratory results and echocardiography results were recorded. CHA 2DS 2-VASc score and HAS-BLED score were calculated. The patients were followed up at the 3rd and 6th months after enrollment and every 6 months thereafter. Patients were divided according to whether they had coronary artery disease and whether they took OAC. Results:11 067 NVAF patients fulfilling guideline criteria for OAC treatment were included in this study, including 1 837 patients with CAD. 95.4% of NVAF patients with CAD had CHA 2DS 2-VASc score≥2, and 59.7% of patients had HAS-BLED≥3, which was significantly higher than NVAF patients without CAD ( P<0.001). Only 34.6% of NVAF patients with CAD were treated with OAC at enrollment. The proportion of HAS-BLED≥3 in the OAC group was significantly lower than in the no-OAC group (36.7% vs. 71.8%, P<0.001). After adjustment with multivariable logistic regression analysis, thromboembolism( OR=2.48,95% CI 1.50-4.10, P<0.001), left atrial diameter≥40 mm( OR=1.89,95% CI 1.23-2.91, P=0.004), stain use ( OR=1.83,95% CI 1.01-3.03, P=0.020) and β blocker use ( OR=1.74,95% CI 1.13-2.68, P=0.012)were influence factors of OAC treatment. However, the influence factors of no-OAC use were female( OR=0.54,95% CI 0.34-0.86, P=0.001), HAS-BLED≥3 ( OR=0.33,95% CI 0.19-0.57, P<0.001), and antiplatelet drug( OR=0.04,95% CI 0.03-0.07, P<0.001). Conclusion:The rate of OAC treatment in NVAF patients with CAD is still low and needs to be further improved. The training and assessment of medical personnel should be strengthened to improve the utilization rate of OAC in these patients.

BACKGROUND:Oral anti-coagulants (OAC) are the intervention for the prevention of stroke, which consistently improve clinical outcomes and survival among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The main purpose of this study is to identify problems in OAC utilization among hospitalized patients with AF in China. METHODS:Using data from the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-Atrial Fibrillation (CCC-AF) registry, guideline-recommended OAC use in eligible patients was assessed. RESULTS:A total of 52,530 patients with non-valvular AF were enrolled from February 2015 to December 2019, of whom 38,203 were at a high risk of stroke, 9717 were at a moderate risk, and 4610 were at a low risk. On admission, only 20.0% (6075/30,420) of patients with a diagnosed AF and a high risk of stroke were taking OAC. The use of pre-hospital OAC on admission was associated with a lower risk of new-onset ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack among the diagnosed AF population (adjusted odds ratio: 0.54, 95% confidence interval: 0.43-0.68; P <0.001). At discharge, the prescription rate of OAC was 45.2% (16,757/37,087) in eligible patients with high stroke risk and 60.7% (2778/4578) in eligible patients with low stroke risk. OAC utilization in patients with high stroke risk on admission or at discharge both increased largely over time (all P <0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that OAC utilization at discharge was positively associated with in-hospital rhythm control strategies, including catheter ablation (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 11.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] 10.04-13.47; P <0.001), electronic cardioversion (adjusted OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.65-3.51; P <0.001), and anti-arrhythmic drug use (adjusted OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.38-1.53; P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS:In hospitals participated in the CCC-AF project, >70% of AF patients were at a high risk of stroke. Although poor performance on guideline-recommended OAC use was found in this study, over time the CCC-AF project has made progress in stroke prevention in the Chinese AF population.Registration:ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02309398.

