Background Clinical complexity is increasingly prevalent among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The ‘Atrial fibrillation Better Care’ (ABC) pathway approach has been proposed to streamline a more holistic and integrated approach to AF care; however, there are limited data on its usefulness among clinically complex patients. We aim to determine the impact of ABC pathway in a contemporary cohort of clinically complex AF patients. Methods From the ESC-EHRA EORP-AF General Long-Term Registry, we analysed clinically complex AF patients, defined as the presence of frailty, multimorbidity and/or polypharmacy. A K-medoids cluster analysis was performed to identify different groups of clinical complexity. The impact of an ABC-adherent approach on major outcomes was analysed through Cox-regression analyses and delay of event (DoE) analyses. Results Among 9966 AF patients included, 8289 (83.1%) were clinically complex. Adherence to the ABC pathway in the clinically complex group reduced the risk of all-cause death (adjusted HR [aHR]: 0.72, 95%CI 0.58–0.91), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs; aHR: 0.68, 95%CI 0.52–0.87) and composite outcome (aHR: 0.70, 95%CI: 0.58–0.85). Adherence to the ABC pathway was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of death (aHR: 0.74, 95%CI 0.56–0.98) and composite outcome (aHR: 0.76, 95%CI 0.60–0.96) also in the high-complexity cluster; similar trends were observed for MACEs. In DoE analyses, an ABC-adherent approach resulted in significant gains in event-free survival for all the outcomes investigated in clinically complex patients. Based on absolute risk reduction at 1 year of follow-up, the number needed to treat for ABC pathway adherence was 24 for all-cause death, 31 for MACEs and 20 for the composite outcome. Conclusions An ABC-adherent approach reduces the risk of major outcomes in clinically complex AF patients. Ensuring adherence to the ABC pathway is essential to improve clinical outcomes among clinically complex AF patients.

BackroundThe treatment of wide neck bifurcation aneurysms remains challenging despite the introduction of new techniques (Y stenting, waffle cone technique, or flow diverter stents). The Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device is an innovative solution for this type of cerebral aneurysm. A new WEB 17 is now available and has been designed to offer smaller sized devices to optimize navigability and delivery.MethodsBetween February 2017 and April 2018 all patients treated with the WEB 17 device in our center were retrospectively reviewed. 25 patients with 28 non-ruptured aneurysms were identified and analyzed. Three patients with two aneurysms both treated with the WEB device were identified.ResultsThe device was successfully deployed in all cases. Procedure related morbidity was 4% and mortality was 0%. In one case, a delayed postprocedural thromboembolic event occurred owing to device protrusion. Technical success, complications, angiographic outcomes, procedural data, and follow-ups are reported. The modified Rankin Scale score at discharge was 0 for 24 patients (96%). At the 3, 6, or 9 month follow-up, angiograms were taken of 21 of the 25 patients (84%) (24 of 28 aneurysms had been controlled); 3 patients (3 aneurysms) did not receive angiographic follow-up at the time of submission of this work. Complete occlusion was achieved in 22 of 24 aneurysms (91.66%), and 2 of 24 aneurysm (8.33%) showed a neck remnant.ConclusionsThe WEB 17 is safe and technically feasible, according to this retrospective single center analysis. For very small bifurcation aneurysms, the WEB 17 seems to have lower complication rates than stent assisted techniques. However, further studies are needed to evaluate the complication rate and long term efficiency.

Aims The 4S-AF classification scheme comprises of four domains: stroke risk (St), symptoms (Sy), severity of atrial fibrillation (AF) burden (Sb), and substrate (Su). We sought to examine the implementation of the 4S-AF scheme in the EORP-AF General Long-Term Registry and compare outcomes in AF patients according to the 4S-AF-led decision-making process. Methods and results  Atrial fibrillation patients from 250 centres across 27 European countries were included. A 4S-AF score was calculated as the sum of each domain with a maximum score of 9. Of 6321 patients, 8.4% had low (St), 47.5% EHRA I (Sy), 40.5% newly diagnosed or paroxysmal AF (Sb), and 5.1% no cardiovascular risk factors or left atrial enlargement (Su). Median follow-up was 24 months. Using multivariable Cox regression analysis, independent predictors of all-cause mortality were (St) [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 8.21, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.60–25.9], (Sb) (aHR 1.21, 95% CI: 1.08–1.35), and (Su) (aHR 1.27, 95% CI: 1.14–1.41). For CV mortality and any thromboembolic event, only (Su) (aHR 1.73, 95% CI: 1.45–2.06) and (Sy) (aHR 1.29, 95% CI: 1.00–1.66) were statistically significant, respectively. None of the domains were independently linked to ischaemic stroke or major bleeding. Higher 4S-AF score was related to a significant increase in all-cause mortality, CV mortality, any thromboembolic event, and ischaemic stroke but not major bleeding. Treatment of all 4S-AF domains was associated with an independent decrease in all-cause mortality (aHR 0.71, 95% CI: 0.55–0.92). For each 4S-AF domain left untreated, the risk of all-cause mortality increased substantially (aHR 1.35, 95% CI: 1.16–1.56). Conclusion  Implementation of the novel 4S-AF scheme is feasible, and treatment decisions based on this scheme improve mortality rates in AF.

BackgroundThe purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR) on in-hospital mortality in ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients, after primary percutaneous intervention (PCI).Patients and methodsThe study included 294 patients admitted for STEMI. They were divided into five groups according to the SBP at admission: group I, <105 mmHg; group II, 105–125 mmHg; group III, 126–140 mmHg; group IV, 141–158 mmHg; and group V, ≥159 mmHg. Increased HR was defined as ≥80 beats per minute (bpm). In-hospital death was defined as all-cause death during admission and classified into cardiac and noncardiac death.ResultsAmong the 294 patients admitted for STEMI, 218 (74%) were men. The mean age was 62±17 years. In-hospital mortality rate was 6% (n=18), with 11 (3.7%) deaths having cardiac causes. The highest mortality was registered in group I (n=9, 16%, P=0.018). Compared to the other groups, group I patients were older (P=0.033), more often smokers (P=0.026), and had a history of myocardial infarction (P=0.003), systemic hypertension (P=0.023), diabetes (P=0.041), or chronic kidney disease (P=0.0200). They more often had a HR ≥80 bpm (P=0.028) and a Killip class 3 or 4 at admission (P=0.020). The peak creatine phosphokinase-MB level was significantly higher in this group (P=0.005), while the angiographic findings more often identified as culprit lesions were the right coronary artery (P=0.005), the left main trunk (P=0.040), or a multivessel coronary artery disease (P=0.044). Multivariate analysis showed that group I patients had a significantly higher risk for both all-cause death (P=0.006) and cardiac death (P=0.003). Patients with HR ≥80 bpm also had higher mortality rates (P=0.0272 for general mortality and P=0.0280 for cardiac mortality).ConclusionThe present study suggests that SBP <105 mmHg and HR ≥80 bpm at admission of STEMI patients are associated with a higher risk of in-hospital death, even after primary PCI.

In patients with reduced LVEF, LVtor x LVE is a promising parameter that deserves research to establish its clinical meaning and prognostic value.