Silent atrial fibrillation detected by home-monitoring: Cardiovascular disease and stroke prevention in patients with diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with silent and undiagnosed paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and flutter (AF) have increased risk of ischemic stroke. Patients with diabetes have a higher risk of both AF and ischemic stroke compared to patients without diabetes. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of silent AF in patients with diabetes in an outpatient cohort and to identify the possible risk factors associated with AF. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This prospective observational study was performed in the outpatient diabetes clinic at a single University Hospital. We included 217 patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes with at least one additional risk factor from the CHA2DS2VASc Score for Stroke Risk Assessment in Atrial Fibrillation. The primary outcome was prevalence of AF, with a duration of at least 30 s, recorded by a seven-day home-monitor, external loop recorder (ELR) in comparison to a standard resting ECG. Seventeen patients were excluded due to premature removal of the device. RESULTS: In the final cohort of 200 patients the majority were male (58.5%) with a mean age of 66 ±â€¯0.7 years. The mean BMI was 29 ±â€¯6 and patients had a mean diabetes history of 23 ±â€¯14 years with the majority diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (59%). Comorbidity was common with hypertension in 86%, and dyslipidemia in 80%. The total prevalence of silent AF [n = 20 (10%)] or flutter [n = 1 (0.5%)] was 10.5% using the ELR compared to a 0.0% detection-rate in the standard ECG method (p < 0.001). Higher age, male gender, albuminuria, and elevated systolic blood pressure were associated with AF in univariate analyses, but only age [OR 1.14 (95% CI = 1.00-2.04) (p = 0.048)], male gender [OR 4.9 (95% CI = 1.30-18.65) (p = 0.019)] and albuminuria [OR 2.7 (95% CI =1.08-6.98) (p = 0.034) were independently associated with AF. Mean CHA2DS2VASc Score was ≥2 (4.1, SD ±â€¯1.6), and patients with AF were referred to further cardiac evaluation. CONCLUSION: Undiagnosed, silent AF is common in high-risk cohort with a long history of diabetes followed in a University Hospital outpatient clinic. Non-invasive monitoring with ELR enhances detection of AF and identifies candidates for early anticoagulation treatment with the possible effect of stroke prevention.

The effect of melatonin on depressive symptoms and anxiety in patients after acute coronary syndrome: The MEDACIS randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Depression following acute coronary syndrome is prevalent and associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Melatonin may function as a primary prophylactic antidepressant substance and alleviate depressive symptoms. The study was undertaken to determine if melatonin administered following an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) could prevent development of depression. METHODS: The study was a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multicenter, randomized clinical trial performed in five primary care cardiology departments at Zealand, Denmark. Included patients were adults patients, free of depression at baseline, included at the latest 4 weeks after acute coronary syndrome. Twenty-five mg melatonin or placebo was administered 1 h before participants' bedtime for 12 weeks. The primary outcome is Major Depression Inventory (MDI) measured every two weeks throughout the trial. Incidence of depression was apriori defined as MDI score ≥ 21 during the trial. Reported exploratory outcomes were patterns of dropout and safety outcomes. RESULTS: 1220 patients were screened and 252 participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio. Baseline MDI score in the melatonin and placebo group were, respectively, 6.18 (CI 5.32-7.05) and 5.98 (CI 5.19-6.77). No significant intergroup differences were found during the study in the intention-to-treat analysis or per-protocol analysis. Cumulative events of depressive episodes during the 12 weeks were six in the melatonin group and four in the placebo group. A significant drop in depressive symptoms were present throughout the study period. No intergroup differences were present in dropouts or adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Melatonin showed no prophylactic antidepressant effect following acute coronary syndrome. The non-significant results might be due to a type II error or melatonin might not be able to prevent development of depressive symptoms following ACS.