AbstractAimsFascicular ventricle tachycardia (FVT) arising from the proximal aspect of left His-Purkinje system (HPS) has not been specially addressed. Current study was to investigate its clinical, electrocardiographic, and electrophysiological characteristics.Methods and resultsEighteen patients who were identified as this rare FVT were consecutively enrolled, and their scalar electrocardiogram and electrophysiological data were collected and analysed. The ventricular tachycardia (VT) morphology was similar to sinus rhythm (SR) in eight patients, left bundle branch block type in one patient, right bundle branch block type in seven patients, and both narrow and wide QRS type in two patients. During VT, right-sided His potential preceded the QRS with His-ventricle (H-V) interval of 36.3 ± 12.4 ms, which was shorter than that during SR (−51.4 ± 8.6 ms) (P = 0.002). The earliest Purkinje potentials (PPs) were recorded within 7 ± 3 mm of left-side His and preceded the QRS by 49.1 ± 14.0 ms. Mapping along the left anterior fascicle and left posterior fascicle revealed an antegrade activation sequence in all with no P1 potentials recorded. In the two patients with two VT morphologies, the earliest PP was documented at the same site, and the activation sequence of HPS remained antegrade. Ablation at the earliest PP successfully eliminated the tachycardia, except one patient who developed complete atrial-ventricular block and two patients who abandoned ablations. After at least 12 months follow-up, 15 patients were free from any recurrences.ConclusionsFascicular ventricle tachycardia arising from the proximal aspect of left HPS was featured by recording slightly shorter H-V interval and absence of P1 potentials. Termination of VT requires ablation at the left-sided His or its adjacent region.

Background: Despite undergoing a single ablation, many patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) experience a gradually increasing recurrence rate. This study aims to examine the relationship between left atrial appendage emptying velocity (LAAeV) and filling velocity (LAAfV) profiles and 3-year recurrence ofAF after ablation. Methods: We conducted a prospective study of 658 consecutive PAF patients who underwent their first ablation between January 2018 and December 2019. We collected the clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of the patients. LAAeV and LAAfV were obtained from a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) before catheter ablation. Patients were followed at regular intervals to monitor for the primary outcome of AF recurrence. Results: After a median follow-up period of 35.3 months (range, 10.7-36.3), 288 patients (43.8%) experienced AF recurrence after catheter ablation. Patients who experienced AF recurrence had decreased LAAeV and LAAfV ( LAAeV: 56.5 +/- 21.2 vs. 59.6 +/- 20.7 cm/s, p =.052; LAAfV: 47.5 +/- 17.9 vs. 51.7 +/- 18.2, p =.003). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients in the low LAAeV (<55 cm/s) group had a poorer event-free survival rate than those in the high LAAeV (>= 55 cm/s) group (log-rank p =.012). Patients with LAAfV <48 cm/s had a significantly higher risk of AF recurrence than those with LAAfV >= 48 cm/s (log-rank p =.003). In the multivariable model, low LAAfV pre-ablation in TEE-guided was significantly independently associated with 3-year recurrence after single radiofrequency ablation in patients with PAF, along with LA dimension and duration of AF. Conclusion: This study found an independent association between low LAAfV preablation in TEE-guided and 3-year recurrence after single radiofrequency ablation in patients with PAF.

Objective: To explore the risk factors of anxiety in patients with atrial fibrillation and their caregivers. Methods: From September 2020 to March 2021, patients with atrial fibrillation and one primary family member as caregiver of each patient from Beijing Anzhen Hospital were enrolled. Basic data of patients and their caregivers were collected, and anxiety of patients and caregivers were evaluated by Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale (GAD-7). A total of 374 patients with atrial fibrillation and their caregivers were included in this study. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors of anxiety of patients and their caregivers. Results: The mean age of the patients was (58.3±10.6) years, and 124 (33.2%) were female. The caregivers were (53.6±11.6) years old, and 247 (66%) were female. 69 (18.4%) patients and 38 (10.2%) caregivers had mild anxiety (GAD-7:5-9 scores), 13 (3.5%) patients and 9 (2.4%) caregivers had moderate or higher anxiety (GAD-7:10-21 scores). Multivariate analysis showed that the risk factors of anxiety in patients with atrial fibrillation included EHRA score≥3 (OR=1.73,95%CI:1.03-2.89,P=0.039) and female sex (OR=1.90,95%CI:1.06-3.40,P=0.032). EHRA score of patients≥3 (OR=2.11,95%CI:1.05-4.24, P=0.036) or anxiety of patients (OR=2.76,95%CI:1.36-5.60,P=0.005) were associated with higher anxiety of caregivers. Moreover, age of≥65 years old (OR=3.97,95%CI:1.68-9.38,P=0.002), female sex (OR=3.83,95%CI:1.64-8.93,P=0.002) and number of comorbidities of caregivers≥2 (OR=2.57,95%CI:1.03-6.41,P=0.043) were also associated with anxiety of caregivers. Conclusions: Patients with severe symptoms have a higher proportion of anxiety, and their caregivers are more likely to experience anxiety. Anxiety rate is higher in caregivers of patients with anxiety.

