Background and ObjectivesThe change of in-hospital and out-hospital treatments, and hospital costs for atrial fibrillation (AF) were not well known in rapidly aging Asian countries. This study is to examine the trends of AF management and outcomes in Korea.Subjects and MethodsIn the sample cohort from Korean National Health Insurance Data Sample Cohort (K-NHID-Sample Cohort) from 2004 through 2013, we identified patients with AF and hospital visit records using Korean Classification of Diseases, 6th Revision (KCD-6). Hospital cost, prescribed medications, radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA), morbidity and mortality were identified.ResultsAF-related hospitalization and outpatient clinic visits increased by 2.19 and 3.06-fold, respectively. While the total cost increased from 3.6 to 11.3 billion won (p<0.001), the mean cost per patient increased from 0.68 to 0.83 million won (p<0.001). Although the mean CHA2DS2-VASc score increased from 3.5 to 4.4 in the total AF population, the proportion of patients who receive anticoagulation therapy with warfarin showed no significant change for the decade. The proportion of hospitalization for RFCA was increased (0.4% to 1.1%, p<0.001). All-cause mortality (6.7% to 5.0%), cardiovascular mortality (1.4% to 1.1%) and stroke-related death (1.3% to 0.8%) showed a modest decrease from 2004 to 2013.ConclusionDuring the last decade, AF-related hospitalization and outpatient clinic visits have increased with the increase of many other comorbidities, whereas the rate of anticoagulation did not improved. Although mortality in patients with AF showed a modest decrease from 2004 to 2013, proper anticoagulation therapy is warranted for the improvement of public health.

BackgroundMetabolic syndrome (MS) is associated with increased risks of diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. However, data on the impact of MS and its individual components on subclinical atherosclerosis (SCA) according to diabetes status are scarce.MethodsSurrogate markers of SCA, brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), and carotid intima–medial thickness (IMT) and plaque were assessed in 2,560 subjects (60 ± 8 years, 33% men) who participated in baseline health examinations for a community-based cohort study.ResultsThe participants included 2,149 non-diabetics (84%) and 411 diabetics (16%); 667 non-diabetics (31%) and 285 diabetics (69%) had MS, respectively. Diabetics had significantly higher baPWV and carotid IMT, and more plaques than non-diabetics (p < 0.001, respectively). Individuals with MS had significantly higher baPWV and carotid IMT than those without MS only among non-diabetics (p < 0.001, respectively). Among MS components, increased blood pressure was significantly associated with the exacerbation of all SCA markers in non-diabetics. The number of MS components was significantly correlated with both baPWV and carotid IMT in non-diabetics (baPWV: r = 0.302, p < 0.001; carotid IMT: r = 0.217, p < 0.001). Multiple regression showed both MS and diabetes were significantly associated with baPWV (p < 0.001, respectively), carotid IMT (MS: p < 0.001; diabetes: p = 0.005), and the presence of plaque (MS: p = 0.041; diabetes: p = 0.002).ConclusionsMS has an incremental impact on SCA in conditions without diabetes. The identification of MS and its individual components is more important for the risk stratification of CVD in non-diabetic individuals.

Background: Rate control is now a front-line therapy in the management of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the survival benefits of different rate-control medications remain controversial, so we assessed the efficacy of rate-control medications in AF patients with concomitant heart failure (HF). Methods and Results:From January 2002 to December 2008, a total of 7,034 AF patients with a single type of rate-control drug or without rate-control treatment were enrolled from the Korea National Health Insurance Service database. The death rates over a mean follow-up of 4.5±1.2 years were 12.6% (580 of 4,593) and 29.0% (709 of 2,441) in non-HF and HF patients, respectively. Among the total subjects, the risk of death was lower in patients receiving β-blockers (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 0.75, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.64-0.88) and calcium-channel blockers (adjusted HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.55-0.98) compared with those who did not receive rate-control medications. In patients without HF, use of rate-control medications did not affect the risk of death. In patients with HF, β-blockers significantly decreased the mortality risk (adjusted HR 0.63, 95% CI 0.50-0.79), whereas use of calciumchannel blockers or digoxin was not associated with death. The results were observed consistently among the cohorts after propensity matching. Conclusions:Use of β-blockers was associated with a reduced mortality rate for AF patient with HF but not for those without HF. These findings should be examined in a large randomized trial.