The effect of MElatonin on Depressive symptoms, Anxiety, CIrcadian and Sleep disturbances in patients after acute coronary syndrome (MEDACIS): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Depression following acute coronary syndrome (ACS) constitutes a serious and debilitating problem. Approximately one in five patients will develop significant depression following ACS and less severe depressive symptoms are even more frequent. Furthermore, anxiety symptoms and sleep-wake disturbances are frequent. The objective of the MEDACIS trial is to investigate whether prophylactic treatment with melatonin has a preventive effect on depression, depressive and anxiety symptoms, sleep, and circadian disturbances following ACS. METHODS/DESIGN: "The effect of MElatonin and Depressive symptoms, Anxiety, CIrcadian and Sleep disturbances in patients after acute coronary syndrome" trial (MEDACIS) is a multicenter, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. A total of 240 patients with ACS and no depressive symptoms will be included in the trial for treatment with either 25 mg melatonin or placebo for a 12-week period. Development and severity of depressive symptoms will be evaluated using Major Depression Inventory every 2 weeks with the purpose of investigating the potential preventive effect of melatonin on depressive symptoms. DISCUSSION: Previously, only selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been investigated in a primary preventive setup in patients following ACS. However, SSRIs are associated with several side effects. An ideal intervention would constitute the highest degree of prevention of depressive symptoms with the lowest risk of side effects. In this regard, melatonin may have advantages due to its low toxicity as well as its proven anxiolytic and hypnotic effects. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier: NCT02451293 . Registered on 12 May 2015. EudraCT nr. 2015-002116-32.

[Practical management of troponin screening after non-cardiac surgery].

Myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery (MINS) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Routine troponin screening is necessary to identify patients with MINS. Although some evidence indicates benefit with aspirin and statin therapy in these patients, a number of clinical considerations must be done in the practical management of MINS. This article describes current experience with identification and treatment in Denmark of patients with MINS.

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass alleviates hypertension and is associated with an increase in mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide in morbid obese patients.

OBJECTIVE: To examine 24-h blood pressure (24BP), systemic haemodynamics and the effect of sodium intake on 24BP in obese patients before and after gastric bypass surgery [laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB)], and to determine whether weight loss from LRYGB might be related to an increase in plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptide. METHODS: Twelve hypertensive and 12 normotensive morbidly obese patients underwent LRYGB: 24BP, systemic haemodynamics and mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MRproANP) were assessed before, 6 weeks and 12 months after surgery. The effect of high versus low sodium intake on 24BP was evaluated before and 12 months after LRYGB. RESULTS: Six weeks after LRYGB, the average weight loss was 20 kg, with a further 21 kg weight loss 1 year after surgery. In hypertensive patients, 24BP was significantly reduced at 6 weeks, but not 1 year after LRYGB. However, antihypertensive medications were successively reduced from baseline to 1 year after surgery. In normotensive patients, there was no change in 24BP 6 weeks after LRYGB, but a tendency towards a reduction 1 year after the operation. Plasma concentrations of MRproANP were subnormal prior to surgery in hypertensive patients and increased by 77% 1 year after the operation. In normotensive patients, preoperative concentrations were normal and increased only by 6%. High sodium intake induced plasma volume expansion, increased stroke volume and cardiac output, but no significant change in 24BP - neither before nor after LRYGB. CONCLUSIONS: LRYGB resulted in a significant 24BP reduction and a substantial increase in MRproANP plasma concentrations in hypertensive, obese patients 6 weeks after surgery, suggesting a causal link between obesity-hypertension and altered release/degradation of cardiac natriuretic peptides.

The influence of high versus low sodium intake on blood pressure and haemodynamics in patients with morbid obesity.

BACKGROUND: Many patients with morbid obesity (BMI > 40 kg/m) have hypertension. The complex pathophysiological abnormalities linking hypertension to obesity have not been fully clarified, but abnormal sodium handling could be an important mechanism. METHOD: Therefore, we examined changes in body fluid compartments and haemodynamic responses (at rest and during exercise) after 5 days of a low-sodium diet (90 mmol/day) and 5 days of a high-sodium diet (250 mmol/day) in 12 morbidly obese, hypertensive patients; 12 morbidly obese, normotensive patients and 12 nonobese controls. RESULTS: High sodium intake as compared to low sodium intake was associated with an increase in plasma volume (obese, hypertensive patients: 5 ±â€Š4%; obese, normotensive patients: 10 ±â€Š11%; nonobese controls: 7 ±â€Š6%), cardiac output (CO) (obese, hypertensive patients: 17 ±â€Š12%; obese, normotensive patients: 20 ±â€Š16%; nonobese controls: 13 ±â€Š14%) and stroke volume (SV) (obese, hypertensive patients: 27 ±â€Š26%; obese, normotensive patients: 27 ±â€Š24%; nonobese controls: 18 ±â€Š27%) in all three groups with no differences between the groups. Despite an increase in CO during high salt intake, 24-h blood pressure (BP) was unchanged in patients and controls as a result of a reduction in total peripheral resistance (obese, hypertensive patients: -11 ±â€Š11%; obese, normotensive patients: -10 ±â€Š12%; nonobese controls: -5 ±â€Š14%). Similar changes were observed during an incremental bicycle exercise test wherein CO and SV were higher, whereas mean arterial BP was unchanged at each exercise level during high sodium intake. CONCLUSION: Despite substantial increases in CO and SV, we did not observe any significant change in BP during high sodium intake, neither in morbid obese patients nor in lean individuals.

