To evaluate the effect of a computerized Decision Support System (CDSS) on improving adherence to an anticoagulation guideline for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). This study had an interrupted time series design. The adherence to the guideline was assessed at fortnightly (two weeks) intervals from January 2016 to January 2017, 6 months before and 6 months after intervention. Newly diagnosed patients with AF were included in the offices of ten cardiologists. Stroke and major bleeding risks were calculated by the CDSS which was implemented via a mobile application. Treatment recommendations based on the guideline were shown to cardiologists. The segmented regression model was used to evaluate the effect of CDSS on level and trend of guideline adherence for the treatment of AF. In our analysis, 373 patients were included. The trend of adherence to the anticoagulation guideline for the treatment of AF was stable in the pre-intervention phase. After the CDSS intervention, mean of the adherence to the guideline significantly increased from 48% to 65.5% (P-value < 0.0001). The trend of adherence to the guideline was stable in the post-intervention phase. Our results showed that the CDSS can improve adherence to the anticoagulation guideline for the treatment of AF. Registration ID: IRCT2016052528070N1.

Previous studies suggested the possible role of autonomic dysfunction in sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). The aim of this study is to assess the interictal ECG alternations especially heart rate variability (HRV), as a marker of autonomic dysfunction, in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy and determine the effect of epilepsy type and duration, seizure frequency and anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) on ECG findings. Methods: In this comparative cross-sectional study, the interictal ECG parameters of 64 consecutive patients with drug-resistant epilepsy and the same number of age and sex-matched controls were analyzed. Epilepsy type and duration, seizure frequency, MRI findings and patients' anti-convulsive medications were determined. Results: Our study showed significant longer mean PR interval, shorter mean QRS duration, shorter mean QTc interval and longer corrected QT interval dispersion (QTcd) in patients with epilepsy compared to healthy subjects. The analysis of RR intervals revealed reduced RR standard deviation (SDNN), which is a marker of reduced HRV. A positive linear correlation was found between QRS duration and epilepsy duration. No significant correlation was found between taking a certain kind of AED, and ECG alternations, except for mild QTcd prolongation in patients taking valproate. Conclusion: Our study showed clinically important alternations in interictal ECG parameters in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy which could result in sudden cardiac death.

We aimed to evaluate electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities in mortalities due to pure methadone toxicity in ICU patients since methadone-related mortality may be due to cardiac complications even in acute toxicities. In a retrospective single-center study, files of all patients who had died with confirmed diagnosis of pure methadone toxicity between 2011 and 2016 were evaluated. Autopsy was performed in all cases. A cardiologist measured all ECG quantitative and qualitative indices. Fifty-one deaths were recorded. Forty-two dead patients were males. Median [IQR] age of the patients was 44 [30, 60] years. Of them, 38 (69%) were methadone-dependent and were significantly older than methadone-naïve patients (p = 0.008 and p = 0.001, respectively). ECG abnormalities were detected in all cases. ST-T abnormalities were found in 33 (64.7%) patients. Except longer PR interval in dependent patients (p = 0.017) and specific ST elevation in naïve cases (p = 0.008), other ECG indices were similar in two groups. No correlation was found between ST-T abnormalities and coronary disease in autopsy. ECG abnormalities irrelevant to coronary artery diseases are common in methadone-related mortalities. Methadone toxicity may affect myocardium and play a role in death. Further prospective studies to evaluate other cardiac indices in methadone-poisoned patients are recommended.

Background: Potential role of computerized decision support system on management of atrial fibrillation is not well understood. Objectives: To systematically review studies that evaluate the effects of computerized decision support systems and decision aids on aspects pertaining to atrial fibrillation.Data Sources: We searched Medline, Scopus and Cochrane database. Last date of search was 2016, January 10. Selection criteria: Computerized decision support systems that help manage atrial fibrillation and decision aids that provide useful knowledge for patients with atrial fibrillation and help them to self-care.Data collection and analysis: Two reviewers extracted data and summarized findings. Due to heterogeneity, meta-analysis was not feasible; mean differences of outcomes and confidence intervals for a difference between two Means were reported.Results: Seven eligible studies were included in the final review. There was one observational study without controls, three observational studies with controls, one Non-Randomized Controlled Trial and two Randomized Controlled Trials. The interventions were three decision aids that were used by patients and four computerized decision support systems. Main outcomes of studies were: stroke events and major bleeding (one article), Changing doctor-nurse behavior (three articles), Time in therapeutic International Normalized Ratio range (one article), decision conflict scale (two articles), patient knowledge and anxiety about stroke and bleeding (two articles).Conclusions: A computerized decision support system may decrease decision conflict and increase knowledge of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) about risks of AF and AF treatments. Effect of computerized decision support system on outcomes such as changing doctornurse behavior, anxiety about stroke and bleeding and stroke events could not be shown.We need more studies to evaluate the role of computerized decision support system in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background:We aimed to investigate the clinical, laboratory, and electrocardiographic (ECG) findings of colchicine poisoning and to evaluate if there is a correlation between them and the two major outcomes of this toxicity which are respiratory/cardiovascular failure and death.Materials and MethodsMedical records of 34 colchicine-intoxicated patients that were treated in our center during the past 10 years were retrospectively evaluated. The patient's clinical presentation, vital signs, laboratory tests, ECGs, and outcomes were reviewed.ResultsAbdominal pain, and hypotension at presentation had significant correlation with mortality (p = 0.003, OR: 2.2 [4.1, 7.9], p = 0.029, OR: 13.0 [1.5, 111.8]). Mortality significantly occurred in those with sinus tachycardia, hypokalemia, metabolic acidosis, and impaired liver and kidney function tests (p-values = 0.025, 0.007, 0.04, and 0.008, respectively). All the patients had some ECG abnormalities. Most frequent ECG abnormalities were pathologic ST segment elevation and depression (70%), left atrial enlargement (48%), and sinus tachycardia (37%), PR elevation in aVR lead (37%), and T wave inversion (37%).ConclusionsColchicine toxicity is a dangerous entity regarding the cardiovascular events and requires close general and cardiac monitoring.