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Aims: This study aimed to establish whether higher levels of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) are associated with increased sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) risk in non-diabetic individuals.Methods and Results: Case-control study in non-diabetic individuals (HbA1c < 6.5%) in the Netherlands. Cases were SCA patients with electrocardiogram (ECG)-documented ventricular fibrillation (VF, the predominant cause of SCA) and HbA1c measurements immediately after VF, prospectively included in September 2009-December 2012. Controls (up to 10 per case) were age/sex-matched non-SCA individuals, included in July 2006-November 2007. We studied 306 cases (56.4 ± 6.8 years, 79.1% male) and 1722 controls (54.0 ± 6.8 years, 64.8% male). HbA1c levels were higher in cases than in controls (5.8 ± 0.3% vs. 5.4 ± 0.3%, P < 0.001). The proportion of increased HbA1c (≥5.7%) was 63.1% in cases and 19.3% in controls (P < 0.001). Multivariate regression models indicated that increased HbA1c was associated with a > six-fold increased VF risk [adjusted odds ratio (ORadj) 6.74 (5.00-9.09)] and that 0.1% increase in HbA1c level was associated with 1.4-fold increase in VF risk, independent of concomitant cardiovascular risk factors. Increased VF risk at higher HbA1c is associated with acute myocardial infarction (MI) as cause of VF [OR 1.14 (1.04-1.24)], but the association between HbA1c and VF was similar in non-MI patients [OR 1.32 (1.21-1.44)] and MI patients [OR 1.47 (1.37-1.58)].Conclusion: Among non-diabetic individuals, risk of VF increased with rising HbA1c levels, independent of concomitant cardiovascular disease. Future studies should establish whether HbA1c level may be used as biomarker to recognize individuals at risk for VF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study aimed to establish whether higher levels of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) are associated with increased sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) risk in non-diabetic individuals., Methods and Results: Case-control study in non-diabetic individuals (HbA1c < 6.5%) in the Netherlands. Cases were SCA patients with electrocardiogram (ECG)-documented ventricular fibrillation (VF, the predominant cause of SCA) and HbA1c measurements immediately after VF, prospectively included in September 2009-December 2012. Controls (up to 10 per case) were age/sex-matched non-SCA individuals, included in July 2006-November 2007. We studied 306 cases (56.4 ± 6.8 years, 79.1% male) and 1722 controls (54.0 ± 6.8 years, 64.8% male). HbA1c levels were higher in cases than in controls (5.8 ± 0.3% vs. 5.4 ± 0.3%, P < 0.001). The proportion of increased HbA1c (≥5.7%) was 63.1% in cases and 19.3% in controls (P < 0.001). Multivariate regression models indicated that increased HbA1c was associated with a > six-fold increased VF risk [adjusted odds ratio (ORadj) 6.74 (5.00-9.09)] and that 0.1% increase in HbA1c level was associated with 1.4-fold increase in VF risk, independent of concomitant cardiovascular risk factors. Increased VF risk at higher HbA1c is associated with acute myocardial infarction (MI) as cause of VF [OR 1.14 (1.04-1.24)], but the association between HbA1c and VF was similar in non-MI patients [OR 1.32 (1.21-1.44)] and MI patients [OR 1.47 (1.37-1.58)]., Conclusion: Among non-diabetic individuals, risk of VF increased with rising HbA1c levels, independent of concomitant cardiovascular disease. Future studies should establish whether HbA1c level may be used as biomarker to recognize individuals at risk for VF., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.)

Objective: Transaortic aortic valve implantation (TAo-AVI) through the ascending aorta is a novel technique and is used as an alternative in patients with poor femoral access. Although early results have been promising, no midterm data have been published yet. To determine whether this approach is an acceptable treatment option, we analyzed the first 100 cases performed at our institution with a follow-up to 3 years., Methods: Between July 2011 and January 2015, a total of 100 patients with high-risk or inoperable aortic valve stenosis were treated with TAo-AVI. Preoperative patient data were collected and analyzed retrospectively. All surviving patients were seen for clinical and echocardiographic examination for follow-up., Results: Median follow-up was 15 months. Device success was accomplished in 94 patients (94%). There were no access site complications. The 30-day mortality rate was 9%. Stroke occurred in a total of six patients (6%). Survival at 1-, 2-, and 3 years was 75%, 62%, and 58%, respectively., Conclusions: Our results show that TAo-AVI is a promising alternative to transapical implantation for treating severe inoperable aortic valve stenosis.