目的:探讨合并既往心脏外科手术史的频发室性室性期前收缩(premature ventricular contraction,PVC)患者接受导管消融治疗的有效性和安全性.方法:入选在北京安贞医院行PVC导管消融治疗且既往有心脏外科手术史的患者10例.所有患者在三维标测系统指导下行标测和消融,分析PVC起源部位和电生理特征.术后3、6、12、18个月行动态心电图检查,判断有无室性期前收缩复发,明确消融效果.结果:研究纳入冠状动脉旁路移植(coronary artery bypass graft,CABG)术后4例,房间隔缺损/室间隔缺损修补术后3例,瓣膜置换/修复术后3例.平均手术时间(89.1±31.5)min,除2例主动脉机械瓣置换术后患者外,其余患者均成功接受消融.其中CABG术后患者的消融成功靶点均位于心室间隔面,先天性心脏病和瓣膜置换术后患者除1例起源于乳头肌外,其余均在左心室流出道消融成功.所有患者无围术期并发症发生.平均随访(10.9±3.4)个月,8例消融成功患者均未复发.结论:多数合并既往心脏外科手术史的PVC患者,行导管消融安全、有效.机械瓣置换术后的左心室起源PVC患者,可能需要结合多种到位途径,部分患者难以消融成功.

Objective To explore the effect of time nursing flow chart on blood pressure, cardiac function and quality of life in patients with atrial fibrillation（AF） combined with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease and hypertension during the perioperative period of radiofrequency ablation. Methods From October 2020 to October 2021, 60 patients with AF combined with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease and hypertension who received radiofrequency ablation in Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University were enrolled, and they were divided into observation group and control group according to random drawing method, with 30 cases in each group. During the perioperative period, the control group was given routine nursing, and the observation group was given time nursing flow chart intervention based on routine nursing. Blood pressure, cardiac function index, nursing compliance and quality of life between the two groups were compared before and after intervention. Results The systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure after intervention were lower than those before intervention in the two groups（both P＜0.05）, those in the observation group were lower than those in the control group[（124±11） mmHg vs（135±12） mmHg,（81±8） mmHg vs（90±6） mmHg], and the blood pressure control rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group [96.7%（29/30） vs 73.3%（22/30）]（both P＜0.05）. The left ventricular ejection fraction, maximum oxygen uptake and 6 min walking distance after intervention were higher/longer than those before intervention in the two groups, and those in the observation group were higher/longer than those in the control group（all P＜0.05）. The scores of medication compliance, scientific diet, moderate exercise in nursing compliance and the scores of mental health, physiological function, social function and overall health in 36-item Short Form Health Survey scale after intervention were higher than those before intervention in the two groups, and those in the observation group were higher than those in the control group（all P＜0.05）. Conclusions The intervention of time nursing flow chart can improve the perioperative blood pressure control rate in patients with AF combined with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease and hypertension, promote the recovery of cardiac function, and improve nursing compliance and the quality of life.