[Dabigatran as cause of severe gastrointestinal bleeding in a Jehovah's Witness patient]. / Dabigatran som årsag til svær gastrointestinal blødning hos et Jehovas Vidne.

We report a case of severe gastrointestinal bleeding in a Jehovah's Witness patient after ten days of treatment with dabigatran. The patient refused to have a blood transfusion due to belief. An endoscopic examination showed diffuse bleeding from her colonic mucosa, which is typical for medical induced bleedings. The patient was in a life-threatening condition and the haemoglobin level fell to nadir 2 mmol/l, before the bleeding stopped after one week's pause of dabigatran therapy. Since an antidote to dabigatran does not exist, precaution is needed when treating patients, who might refuse to have blood transfusion.

[Atypical primary symptom in the form of peripheral embolisation after painless myocardial infarction]. / Atypisk debutsymptom i form af perifer emboli efter stumt myokardieinfarkt.

We report a case with peripheral embolisation as the primary symptom of a painless myocardial infarction with left ventricular mural thrombosis. The patient was suffering from severe pain in his leg due to arterial occlusion. Subsequent electrocardiography and echocardiography documented severe damage to the left ventricle and a big motile mural thrombosis. A coronary angiography showed subtotal occlusion of the left descending artery. Patients presenting with peripheral thromboembolic episodes should be examined for cardiac cause even in the absence of cardiac symptoms.

[Clinical and radiological results in distal tibial physeal injuries]. / Tibia alt uç büyüme plagi yaralanmalarinda klinik ve radyolojik sonuçlar.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we evaluated the clinical and radiological results of the distal tibial epiphyseal fractures in children treated with surgery. METHODS: We evaluated 59 patients (33 boys, 26 girls) retrospectively. Physeal fractures were classified according to the Salter-Harris classification: 4 fractures were type I, 22 type II, 29 type III, and the remaining 4 type IV. Closed reduction and internal fixation were performed in 29 patients, while open reduction and internal fixation were performed in 30 patients. Mean age at the time of trauma was 10.9 years (6-14). Patients were evaluated by American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score. RESULTS: Patients were operated in a mean of 3.8 hours (3-72). Fixation was performed with Kirschner (K)-wire in 50 patients, with screw in 6 patients, and with both K-wire and screw in 3 patients. Mean follow-up time was 71.7 months (12-149). Due to premature physeal arrest, 1 cm shortening and valgus deformity were seen in only one patient. However, no infection, nonunion, or osteonecrosis was observed in any patient. Mean AOFAS score was 86.6 (65-100) at the last follow-up. CONCLUSION: Successful results with fewer complications could be obtained in ankle physeal fractures with early management through adequate reduction and stabilized fixation.

Impact of diuretic treatment and sodium intake on plasma volume in patients with compensated systolic heart failure.

AIMS: In patients with heart failure (HF), the use of diuretics may be a double-edged sword that can alleviate symptoms of congestion, but also result in over-diuresis and intravascular volume depletion. The purpose of the present study was to examine plasma volume (PV) in HF patients receiving from 0 to 160 mg of furosemide and to investigate whether determination of plasma N-terminal fragment of pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentrations can predict PV-status. METHODS AND RESULTS: Plasma volume, extracellular volume, glomerular filtration rate, NT-proBNP, and daily renal sodium excretion were measured in 18 patients with medically treated, compensated HF and in 27 healthy volunteers. Cardiac function was examined by non-invasive cardiac output determination and echocardiography. Exercise capacity was evaluated by 6 min walk test. There was a borderline significant difference in PV between patients with HF and control subjects (37.3 +/- 6.0 and 40.2 +/- 5.8 mL/kg, respectively, P = 0.092) with a significant tendency towards a contraction of PV with increasing use of diuretics (P = 0.031). There was no difference in extracellular volume between patients with HF and control subjects (P = 0.844). NT-proBNP plasma concentrations had no correlation to either sodium excretion (P = 0.193) or PV (P = 0.471) in patients with HF. CONCLUSION: Plasma volume in patients with HF was within normal limits, but patients treated with high doses of loop-diuretics tended to have subnormal PV. Single measurement of NT-proBNP plasma concentration could not be used to estimate intravascular volume status in patients with HF.

