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J Am Coll Cardiol, 2005; 45:712-719, doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2004.10.068
© 2005 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation
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CLINICAL RESEARCH: LVH AND ARRHYTHMIAS

Angiotensin II receptor blockade reduces new-onset atrial fibrillation and subsequent stroke compared to atenolol

The Losartan Intervention For End point reduction in hypertension (LIFE) study

Kristian Wachtell, MD, PhD*,{dagger},*, Mika Lehto, MD{ddagger}, Eva Gerdts, MD, PhD§, Michael H. Olsen, MD, PhD*, Björn Hornestam, MD||, Björn Dahlöf, MD, PhD, FACC||, Hans Ibsen, MD*, Stevo Julius, MD, FACC, Sverre E. Kjeldsen, MD, PhD, FACC,#, Lars H. Lindholm, MD, FACC**, Markku S. Nieminen, MD, FACC{ddagger} and Richard B. Devereux, MD, FACC{dagger}

* Department of Medicine, Glostrup University Hospital, Glostrup, Denmark
{dagger} Division of Cardiology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York
{ddagger} Department of Cardiology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
§ Department of Cardiology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
|| Department of Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Östra, Gothenburg, Sweden
Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
# Department of Medicine, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
** Department of Preventive Medicine, Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden

Manuscript received May 27, 2004; revised manuscript received September 20, 2004, accepted October 26, 2004.

* Reprint requests and correspondence: Dr. Kristian Wachtell, Rigshospitalet, Department of Medicine B2142, 9 Blegdamsvej, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark (Email: kristian{at}wachtell.net).


   Abstract
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 Abstract
Methods
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 Discussion
 References
 
OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to evaluate whether different antihypertensive treatment regimens with similar blood pressure reduction have different effects on new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF).

BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether angiotensin II receptor blockade is better than beta-blockade in preventing new-onset AF.

METHODS: In the Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction in hypertension (LIFE) study 9,193 hypertensive patients and patients with electrocardiogram-documented left ventricular hypertrophy were randomized to once-daily losartan- or atenolol-based antihypertensive therapy. Electrocardiograms were Minnesota coded centrally, and 8,851 patients without AF by electrocardiogram or history, who were thus at risk of developing AF, were followed for 4.8 ± 1.0 years.

RESULTS: New-onset AF occurred in 150 patients randomized to losartan versus 221 to atenolol (6.8 vs. 10.1 per 1,000 person-years; relative risk 0.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.55 to 0.83, p < 0.001) despite similar blood pressure reduction. Patients receiving losartan tended to stay in sinus rhythm longer (1,809 ± 225 vs. 1,709 ± 254 days from baseline, p = 0.057) than those receiving atenolol. Moreover, patients with new-onset AF had two-, three- and fivefold increased rates, respectively, of cardiovascular events, stroke, and hospitalization for heart failure. There were fewer composite end points (n = 31 vs. 51, hazard ratio = 0.60, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.94, p = 0.03) and strokes (n = 19 vs. 38, hazard ratio = 0.49, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.86, p = 0.01) in patients who developed new-onset AF in the losartan compared to the atenolol treatment arm of the study. Furthermore, Cox regression analysis showed that losartan (21% risk reduction) and new-onset AF both independently predicted stroke even when adjusting for traditional risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS: Our novel finding is that new-onset AF and associated stroke were significantly reduced by losartan- compared to atenolol-based antihypertensive treatment with similar blood pressure reduction.

Abbreviations and Acronyms
  AF = atrial fibrillation
  CI = confidence interval
  ECG = electrocardiographic
  HF = heart failure
  HR = hazard ratio
  LV = left ventricular/ventricle
  LIFE = Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction in hypertension study

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, and the incidence of AF is increased in patients with uncontrolled hypertension (1–3). Antihypertensive treatment reduces new-onset AF. However, it is unclear whether there is difference in risk of new-onset AF with different antihypertensive drugs. To our knowledge only one study in post-infarct patients suggests that renin-angiotensin system blockade, compared to placebo, reduces new-onset AF and helps maintain sinus rhythm (4). As this was a placebo-controlled study, it is not known whether this outcome was a result of blood pressure reduction per se or a direct effect of renin-angiotensin system blockade. Several animal and human studies suggest antiarrhythmic properties of renin-angiotensin blockade, but none address whether the beneficial effect is independent of potential blood pressure reduction by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers (5–9). Furthermore, although AF is a frequent complication of hypertension, there is little evidence that choosing what many regard as first-line therapy, beta-blockade with combined antiarrhythmic and antihypertensive properties, is better than other antihypertensive treatments in preventing AF (10). One striking result of the Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction in hypertension (LIFE) study was a 25% reduction of fatal and nonfatal stroke by losartan-based treatment. This result was in part explained by a 45% lower rate of stroke (24.1 vs. 46.5 strokes per 1,000 patient-years of follow-up) on losartan treatment in patients with a history of AF (11), but could also reflect benefits of reduced new-onset AF.