BACKGROUND:Due to the anatomically adjacent relationship between the left atrium (LA) and esophagus, energy delivery on the posterior wall of LA is limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a novel esophageal retractor (SAFER) with an inflatable C-curve balloon during atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. METHOD:Nine patients underwent AF ablation assisted with the SAFER. After inflation, the esophagus was deviated laterally away from the intended ablation site of the posterior wall under local anesthesia. The extent of mechanical esophageal deviation (MED) was evaluated under fluoroscopy, defined as the shortest distance from the trailing esophageal edge to the closest point of the ablation line. Gastroscopy was performed before and after ablation. The target ablation index used in all LA sites including the posterior wall was 400-450 after effective MED. All adverse events during the periprocedural period were recorded. RESULTS:The mean deviation distance achieved 16.2 ± 9.6 mm away from the closest ablation point of the pulmonary vein lesion set. With respect to the individual left and right pulmonary vein lesion sets, the deviation distance was 19.7 ± 11.5 and 12.7 ± 6.8 mm, respectively. The extent of deviation was 0 to 5 mm, 5.1 to 10 mm, or >10 mm in 0(0%), 7(38.9%), and 11(61.1%), respectively. Procedural success was achieved in all patients without acute reconnection. There was only one esophageal complication which manifested as esophageal erosion and this patient experienced throat pain possibly related to the SAFER retractor with no clinical sequelae. CONCLUSION:Esophageal deviation with the novel eccentric balloon is a novel feasible choice during AF ablation, enabling adequate energy delivery to the posterior wall of LA. Additional prospective randomized controlled studies are required for further validation.

BACKGROUND:Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and prior stroke history have a high risk of cardiovascular events despite anticoagulation therapy. It is unclear whether catheter ablation (CA) has further benefits in these patients.METHODS:AF patients with a previous history of stroke or systemic embolism (SE) from the prospective Chinese Atrial Fibrillation Registry study between August 2011 and December 2020 were included in the analysis. Patients were matched in a 1:1 ratio to CA or medical treatment (MT) based on propensity score. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause death or ischemic stroke (IS)/SE.RESULTS:During a total of 4.1 ± 2.3 years of follow-up, the primary outcome occurred in 111 patients in the CA group (3.3 per 100 person-years) and in 229 patients in the MT group (5.7 per 100 person-years). The CA group had a lower risk of the primary outcome compared to the MT group [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.47-0.74, P < 0.001]. There was a significant decreasing risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.31-0.61, P < 0.001), IS/SE (HR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.54-0.97, P = 0.033), cardiovascular mortality (HR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.19-0.54, P < 0.001) and AF recurrence (HR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.30-0.37, P < 0.001) in the CA group compared to that in the MT group. Sensitivity analysis generated consistent results when adjusting for time-dependent usage of anticoagulants.CONCLUSIONS:In AF patients with a prior stroke history, CA was associated with a lower combined risk of all-cause death or IS/SE. Further clinical trials are warranted to confirm the benefits of CA in these patients.

BACKGROUND:Evidence was lacking for the early choice of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) among patients with early-onset atrial fibrillation (AF). HYPOTHESIS:This study aimed to explore whether earlier RFA was associated with better clinical outcomes among early-onset AF patients. METHODS:Patients, who were diagnosed with AF before 45 years and underwent their first RFA procedures at baseline of the China Atrial Fibrillation registry, were enrolled and divided into four diagnosis-to-ablation time (DAT) groups: DAT ≤ 1 year, 1 year < DAT ≤ 3 years, 3 years < DAT ≤ 6 years, and DAT > 6 years. Another group of nonablation patients, who were newly diagnosed with AF and younger than 45 years, were also included. Adjusted associations of groups with composite cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, embolism, major hemorrhages, or cardiac rehospitalization) or recurrent AF were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS:Among 1694 patients who underwent their first RFA at enrollment, incidences of composite cardiovascular outcomes were increasing with extension of DAT (DAT ≤ 1 year: 6.1/100 person-years, 1 year < DAT ≤ 3 years: 7.9/100 person-years, 3 years < DAT ≤ 6 years: 7.6/100 person-years, DAT > 6 years: 10.5/100 person-years; p < .001). In comparison with DAT > 6 years group, the DAT ≤ 1 year group was associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular events (adjusted hazard ratio, HR [95% confidence interval, CI] = 0.64 [0.47-0.87], p = .005) and AF recurrence (adjusted HR [95% CI] = 0.70 [0.57-0.88], p = .002). Associations remained similar after stratified by AF types. Compared to nonablation group (n = 413), DAT ≤ 1year patients tended to show lower cardiovascular risk (adjusted HR [95% CI] = 0.78 [0.58-1.05], p = .099) and lower risk of recurrent AF (adjusted HR [95% CI] = 0.46 [0.38-0.55], p < .001). CONCLUSIONS:A shorter DAT was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular events and recurrent AF for early-onset AF patients.

