Heart Rhythm

Hearts should have normal rhythm to their beats, but when these beats are out of synch, it causes inefficient pumping of blood. Irregular heart arrhythmias occur when the electrical signals that coordinate the heart's beats do not work properly. This can cause beats that are too fast (tachycardia), or too slow (bradycardia). Tachycardias include atrial fibrillation (AFib), supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and ventricular tachycardia (VT). Bradycardias include sick sinus syndrome and conduction block. Electrophysiology arrhythmia treatments include medications, life style changes, and the EP lab interventions of catheter ablation, and implantable pacemakers or defibrillators.

DOACs cut dementia risk in AFib patients more than warfarin

For patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AFib), taking a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) instead of warfarin may cut the risk of dementia by 15 to 20 percent, according to a large database study published Nov. 2 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

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Cardiology societies produce new bradycardia guideline

The American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association and Heart Rhythm Society on Nov. 6 released a new guideline for the evaluation and treatment of patients with bradycardia and cardiac conduction disorders.

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What the Apple Heart Study looks like 1 year later

A Stanford- and Apple-led atrial fibrillation study of more than 400,000 U.S. residents—the largest AFib screening effort to date—has entered its final phase of data collection, the company announced Nov. 1. The trial is expected to wrap up early next year.

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Patricia Blake named new CEO of Heart Rhythm Society

Patricia V. Blake will take over as CEO of the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) next March, HRS leadership announced Oct. 26.

AFib’s impact on heart failure outcomes varies by subtype

Higher ejection fractions (EFs) among heart failure patients are associated with an increased incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and worse cardiovascular outcomes, according to data from a multinational European registry.

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Medtronic co-founder and pacemaker inventor Earl Bakken dies at age 94

Medtronic co-founder Earl Bakken, who invented the world’s first wearable, battery-powered pacemaker, died on Oct. 21 in his Hawaii home, the company announced. He was 94.

Phone app connects CPR-certified locals to nearby cardiac arrests

Officials in Clark County, Indiana, are urging locals to download a new phone app that would alert CPR-certified individuals to cardiac arrests happening nearby. An accompanying app also maps out the county’s nearest automated external defibrillators.

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Boston Children’s criteria IDs kids at risk for arrhythmias during stress tests

Clinically significant arrhythmias are rare during exercise stress tests (ESTs) in pediatric heart patients, researchers reported in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology, but those most at risk for life-threatening events can be identified from a set of predefined risk factors like cardiomyopathy and ventricular dysfunction.

Around the web

Ron Blankstein, MD, professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the use of artificial intelligence to detect heart disease in non-cardiac CT exams.

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.