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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic disorganised healthcare systems and has caused a reduction in the number of hospitalizations and procedures. Cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) procedure rates and clinical characteristics of their recipients were compared in corresponding weeks of 2019 and 2020 were analyzed.The database of the National Health Fund (NHF) in Poland was retrospectively analyzed. 3206 patients who underwent CIED implantation in the Silesia - a region in Southern Poland comprising an adult population of 3.8 million between 12th and 31st week of 2020. Patients were classified into groups: the recipient of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator or cardiac resynchronization therapy group (ICD/CRT) or pacemaker group (PM).During the pandemic a reduction of 39.38% of implantations was observed compared to the same period in 2019 (1210 vs. 1996 patients) and had impacted both groups. Two phases lasting 10 weeks each could be distinguished: total lockdown (maximal reduction) and the recovery phase with growing numbers of procedures. Patient baseline characteristics (sex, age, comorbidities) who were implanted during the COVID-19 pandemic did not differ from the 2019 period. The rate of peri-procedural mortality was also similar.During COVID-19 pandemic period a reduction in CIED implantations of all types was observed. Despite the decreased number of performed CIED implants, no differences in baseline patient characteristics were observed.

Background: The aim of the study was to assess long-term incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in cardiac resynchronization (CRT) recipients with and without prior arrhythmic history, factors predisposing to arrhythmia, as well as to evaluate the prognostic power of cumulative arrhythmia burden, duration of the longest episode and the number of episodes. Methods: Device-collected data on AF episodes during 24 months in 96 participants of a randomized CRT-trial were analyzed (15% in NYHA class IV, sinus rhythm, median left ventricular ejection fraction 24% and QRS 169 ms). Blindly adjudicated major adverse car­diac events (MACE) and any-cause death were censoring variables. Results : Two-year incidence of AF was 70%, including 66% of patients without previous AF history. No baseline characteristics distinguished those who developed new onset AF. Percent of time spent in AF, but not number of episodes predicted mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.05 ± 95% confidence interval CI 1.01–1.10) and MACE incidence (HR 1.03 ± 1.01–1.07; p = 0.03). Duration of the longest episode also predicted mortality (HR 1.06 ± 1.01–1.12; both p = 0.03). Prognostic impact of AF load was marked only in patients with slower ventricular response (< 98/min), but was independent from CHADS 2 scores, pacing burden, or prior atrioventricular nodal ablation. Conclusions: Seven out of 10 CRT-patients had AF within 2 years, including two-thirds of subjects without arrhythmic history. No baseline features distinguished those who developed new onset AF. Arrhythmia burden and duration of the longest episode, but not number of episodes influenced outcomes in CRT-patients, irrespectively from pacing burden or prior atrioventricular node ablation.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of device-based diagnostic parameters in predicting ventricular arrhythmias in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) recipients. Methods: Ninety-six CRT-D patients participating in TRUST CRT Trial were analyzed. The inclusion criteria were: heart failure in NYHA ≥ 3 class, QRS ≥ 120 ms, LVEF £ 35% and significant mechanical dyssynchrony. Patients were divided into those with (n = 31, 92 arrhyth­mias) and without (n = 65) appropriate ICD interventions within follow-up of 12.03 ± 6.7 months. Daily monitored device-based parameters: heart rate (HR), thoracic impedance (TI), HR variability and physical activity were analyzed in 4 time windows: within 10, 7, 3 days and 1 day before appropriate ICD interventions. Results: A consistent pattern of changes in three monitored factors was observed prior to ar­rhythmia: 1) a gradual increase of day HR (from 103.43% of reference within 10-day window to 105.55% one day before, all p < 0.05 vs. reference); 2) variations in night HR (104.75% in 3 days, 107.65% one day before, all p < 0.05) and 3) TI decrease (from 97.8% in 10 days to 96.81% one day before, all p < 0.05). The combination of three parameters had better pre­dictive value, which improved further after exclusion of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The predictive model combining HR and TI together with LVEF and NT-proBNP was more prognostic than the model involving LVEF and NT-proBNP alone (difference in AUC 0.05, 95% CI 0.0005–0.09, p = 0.04). Conclusions: Daily device-monitored parameters show significant variations prior to ven­tricular arrhythmia. Combination of multiple parameters improves arrhythmia predictive performance by its additive value to baseline risk factors, while presence of AF diminishes it.

Microvolt T-wave alternans (MTWA) is a promising non-invasive method of evaluating repolarization abnormalities. Its presence is strongly related to the occurrence of malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmias and is therefore regarded as a risk marker for sudden cardiac death. Most recent studies have described the usefulness of MTWA in selecting patients who may benefit from a cardioverter-defibrillator. This study presents two cases of patients suffering from ischemic cardiomyopathy, who underwent an MTWA test. Episodes of ventricular tachycardia occurred immediately after the end of the tests, with abnormal results.

Atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) in patients with preexcitation syndrome (PS) is the main cause of paroxysmal regular arrhythmias in children and adolescents. While the previously published data most commonly concern clinical consequences of PS in adults, few researchers have evaluated the problem in children and adolescents. The aim of the study was to compare the clinical course of PS between the population of children and adolescents below 19 years of age and the population of adult patients.The study population consisted of 302 consecutive PS patients managed between January 2001 and June 2005 with radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA). The study population was divided into two groups: Group 1 consisting of 52 patients aged 15.38 years on average (7-18 +/- +/- 2.53) and Group 2 consisting of 250 adult patients aged 38.67 years on average (19-72 +/- 13.1).Patients from Groups 1 and 2 experienced their first episode of AVRT at the mean age of 13.3 years and 29.1 years, respectively (p0.05). The mean annual numbers of AVRT episodes in Groups 1 and 2 were 12.97 (range, 2-96; median, 8) and 8.86 (range, 2-25; median, 6), respectively (p = non-significant). Two patients from Group 1 (3.85%) and 42 patients from Group 2 (16.8%) experienced episodes of atrial fibrillation (AF) (p0.05). Location of the accessory pathways (AP): In Group 1, the right free wall and anteroseptal AP locations were significantly more common [11 (21.15%) and 9 (17.31%) patients, respectively, vs.q 19 (7.6%) and 13 (5.2%) patients in Group 2; p0.01]. In Group 2, the left anterolateral AP location was more common [81 (32.4%) vs. 4 (7.69%) in Group 1; p0.01].In children and adolescents with PS, a significantly lower incidence of AF was found. In Group 1, RFCA was performed significantly more frequently due to the development of AVRT caused by right free wall and right anteroseptal AP, while in the group of adults, the left anterolateral AP location was found more commonly. (Cardiol J 2007; 14: 384-390).

The impact of radiofrequency current ablation (RFCA) on left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function in patients with atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT) is not well established yet.The study group consisted of 25 patients (18 W, mean age 43 +/- 11) with recurrent episodes of AVRT without any concomitant diseases. The control group was formed of 25 healthy volunteers. In both study and control groups, transthorasic echocardiography (TTE) and Doppler were performed in order to assess LV systolic and diastolic function. In AVNRT syndrome patients, TTE was followed by electrophysiology study and RFCA. TTE was repeated after six months in the study group.Significant differences were found between the study and control groups with regard to LV systolic (FS--fractional shortening: 37 +/- 4 vs. 42 +/- 6%, p = 0.001; ESV--end-systolic volume: 19 +/- 4 vs. 17 +/- 4 ml/m(2), p = 0.03; EF--ejection fraction: 55 +/- 5 vs. 62 +/- 4%, p = 0.001) and diastolic function (E wave: 69 +/- 17 vs. 84 +/- 15 cm/s, p = 0.002; E/A: 1.09 +/- +/- 0.42 vs. 1.38 +/- 0.27, p = 0.005; DT--duration difference between A and AR waves: 7 +/- 29 vs. -28 +/- 13 ms, p = 0.001; DT--deceleration time of E wave: 223 +/- 34 vs. 177 +/- 27 ms, p = 0.001; IVRT--isovolumic relaxation time: 105 +/- 15 vs. 86 +/- 11 ms, p = 0.001; E/A while Valsalva manoeuvre: 0.93 +/- 0.35 vs. 1.25 +/- 0.16, p = 0.001; AR--atrial reversal velocity: 27 +/- 7 vs. 14 +/- 11 cm/s, p = 0.001) variables. In 6-month follow-up decrease in LVESV (19 +/- 4 vs. 17 +/- 4 ml, p0.03) and increase in EF (55 +/- 5 vs. 62 +/- 4%, p0.001) was noted. Doppler analysis showed an increase in E wave (69 +/- 17 vs. 79 +/- 20 cm/s, p0.02), E/A ratio (1.09 +/- 0.42 vs. 1.30 +/- 0.27, p0.006) and decrease in A wave (68 +/- 13 vs. 63 +/- 10 cm/s, p0.02), DT (223 +/- 34 vs. 179 +/- 22 ms, p0.001), IVRT (105 +/- 15 vs. 89 +/- 11 ms, p0.001) and DT (7 +/- 29 vs. -13 +/- 28 ms, p0.001).Successful RFCA of slow atrioventricular conduction pathway in patients with AVNRT and AVRT results in improvement of LV systolic and diastolic function.

Incessant tachycardia may result in left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction. Little is known about the influence of atrioventricular tachycardia (AVRT) and atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT) on LV systolic and diastolic function. The aim of the study was to assess LV systolic and diastolic function and factors affecting LV systolic and diastolic performance in patients with AVRT and AVNRT.The study group included 90 patients (40 male, 50 female, mean age 40 +/- 12 years) with symptomatic narrow-QRS tachycardia. After an invasive electrophysiology study (EPS) had been performed, these were divided into two groups: one (AVNRT) of 25 patients with AVNRT and the other (WPW) of 65 patients with AVRT. The control group consisted of 50 healthy volunteers (23 male, 27 female, mean age 39 +/- 13 years). In all three groups transthoracic echocardiography was performed in order to assess LV systolic and diastolic function.LV fractional shortening (FS) (WPW: 32 +/- 6%, AVNRT: 36 +/- 4%, p0.005) and ejection fraction (EF) (WPW: 54 +/- 7%, AVNRT: 55 +/- 5%, p0.001) were significantly decreased in the study groups compared to the control group (FS: 40 +/- 5%, EF: 62 +/- 4%). FS was significantly increased in the AVNRT compared to the WPW patients (p0.005). LV diastolic dysfunction was found in 20 (80%) of the AVNRT and 55 (83%) of the WPW group and in none of the patients from the control group. A positive correlation was found between diastolic dysfunction and the scale of recurrence of AVRT (R = 0.67, p0.05) and AVNRT (R = 0.52, p0.05).AVNRT and AVRT may lead to development of LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction. LV diastolic dysfunction is related to the frequency of AVRT or AVNRT recurrence. (Cardiol J 2007; 14: 160-166).