Background:Data on the performance of risk scores in predicting mortality risk after atrial fibrillation (AF) ablations are limited.Objectives:The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations of mortality with preablation biomarkers and evaluate the performance of age, biomarker, and clinical history (ABC)-death score in patients with AF undergoing catheter ablation.Methods:Patients with AF undergoing catheter ablations between 2013 and 2019 in the Chinese Atrial Fibrillation Registry were enrolled. Biomarkers associated with ABC-death score were quantified from baseline blood samples collected before AF ablation. Clinical outcomes were all-cause mortality and cardiac mortality. Discrimination, reclassification, clinical use, and calibration were further evaluated.Results:We identified 4,218 patients with AF undergoing catheter ablations. During a median follow-up period of 4.0 years, 119 patients died due to all causes, with 49 dying due to cardiac causes. Biomarker levels were all independently associated with an increased risk of all-cause death and cardiac death. The ABC-death score was superior to the CHA2DS2-VASc score in predicting all-cause death (C index 0.73 vs 0.63; P = 0.001) and cardiac death (C index 0.83 vs 0.71; P = 0.007). Reclassification analysis revealed significant reclassification improvements of the ABC-death score compared with the CHA2DS2-VASc (cardiac failure or dysfunction, hypertension, age ≥75 [doubled], diabetes mellitus, stroke [doubled]-vascular disease, age 65 to 74 years and sex category [female]) score. Decision curve analysis showed the greater net benefit of use of the ABC-death score. Calibration plots presented an overestimation of the observed mortality event rate by ABC-death score.Conclusions:Preablation biomarkers associated with ABC-death score were independently related to increased all-cause and cardiac mortality risk. Despite the overestimation of the event rate, the ABC-death score outperformed the CHA2DS2-VASc score in discriminating and reclassifying mortality risk, especially for cardiac mortality.

Abstract Aims This study aims to provide representative information on heart failure (HF) patients in China, especially older adults aged ≥75 years. We aim to clarify the age‐related discrepancies in performance measures and the modifying effect of age on the impact of HF patients' characteristics on clinical outcomes. Methods and results All HF patients admitted into five tertiary and four secondary hospitals of the Capital Medical University were divided into two groups according to age: 1419 (53.3%) were <75 years, and 1244 (46.7%) were ≥75 years. Older HF patients were more likely to be women, with higher left ventricular ejection fraction, with co‐morbidities including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/asthma, anaemia, chronic kidney disease, stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA), atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter, hypertension, and coronary artery disease, while obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolaemia and valvular heart disease were more prevalent among younger HF patients. Left ventricular ejection fraction assessment was performed in a similar proportion of patients in the younger and older groups (81.7% vs. 80.5%, P = 0.426), while B‐type natriuretic peptide/N terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide was tested in a lower proportion in the younger group (84.8% vs. 89%, P = 0.001). At discharge, HF with reduced ejection fraction patients were less likely to receive beta‐blockers, angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers, or combined beta‐blockers and angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers therapy in the older group (49.74% vs. 63.2%, P = 0.002; 52.9% vs. 64.7%, P = 0.006; and 28.57% vs. 45.5%, P < 0.001, respectively) but were equally likely to receive mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists in the two age groups (80.8% vs. 84.1%, P = 0.322). Older patients with HF had higher risk of in‐hospital and 1 year mortality (2.7% vs. 1.3%, P = 0.011; 21.7% vs. 12.5%; P < 0.001, respectively). Higher body mass index was associated with better outcomes in both age groups. New York Heart Association functional class IV and estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 were independent predictors of 1 year mortality. The associations between patients' characteristics and risk of mortality were not modified by age. Conclusions HF patients aged ≥75 years had distinct clinical profiles, received worse in‐hospital therapies and experienced higher in‐hospital and 1 year mortality.