The association of microalbuminuria with mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction. A ten-year follow-up study.

Our study evaluates the long-term effect of microalbuminuria on mortality among patients with acute myocardial infarction. We followed 151 patients from 1996 to 2007 to investigate if microalbuminuria is a risk factor in coronary heart disease. All patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction in 1996 were included. At baseline, we recorded urinary albumin/creatinine concentration ratio, body mass index, blood pressure, left ventricle ejection fraction by echocardiography, smoking status, medication, diabetes, age, and gender. Deaths were traced in 2007 by means of the Danish Personal Identification Register. Microalbuminuria, defined as a urinary albumin/creatinine concentration ratio above 0.65 mg/mmoL, occurred in 50% of the patients and was associated with increased all-cause mortality. Thus, 68% of the patients with microalbuminuria versus 48% of the patients without microalbuminuria had died during the 10 years of follow-up (P=0.04). The crude hazard ratio for death associated with microalbuminuria was 1.78 (CI: 1.18-2.68) (P=0.006), whereas the gender- and age-adjusted hazard ratio was 1.71 (CI: 1.03-2.83) (P=0.04). We concluded that microalbuminuria in hospitalized patients with acute myocardial infarction is prognostic for increased long-term mortality. We recommend measurement of microalbuminuria to be included as a baseline risk factor in patients with acute myocardial infarction and in future trials in patients with coronary heart disease.

[Recurrent case of Takotsubo syndrome]. / Recidiverende tilfaelde af Takotsubosyndrom.

We report the first case in Denmark of a woman with three episodes of transient myocardial injury (Takotsubo or stress cardiomyopathy). The condition, which mimicks acute myocardial infarction with chest pain, electrocardiographic changes and slightly elevated coronary enzymes has been explained by exaggerated sympathetic activity in the apical region of the left ventricle during emotional or physical stress causing apical ballooning. Despite this, coronary arteries are usually normal and ballooning is reversible.

Decreased myocardial perfusion reserve in diabetic autonomic neuropathy.

The pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for increased cardiovascular mortality in diabetic autonomic neuropathy are unknown. To investigate the effect of autonomic neuropathy on myocardial function, we performed dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance perfusion imaging during baseline conditions and after Dipyridamole-induced vasodilatation in nine type 1 diabetic patients with autonomic neuropathy (AN+), defined by cardiovascular tests, as well as in 10 type 1 diabetic patients without autonomic neuropathy (AN-) and 10 healthy control subjects. Baseline myocardial perfusion index (K(i)) was similar in the three groups (AN+ 88.6 +/- 8.7 ml. 100 g(-1). min(-1), AN- 82.6 +/- 7.2, control subjects 93.7 +/- 9.0) (means +/- SE). K(i) during Dipyridamole vasodilatation was significantly lower in the patients with autonomic neuropathy (P < 0.001) than in the other groups (AN+ 131.1 +/- 13.0 ml. 100 g(-1). min(-1), AN- 177.3 +/- 8.6, control subjects 197.2 +/- 8.9). Mean blood pressure was unchanged during Dipyridamole infusion in AN- and control subjects, whereas a significant blood pressure decrease was found in AN+ (15.6 +/- 2.6 mmHg, P < 0.025). There was a significant correlation between blood pressure response to Dipyridamole and myocardial perfusion reserve index. We conclude that type 1 diabetic patients with autonomic neuropathy have a decreased myocardial perfusion reserve capacity when challenged with a vasodilatator, a finding that may in part be the pathophysiological substrate for the increase in mortality in these patients. The underlying mechanism may be defective myocardial sympathetic vasodilatation, a lack of ability to maintain blood pressure during vasodilatation, or both.