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Tobacco smoking is a risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF), but little is known about the impact of smoking in patients with AF. Of the 4060 patients with recurrent AF in the Atrial Fibrillation Follow-up Investigation of Rhythm Management (AFFIRM) trial, 496 (12%) reported having smoked during the past two years. Propensity scores for smoking were estimated for each of the 4060 patients using a multivariable logistic regression model and were used to assemble a matched cohort of 487 pairs of smokers and nonsmokers, who were balanced on 46 baseline characteristics. Cox and logistic regression models were used to estimate the associations of smoking with all-cause mortality and all-cause hospitalization, respectively, during over 5 years of follow-up. Matched participants had a mean age of 70 ± 9 years (± S.D.), 39% were women, and 11% were non-white. All-cause mortality occurred in 21% and 16% of matched smokers and nonsmokers, respectively (when smokers were compared with nonsmokers, hazard ratio = HR = 1.35; 95% confidence interval = 95% CI = 1.01–1.81; p = 0.046). Unadjusted, multivariable-adjusted and propensity-adjusted HR (95% CI) for all-cause mortality associated with smoking in the pre-match cohort were: 1.40 (1.13–1.72; p = 0.002), 1.45 (1.16–1.81; p = 0.001), and 1.39 (1.12–1.74; p = 0.003), respectively. Smoking had no association with all-cause hospitalization (when smokers were compared with nonsmokers, odds ratio = OR = 1.21; 95% CI = 0.94–1.57, p = 0.146). Among patients with AF, a recent history of smoking was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality, but had no association with all-cause hospitalization.

Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is degenerative, fibrous calcification of the mitral valve annulus. It is more common in people over 70 years old. It is a marker of increased cardiovascular risk which occurs in a graded fashion by MAC severity. the Wilkins scoring system does not examine mitral

Rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease continue to be the major health problem in all developing countries including Bangladesh. Percutaneous Transvenous mitral Commissurotomy (PTMC) is an established non-surgical modality for the treatment of severe rheumatic mitral valve stenosis.The purpose

Rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease continue to be the major health problem in all developing countries including Bangladesh. Percutaneous Transvenous mitral Commissurotomy (PTMC) is an established non-surgical modality for the treatment of severe rheumatic mitral valve stenosis. The purpose

To see the immediate hemodynamic and echocardiographic results of Percutaneous Transvenous Mitral Commissurotomy (PTMC) in patients with mitral stenosis with mitral annular calcification. Rheumatic mitral stenosis is a very common problem in our population having an incidence of 54 percent among

Rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease continue to be the major health problem in all developing countries including Bangladesh. Rheumatic mitral stenosis is a very common problem in our population having an incidence of 54 percent among rheumatic heart disease with a female preponderance of 2

Rheumatic mitral stenosis is a very common problem in our population having an incidence of 54 percent among rheumatic heart disease with a female preponderance of 2:1. Percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) using an Inoue balloon catheter is of established efficacy and safety and is

Rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease continue to be the major health problem in all developing countries including Bangladesh. Rheumatic mitral stenosis is a very common problem in our population having an incidence of 54 percent among rheumatic heart disease with a female preponderance of 2

Rheumatic mitral stenosis is a very common problem in our population having an incidence of 54 percent among rheumatic heart disease with a female preponderance of 2:1. Percutaneous balloon mitral commissurotomy is appealing because the mechanism of valve dilation closely parallels the mechanism of

Rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease continue to be the major health problem in all developing countries including Bangladesh. Mitral stenosis (MS) affects right ventricular (RV) function as a result of myocardial and haemodynamic factors. Functional analysis of the right ventricle cannot be