BackgroundThe status of hypertension in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) remains unknown in China.MethodsThis study used data from patients hospitalized with AF recruited by the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-AF (CCC-AF) project from 236 hospitals enrolled by geographic-economic level in China from 2015 to 2019. The prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control rates of hypertension in patients hospitalized with AF were estimated. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the factors associated with uncontrolled hypertension.ResultsAmong 60,390 patients hospitalized with AF, the prevalence of hypertension according to the 2018 Chinese hypertension guidelines was 66.1%. The awareness, treatment, and control rates of hypertension were 80.3, 55.8, and 39.9%, respectively. Among patients treated for hypertension, the treatment control rate was 46.2%. These rates varied according to patient clinical characteristics and geographic regions. The young (18–44 and 45–54 years old), rural insurance, alcohol drinking, history of heart failure, valvular AF, first diagnosed AF, and permanent AF, were associated with uncontrolled hypertension. Under the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) hypertension guidelines, the prevalence of hypertension was 79.3%, and the control and treatment control rates dropped to 16.7 and 21.2%, respectively.ConclusionHypertension is common in patients hospitalized with AF in China. Although most patients were aware of their hypertensive status, the treatment and control rates of hypertension were still low. The management of hypertension in patients with AF needs to be further improved.

Objective: To compare the differences between CAS risk model and CHA2DS2-VASc risk score in predicting all cause death, thromboembolic events, major bleeding events and composite endpoint in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study. From the China Atrial Fibrillation Registry cohort study, the patients with atrial fibrillation who were>18 years old were randomly divided into CAS risk score group and CHA2DS2-VASc risk score group respectively. According to the anticoagulant status at baseline and follow-up, patients in the 2 groups who complied with the scoring specifications for anticoagulation were selected for inclusion in this study. Baseline information such as age and gender in the two groups were collected and compared. Follow-up was performed periodically to collect information on anticoagulant therapy and endpoints. The endpoints were all-cause death, thromboembolism events and major bleeding, the composite endpoint events were all-cause death and thromboembolism events. The incidence of endpoints in CAS group and CHA2DS2-VASc group was analyzed, and multivariate Cox proportional risk model was used to analyze whether the incidence of the endpoints was statistically different between the two groups. Results: A total of 5 206 patients with AF were enrolled, average aged (63.6±12.2) years, and 2092 (40.2%) women. There were 2 447 cases (47.0%) in CAS risk score group and 2 759 cases (53.0%) in CHA2DS2-VASc risk score group. In the clinical baseline data of the two groups, the proportion of left ventricular ejection fraction<55%, non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, oral warfarin and HAS BLED score in the CAS group were lower than those in the CHA2DS2-VASc group, while the proportion of previous diabetes history and history of antiplatelet drugs in the CAS group was higher than that in the CHA2DS2-VASc group, and there was no statistical difference in other baseline data. Patients were followed up for (82.8±40.8) months. In CAS risk score group, 225(9.2%) had all-cause death, 186 (7.6%) had thromboembolic events, 81(3.3%) had major bleeding, and 368 (15.0%) had composite endpoint. In CHA2DS2-VASc risk score group, 261(9.5%) had all-cause death 209(7.6%) had thromboembolic events, 112(4.1%) had major bleeding, and 424 (15.4%) had composite endpoint. There were no significant differences in the occurrence of all-cause death, thromboembolic events, major bleeding and composite endpoint between anticoagulation in CAS risk score group and anticoagulation in CHA2DS2-VASc risk score group (log-rank P =0.643, 0.904, 0.126, 0.599, respectively). Compared with CAS risk score, multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models showed no significant differences for all-cause death, thromboembolic events, major bleeding and composite endpoint between the two groups with HR(95%CI) 0.95(0.80-1.14), 1.00(0.82-1.22), 0.83(0.62-1.10), 0.96(0.84-1.11), respectively. All P>0.05. Conclusions: There were no significant differences between CAS risk model and CHA2DS2-VASc risk score in predicting all-cause death, thromboembolic events, and major bleeding events in Chinese patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

环肺静脉隔离（PVI）是心房颤动（房颤）导管消融的基石，作为阵发性房颤的消融策略被广泛接受。对于持续性房颤，单纯PVI疗效欠佳，常需要对心房基质进行改良。目前常见的基质改良策略主要包括腔内指导的消融策略（如转子消融、碎裂电位消融）和解剖消融策略（如线性消融）等。目前尚无临床证据表明任何一种基质改良策略能够在PVI的基础上进一步带来获益。然而，随着消融技术的进步和消融术式的创新，持续性房颤的经导管诊疗迎来了新的曙光。本文将就目前持续性房颤主要的消融策略进行简要述评。.

