title: Relationship between degree of left ventricular dysfunction, symptom status, and risk of embolic events in patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Limited data exists regarding the relationship between left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and heart failure (HF) symptoms and embolic risk among patients with atrial fibrillation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants in the Atrial Fibrillation Clopidogrel Trial With Irbesartan for Prevention of Vascular Events (ACTIVE) trials with HF, but not randomized to oral anticoagulation, were categorized as having preserved versus reduced ejection fraction. If reduced, LVSD was classified as mild, moderate, or severe. Symptoms were quantified using New York Heart Association class.The primary outcome was a composite of stroke, transient ischemic attack, and systemic embolism.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 3487 antiplatelet-treated patients with HF at baseline. Of these patients, 969 (46.8%) had HF with preserved ejection fraction and 1103 (53.2%) had HF with reduced ejection fraction. During 3.6 years of mean follow-up, first occurrence of stroke, transient ischemic attack, or systemic embolism occurred in 386 patients.The strongest independent predictors of embolic events were age ≥75 years (hazard ratio 2.55; confidence interval, 1.85-3.53), prior stroke or transient ischemic attack (hazard ratio 2.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.65-2.60), and female sex (hazard ratio 1.37; confidence interval, 1.11-1.69). However, ejection fraction <0.50, degree of LVSD, and New York Heart Association class did not predict embolic events. Patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction exhibited similar risk of embolic events as those with HR with reduced ejection fraction: 4.3% versus 4.4% per 100 person-years (hazard ration 1.01; 95% confidence interval, 0.78-1.31). Risk of embolic events was similar across categories of LVSD (P for trend =0.96) and New York Heart Association class (P for trend =0.57).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among HF patients in ACTIVE, neither the presence of LVSD or degree of symptom severity influenced risk of embolic events.
authors: From the Division of Cardiology, Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (R.K.S.); Division of Cardiac Electrophysiology, J.W. Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany (S.H.H.); Division of Cardiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, MA (M.A.P.); Division of Neurology (R.G.H.), Division of Cardiology (S.Y., S.J.C., J.S.H.), Population Health Research Institute (F.Y.), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; The Canadian VIGOUR Center, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (F.A.M.); and Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (F.A.M.). rsandhu2@ualberta.ca.
authors: Roopinder K
authors: RK
authors: Sandhu
authors: From the Division of Cardiology, Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (R.K.S.); Division of Cardiac Electrophysiology, J.W. Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany (S.H.H.); Division of Cardiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, MA (M.A.P.); Division of Neurology (R.G.H.), Division of Cardiology (S.Y., S.J.C., J.S.H.), Population Health Research Institute (F.Y.), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; The Canadian VIGOUR Center, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (F.A.M.); and Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (F.A.M.).
authors: Stefan H
authors: SH
authors: Hohnloser
authors: From the Division of Cardiology, Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (R.K.S.); Division of Cardiac Electrophysiology, J.W. Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany (S.H.H.); Division of Cardiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, MA (M.A.P.); Division of Neurology (R.G.H.), Division of Cardiology (S.Y., S.J.C., J.S.H.), Population Health Research Institute (F.Y.), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; The Canadian VIGOUR Center, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (F.A.M.); and Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (F.A.M.).
authors: Marc A
authors: MA
authors: Pfeffer
authors: From the Division of Cardiology, Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (R.K.S.); Division of Cardiac Electrophysiology, J.W. Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany (S.H.H.); Division of Cardiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, MA (M.A.P.); Division of Neurology (R.G.H.), Division of Cardiology (S.Y., S.J.C., J.S.H.), Population Health Research Institute (F.Y.), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; The Canadian VIGOUR Center, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (F.A.M.); and Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (F.A.M.).
authors: Fei
authors: F
authors: Yuan
authors: From the Division of Cardiology, Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (R.K.S.); Division of Cardiac Electrophysiology, J.W. Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany (S.H.H.); Division of Cardiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, MA (M.A.P.); Division of Neurology (R.G.H.), Division of Cardiology (S.Y., S.J.C., J.S.H.), Population Health Research Institute (F.Y.), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; The Canadian VIGOUR Center, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (F.A.M.); and Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (F.A.M.).
authors: Robert G
authors: RG
authors: Hart
authors: From the Division of Cardiology, Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (R.K.S.); Division of Cardiac Electrophysiology, J.W. Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany (S.H.H.); Division of Cardiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, MA (M.A.P.); Division of Neurology (R.G.H.), Division of Cardiology (S.Y., S.J.C., J.S.H.), Population Health Research Institute (F.Y.), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; The Canadian VIGOUR Center, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (F.A.M.); and Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (F.A.M.).
authors: Salim
authors: S
authors: Yusuf
authors: From the Division of Cardiology, Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (R.K.S.); Division of Cardiac Electrophysiology, J.W. Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany (S.H.H.); Division of Cardiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, MA (M.A.P.); Division of Neurology (R.G.H.), Division of Cardiology (S.Y., S.J.C., J.S.H.), Population Health Research Institute (F.Y.), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; The Canadian VIGOUR Center, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (F.A.M.); and Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (F.A.M.).
authors: Stuart J
authors: SJ
authors: Connolly
authors: From the Division of Cardiology, Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (R.K.S.); Division of Cardiac Electrophysiology, J.W. Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany (S.H.H.); Division of Cardiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, MA (M.A.P.); Division of Neurology (R.G.H.), Division of Cardiology (S.Y., S.J.C., J.S.H.), Population Health Research Institute (F.Y.), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; The Canadian VIGOUR Center, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (F.A.M.); and Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (F.A.M.).
authors: Finlay A
authors: FA
authors: McAlister
authors: From the Division of Cardiology, Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (R.K.S.); Division of Cardiac Electrophysiology, J.W. Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany (S.H.H.); Division of Cardiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, MA (M.A.P.); Division of Neurology (R.G.H.), Division of Cardiology (S.Y., S.J.C., J.S.H.), Population Health Research Institute (F.Y.), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; The Canadian VIGOUR Center, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (F.A.M.); and Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (F.A.M.).
authors: Jeff S
authors: JS
authors: Healey
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D000077405:Irbesartan; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013988:Ticlopidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D013777:Tetrazoles; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D000077405:Irbesartan; D013988:Ticlopidine; D001241:Aspirin
keywords: atrial fibrillation; heart failure; stroke