Brugada syndrome in Iran: Insights from a 12-year longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Brugada syndrome (BrS) is characterized by ST-segment elevation in the right precordial leads, which is not explained by ischemia, electrolyte disturbances, or obvious structural heart disease. AIM: In present study, we aim to evaluate presentation, long-term outcome, genetic findings, and therapeutic interventions in patients with BrS. METHODS: Between September 2001 and June 2022, all consecutive patients with diagnosis of BrS were enrolled in the present study. All patients gave written informed consent for the procedure, and the local ethical committee approved the study. RESULTS: Of the 76 cases, 79% were proband and 21% were detected during screening after diagnosis of BrS in a family member. Thirty-three (43%) patients had a typical spontaneous electrocardiogram (ECG) pattern. Thirty percent of the patients were symptomatic; symptomatic patients were more likely to have spontaneous type 1 Brugada ECG pattern in their ECGs (p = .01), longer PR interval (p = .03), and SCN5A mutation (p = .01) than asymptomatic patients. The mean PR interval was considerably longer in men than women (p = .034). SCN5A mutation was found in 9 out of 50 (18%) studied patients. Fifteen percent received appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy and inappropriate ICD interventions were observed in 17%. Presentation with aborted SCD or arrhythmic syncope was the only predictor of adverse outcome in follow-up (odds ratio: 3.1, 95% confidence interval: 0.7-19.6, p = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Symptomatic patients with BrS are more likely to present with spontaneous type 1 Brugada ECG pattern, longer PR interval, and pathogenic mutation in SCN5A gene. Appropriate ICD interventions are more likely in symptomatic patients and those with SCN5A mutation.

Clinical outcomes of subcutaneous implantable cardiac defibrillator implantation - Iran SICD registry.

BACKGROUND: The subcutaneous implantable-defibrillator (S-ICD) is a relatively new alternative to the transvenous ICD system to minimize intravascular lead-related complications. This paper presents outcome of SICD implantation in patients enrolled in Iran S-ICD registry. METHODS: Between October 2015 and June 2022, this prospective multicenter national registry included 223 patients with a standard indication for an ICD, who neither required bradycardia pacing nor needed cardiac resynchronization to evaluate the early post-implant complications and long-term follow-up results of the S-ICD system. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 45 ± 17 years. The majority (79.4%) were male. Ischemic cardiomyopathy (39.5%) was the most common underlying disorder among patients selected for S-ICD implant. Most study patients (68.6%) had ICD for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. Seven patients (3.1%) were found to have suboptimal lead positions. Six patients (2.7%) developed a pocket hematoma; all were managed medically. During a mean follow-up of 2 years, the appropriate therapy was recorded in 13% of the patients and inappropriate ICD intervention mainly due to supraventricular tachycardia in 8.9%. Pocket infection was observed in four patients (1.8%) and five patients (2.2%) died mainly due to heart failure. CONCLUSION: S-ICDs were effective at detecting and treating both induced and spontaneous ventricular arrhythmias. Major clinical complications were rare.

A prospective survey of atrial fibrillation management in Iran: Baseline results of the Iranian Registry of Atrial Fibrillation (IRAF).

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation. (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia globally and its prevalence is likely to increase in the next decades as a result of increasing age and co-morbidities. There are no data on demographic features, clinical characteristics, associated comorbidities, and practice patterns of AF in Iran. METHODS: The Iranian Registry of Atrial Fibrillation (IRAF) is a hospital-based prospective survey of AF patients with a 12-month follow-up. Data were collected on a standardized case report form and entered into a web-based electronic database. This paper reports the baseline characteristics of the IRAF cohort. RESULTS: Between February 2018 and March 2020, a total of 1300 patients (57% Male, mean age, 60 ± 14 years) were enrolled. Palpitations were the most common presenting symptom (66%). The most common cardiac comorbidities were hypertension (52%), heart failure (23.7%), and valvular heart disease (21.8%). AF mainly presented as a paroxysmal pattern (44.6%). Seventy-eight percent of the patients with non-valvular AF had CHA2 DS2 -VASc score ≥1 and most (97%) were at low risk for bleeding (HAS-BLED score <3). Rhythm control was given to 55.1% of the patients. Anticoagulation for stroke prevention was provided to 69.5% of the eligible patients, while aspirin was used in 35%. CONCLUSION: The IRAF Registry has provided a systematic collection of contemporary data regarding the management and treatment of AF in Iran. Oral anticoagulant was used in 69.5%, but aspirin use was still common.