BackgroundAtrial flutter-related tachycardiomyopathy (AFL-TCM) is a rare and treatable cause of heart failure. Little is known about its epidemiology and long-term prognosis. Our aims are to determine the prevalence, predictors and outcomes of AFL-TCM. Methods and resultsA total of 1269 patients were referred for radiofrequency ablation of AFL between January 1996 and September 2014; 184 had reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF <40%). At 6 months after AFL ablation, 103 patients (8.1% of the population, 56% of patients with baseline LVEF <40%) had marked LVEF improvement: these were considered to have AFL-TCM. Patients with persisting reduced LVEF were considered to have systolic dysfunction unrelated to AFL. Patients were followed for a median (percentile 25-75 ) of 1.15 (0.4-2.8) years. Patients with AFL-TCM were younger, had lower prevalence of ischaemic cardiomyopathy and used less antiarrhythmic drugs than patients with systolic dysfunction unrelated to AFL. In multivariable analysis, ischemic cardiomyopathy [odds ratio (OR) = 0.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.15-0.68) P = 0.003] and prescription of antiarrhythmic drug before ablation [OR = 0.41, 95% CI 0.20-0.84, P = 0.02] were significantly associated with a lower probability of LVEF improvement during follow-up. Patients with AFL-TCM had similar survival to patients without systolic dysfunction at baseline [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.96 95% CI 0.34-2.65, P = 0.929], whereas patients with systolic dysfunction unrelated to AFL had higher mortality rates compared with patients without systolic dysfunction at baseline [HR = 2.88, 95% CI 1.45-5.72, P = 0.002].

Aims  We aimed to provide contemporary real-world data on wearable cardioverter-defibrillator (WCD) use, not only in terms of effectiveness and safety but also compliance and acceptability. Methods and results  Across 88 French centres, the WEARIT-France study enrolled retrospectively patients who used the WCD between May 2014 and December 2016, and prospectively all patients equipped for WCD therapy between January 2017 and March 2018. All patients received systematic education session through a standardized programme across France at the time of initiation of WCD therapy and were systematically enrolled in the LifeVest Network remote services. Overall, 1157 patients were included (mean age 60 ± 12 years, 16% women; 46% prospectively): 82.1% with ischaemic cardiomyopathy, 10.3% after implantable cardioverter-defibrillator explant, and 7.6% before heart transplantation. Median WCD usage period was 62 (37–97) days. Median daily wear time of WCD was 23.4 (22.2–23.8) h. In multivariate analysis, younger age was associated with lower compliance [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.95–0.99, P &lt; 0.01]. A total of 18 participants (1.6%) received at least one appropriate shock, giving an incidence of appropriate therapy of 7.2 per 100 patient-years. Patient-response button allowed the shock to be aborted in 35.7% of well-tolerated sustained ventricular arrhythmias and in 95.4% of inappropriate ventricular arrhythmia detection, finally resulting in an inappropriate therapy in eight patients (0.7%). Conclusion Our real-life findings reinforce previous studies on the efficacy and safety of the WCD in the setting of transient high-risk group in selected patients. Moreover, they emphasize the fact that when prescribed appropriately, in concert with adequate patient education and dedicated follow-up using specific remote monitoring system, compliance with WCD is high and the device well-tolerated by the patient.

AF occurrence after AFL ablation is frequent (>20%), especially in patients with a history of AF, in female patients, and in patients treated with class I antiarrythmics/amiodarone prior to AFL. Since most patients who experience AF after AFL ablation have a CHA2DS2-VASc ≥1, the decision to stop anticoagulants after ablation should be considered on an individual basis.

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Purpose of the researchTo study the influence of age on the clinical presentation and long-term outcome of patients referred for atrial flutter (AFL) ablation. Age-related differences have been reported regarding the prognosis of arrhythmias.MethodsA total of 1187 patients with a mean age 65±12 years consecutively referred for AFL ablation were retrospectively analyzed in the study.Results445 (37.5%) patients were aged ≥70 (range 70 to 93) among which 345 were aged 70 to 79 years (29.1%) and 100 were aged ≥80 (8.4%). In multivariable analysis, AFL-related rhythmic cardiomyopathy and presentation with 1/1 AFL were less frequent (respectively adjusted OR = 0.44, 0.27–0.74, p = 0.002 and adjusted OR = 0.29, 0.16–0.52, p<0.0001). AFL ablation-related major complications were more frequent in patients ≥70 although remained lower than 10% (7.4% in ≥70 vs. 4.2% in <70, adjusted OR = 1.74, 1.04–2.89, p = 0.03). After 2.1±2.7 years, AFL recurrence was less frequent in patients ≥70 (adjusted OR = 0.54, 0.37–0.80, p = 0.002) whereas atrial fibrillation (AF) occurrence was as frequent in the 70–79 and ≥80 age subsets. As expected, cardiac mortality was higher in older patients. Patients aged ≥80 also had a low probability of AFL recurrence (5.0%) and AF onset (19.0%).ConclusionsOlder patients represent 37.5% of patients referred for AFL ablation and displayed a <10% risk of ablation-related complications. Importantly, AFL recurrences were less frequent in patients ≥70 while AF occurrence was as frequent as in patients <70. Similar observations were made in patients ≥80 years. AFL ablation appears to be safe and efficient and should not be ruled out in elderly patients.