A substantial number of patients progress to sustained AF within 1 year. The clinical outcome of these patients regarding hospital admissions and major adverse cardiovascular events was worse compared with patients demonstrating no AF progression. Factors known to cause atrial structural remodeling (age and underlying heart disease) were independent predictors of AF progression. The HATCH score may help to identify patients who are likely to progress to sustained forms of AF in the near future.

Nurse-led care of patients with AF is superior to usual care provided by a cardiologist in terms of cardiovascular hospitalizations and cardiovascular mortality. Trial registration information: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier number: NCT00391872.

The incidence of AF in the present cohort was comparable to that shown in data of older studies. Obesity has become a major risk factor for incident AF. Although overall cardiovascular event rates were lower in the present study, the present study confirms the association of incident AF with such events.

Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00877643.

Electrical remodeling of the atrium during rapid atrial pacing was significantly attenuated by verapamil. This suggests that electrical remodeling of the atrium is triggered by the high calcium influx during rapid atrial pacing rates.