Abstract: Heterogenous data about the prognostic impact of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmias exist. Therefore, this study evaluates this impact of AF in patients presenting with ventricular tachyarrhythmias. 1,993 consecutive patients presenting with ventricular tachyarrhythmias (i.e. ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation (VT, VF)) on admission at one institution were included (from 2002 until 2016). All medical data of index and follow-up hospitalizations were collected during the complete follow-up period for each patient. Statistics comprised univariable Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox regression analyses in the unmatched consecutive cohort and after propensity-score matching for harmonization. The primary prognostic endpoint was long-term all-cause mortality at 2.5 years. AF was present in 31% of patients presenting with index ventricular tachyarrhythmias on admission (70% paroxysmal, 9% persistent, 21% permanent). VT was more common (67% versus 59%; p = 0.001) than VF (33% versus 41%; p = 0.001) in AF compared to non-AF patients. Long-term all-cause mortality at 2.5 years occurred more often in AF compared to non-AF patients (mortality rates 40% versus 24%, log rank p = 0.001; HR = 1.825; 95% CI 1.548-2.153; p = 0.001), which may be attributed to higher rates of all-cause mortality at 30 days, in-hospital mortality and mortality after discharge (p

Abstract: Background: Electrical storm (ES) is a severe and life-threatening heart rhythm disorder. Age and male gender have been identified as independent risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. However, data regarding the prognostic impact of age and gender on ES patients is limited. Methods: The present study included retrospectively consecutive patients presenting with ES from 2002 to 2016. Patients 67 years old or older were compared to patients younger than 67, males were also compared to females. Receiver operating characteristic analyses were performed to find the optimum age cut-off value. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality at 3 years. The secondary endpoints were in-hospital mortality, rehospitalization rates, ES recurrences, and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 3 years. Results: Eighty-seven ES patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators were included. Age ≥ 67 years was associated with increased all-cause mortality at 3 years (48% vs. 20%, hazard ratio = 3.046; 95% confidence interval 1.316-7.051; p = 0.008; log-rank p = 0.006). MACE, in-hospital mortality, rehospitalization rates, and ES recurrences were not affected by age. Even after multivariate adjustment, age ≥ 67 years was associated with increased long-term mortality at 3 years, besides left ventricular ejection fraction 35%. In contrast, gender was not associated with primary and secondary endpoints.brConclusions:brPatients 67 years old and older presenting with ES are associated with poor long-termbrprognosis. Increased long-term mortality was still evident after multivariate adjustment. In contrast,

Abstract: Background The study sought to assess the prognostic impact of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with and without ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI and NSTEMI) in patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmias and sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) on admission. Methods and Results A large retrospective registry was used including all consecutive patients presenting with ventricular tachycardia (VT), fibrillation (VF), and sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) on admission from 2002 to 2016. AMI versus non-AMI and STEMI versus NSTEMI were compared applying multivariable Cox regression models and propensity-score matching for evaluation of the primary prognostic end point defined as long-term all-cause mortality at 2.5 years. Secondary end points were 30 days all-cause mortality, cardiac death at 24 hours, in hospital death, and recurrent percutaneous coronary intervention (re-PCI) at 2.5 years. In 2813 unmatched high-risk patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmias and SCA, AMI was present in 29% (10% STEMI, 19% NSTEMI) with higher rates of VF (54% versus 31%) and SCA (35% versus 26%), whereas VT rates were higher in non-AMI (56% versus 30%) (P 0.05). AMI-related VT ≥48 hours was associated with higher mortality (log rank P = 0.001). Multivariable Cox regression models revealed non-AMI (hazard ratio = 1.458; P = 0.001) and NSTEMI (hazard ratio = 1.460; P = 0.036) associated with increasing long-term all-cause mortality at 2.5 years, which was also proven after propensity-score matching (non-AMI versus AMI: 55% versus 43%, log rank P = 0.001, hazard ratio = 1.349; NSTEMI versus STEMI: 45% versus 34%, log rank P = 0.047, hazard ratio = 1.372). Secondary end points including 30 days and in-hospital mortality, as well as re-PCI were higher in non-AMI patients.brbrConclusions