Prediction and Maintenance of Sinus Rhythm Among Atrial Fibrillation Patients

Overview

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm disorder seen in clinical practice, with an estimated 2.7-6.1 million people in the U.S. affected by the disorder \[1\]. Previous studies have demonstrated that left atrial volume is a predictive measure of incident atrial fibrillation \[2\]. This study aims to add to the literature by investigating predictive measures of left atrial global longitudinal strain (LA GLS) that would be suggestive of maintenance of normal sinus rhythm post cardioversion. If the investigators could gain insight on the connection between LA GLS and cardioversion among patients with atrial fibrillation, the investigators could potentially help the clinical management of patients pre/post cardioversion, and potentially change poor outcomes.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a heart rhythm disorder in which the normal beating in the upper chambers of the heart is irregular, leading to poor blood flow to the lower chambers. Risk factors include older age, high blood pressure, obesity, European ancestry, diabetes, heart failure, ischemic heart disease, hyperthyroidism, chronic kidney disease, heavy alcohol use, and enlarged heart chambers on the left side \[3\]. AF increases a person's risk for stroke and contributes to an estimated 130,000 deaths each year \[1\]. Treatment generally includes medication, surgery, and/or healthy lifestyle changes \[1\]. Electrical cardioversion, in which the patient must undergo sedation or general anesthesia, is also used to convert patients with persistent AF to normal sinus rhythm. Electrical cardioversion has been associated with a high initial success rate of 68-98% \[4\], but long-term maintenance of sinus rhythm has proved challenging \[5\]. Due to the potential risks incurred to the patient, it is important to understand which patients are good candidates for cardioversion therapy. A review article describes that duration of AF, sex, age, weight smoking status, number of shocks at cardioversion, post-ablation procedure, medications, hypertension, diabetes, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), obstructive sleep apnea, renal impairment, hyperthyroidism, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, left systolic dysfunction, left diastolic dysfunction, left ventricular hypertrophy, valvular heart disease, and left atrial size have each been found to be associated with maintenance of sinus rhythm \[6\]. Echocardiography has been increasing used in understanding the cardiac structure and risk of stroke among patients with AF, with left atrial size, left ventricular wall thickness, and left ventricular dysfunction recognized as independent predictors of AF \[7\]. Increasing evidence supports that the left atrial strain measurements can be a predictor of outcomes among AF patients, including stroke and AF recurrence after catheter ablation \[8\], \[9\]. The investigators aim to further explore left atrial strain measurements, including left atrial global longitudinal strain (LA GLS), as predictors of maintenance of normal sinus rhythm post- cardioversion. It is anticipated that a lower LA GLS will predict AF recurrence. To do this, the investigators will study patients with AF at Pen Bay Medical Center who have undergone cardioversion, measuring their LA GLS pre-cardioversion, and assess maintenance of sinus rhythm 6 months post-cardioversion. It is anticipated that this study will confirm LA GLS as a marker for maintenance of sinus rhythm post-cardioversion.