目的:探讨他汀药物对冠心病(CAD)合并非瓣膜性心房颤动(NVAF)患者远期临床结果的影响.方法:中国心房颤动注册研究于北京市31家医院前瞻性纳入心房颤动患者25 512例,排除瓣膜病性心房颤动,最终纳入冠心病合并NVAF患者2 783例.主要终点事件是心血管死亡;次要终点是全因死亡、血栓栓塞事件和心血管原因住院.结果:约有71.7％的CAD合并NVAF患者使用他汀药物.与未用他汀药物患者相比,他汀药物组患者更多合并有高血压病和Has-BLED≥3比例也更高.他汀药物组口服抗凝药物和抗血小板药物使用率更高.随访中位数时间2.99(1.48,4.90)年,Kaplan-Meier分析及单因素Cox回归分析结果显示,两组的主要终点事件和次要终点事件未见明显差异;但多因素Cox回归分析结果显示,他汀药物明显降低冠心病合并NVAF患者的全因死亡的风险(HR=0.79,95％CI 0.64～0.96,P=0.020),两组的心血管死亡、血栓栓塞事件和心血管原因住院的发生风险未见明显差异.结论:他汀药物虽然没有明显降低CAD合并NVAF患者的心血管死亡、血栓栓塞事件和心血管原因住院的风险,但明显降低了全因死亡的风险.

目的:探讨肥厚型心肌病患者心房颤动导管消融术后早期复发对远期预后的影响.方法:纳入2006年11月至2016年7月,于北京安贞医院行首次房颤导管消融术的肥厚型心肌病患者共91例(阵发性心房颤动/持续性心房颤动:60/31例).消融策略:阵发性心房颤动患者行双侧肺静脉隔离;持续性心房颤动患者行双侧肺静脉隔离加左心房顶、二尖瓣峡部和三尖瓣峡部线性消融.术后定期随访患者的心电图或动态心电图,早期复发定义为导管消融术后3个月内心电图或动态心电图记录的持续时间≥30s的任何类型的房性快速心律失常(房性心动过速/心房扑动/心房颤动).晚期复发定义为3个月后心电图或动态心电图记录的任何类型的≥30s的房性快速心律失常(房性心动过速/心房扑动/心房颤动).根据是否发生早期复发将研究对象分为早期复发组和无早期复发组,观察并记录两组有无晚期复发以及晚期复发的时间以比较两组有无差异.结果:91例心房颤动患者术后共有59例发生晚期复发,其中74.6％(44/59)发生在1年内.共有23(25.3％)例患者发生早期复发,早期复发组其中1例在术后第1个月内发生早期复发,22例在术后第3个月内发生早期复发.发生早期复发的23例患者心动过速呈持续发作,随访过程中未曾转复窦性心律.与无早期复发组相比,早期复发组的晚期复发率显著增高[100％(23/23)vs.52.9％(36/68),Log-Rank P＜0.001].多因素COX回归分析表明,早期复发是晚期复发的独立危险因素(HR=71.43,95％CI:9.71～512.13,P＜0.001).结论:合并肥厚型心肌病的心房颤动患者射频消融术后早期复发与晚期复发有显著相关性,合并肥厚型心肌病心房颤动导管消融术后早期复发鲜有延迟治愈.

国内外研究表明Marshall静脉(V O M)无水乙醇消融可提高持续性心房颤动导管消融的远期成功率.VOM无水乙醇消融的规范操作对提高手术成功率及减少并发症至关重要.VOM无水乙醇消融规范包括术前准备、手术操作、解剖变异的处理、注意事项及相关说明以及安全性.