The present study was undertaken to determine whether selective angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockade with losartan was more effective than beta-blockade with atenolol in reducing new-onset AF and associated cardiovascular events in hypertensive patients with electrocardiographic (ECG) left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy.


   Methods
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 Methods
Results
 Discussion
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The LIFE study was a prospective, randomized, double-masked, parallel group study (n = 9,193) with double-dummy technique that evaluated the long-term effects of losartan- compared to atenolol-based antihypertensive therapy in patients with hypertension and ECG LV hypertrophy on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The main outcome (12) and the complete study protocol with study design, organization, clinical measures, exclusion criteria, basis for choice of comparative agents, statistical considerations, and baseline characteristics (13,14) have been published. We have reported a lower rate of cardiovascular events with losartan- compared to atenolol-based treatment in 342 LIFE patients with AF before or at study baseline (11). The remaining 8,851 patients with ECG-documented sinus rhythm at baseline and no history of AF who were at risk of developing AF during the study are the focus of this study (Fig. 1).



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  		Figure 1 Trial profile.

 
As previously described, patients ages 55 to 80 years, having previously treated or untreated hypertension and ECG signs of LV hypertrophy (12) were randomized to initial therapy with 50 mg/day of losartan or atenolol after one to two weeks taking placebo if they had sitting systolic blood pressure 160 to 200 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure of 95 to 115 mm Hg. In both groups, hydrochlorothiazide was added in case of insufficient pressure lowering. Thereafter the study drug was increased to 100 mg/day and supplemented with additional antihypertensive therapy in order to reach target blood pressure of <140/90 mm Hg. Patients were enrolled from June 1995 to May 1997 and were followed ≥4 years (mean 4.8 years) with regular visits. Sitting blood pressure was recorded 24 h postdose (range 22 to 26 h).

New-onset AF was identified from annual in-study ECGs that underwent Minnesota coding for AF at a single ECG core center (13). Care of the patients with new-onset AF was left to the discretion of local investigators. After the stopping date in September 2001, patients had a follow-up clinic visit or at least vital status check within six weeks. Laboratory tests were carried out at two laboratories that assured comparability of measurements by cross-validation.

Echocardiographic assessment of baseline LV systolic function and valvular disease was obtained in approximately 10% of study participants (15,16).

End points and adjudication.   This report in 8,851 patients (more than 96% of the entire LIFE population) is based on analysis of a primary composite end point (n = 993), which is the first occurrence of cardiovascular death, fatal or nonfatal stroke, and fatal or nonfatal myocardial infarction. Additional end points included all-cause mortality (n = 735) and the first occurrence of each component of the composite end point, whether or not preceded by another component of the primary end point, including 380 cardiovascular deaths, 485 strokes, and 367 myocardial infarctions. All end points were reported by investigators, source data verified by independent monitors, and adjudicated by an independent committee on the basis of prespecified definitions (12). Prevalent coronary, cerebral, or peripheral vascular disease and smoking habits were reported by patients and investigators. Framingham risk score (17) was estimated from baseline blood pressure, total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, smoking, glucose, and ECG LV hypertrophy.

Statistical methods.   SPSS version 12.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois) was used for statistical analysis. Potential risk factors (including baseline clinical, demographic, and laboratory data) were assessed for association with new-onset AF. Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare hazard ratios (HRs) between study treatment allocation groups (losartan or atenolol), and to evaluate contributions of differences in the degree of LV hypertrophy (both Cornell voltage-duration product and Sokolow-Lyon voltage as continuous variables), the Framingham risk score (17), and other covariates. For each baseline characteristic, a univariate proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate the HR and its 95% confidence interval (CI). Variables without significant effects were eliminated before developing multivariate models. Multivariate analyses were then performed using Cox regression models with inclusion of remaining variables to identify those independently associated with the end points. Two-tailed p < 0.05 was considered significant.


   Results
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Discussion
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Patient selection and characteristics.   Of 9,193 randomized patients, 8,851 patients remained after exclusion of those with AF by history or by Minnesota coding of the baseline ECG (Fig. 1). Rates of new-onset AF in strata defined by baseline characteristics are given in Table 1, dichotomized at median values of continuous variables for display purposes.


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  		Table 1. New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation in Relation to Baseline Characteristics
 
In the subset of LIFE echocardiography patients without AF by history or at baseline (n = 911), there were no differences in prevalences of aortic or mitral valve disease (data not shown), LV ejection fraction (61 ± 9% vs. 61 ± 8%, p = 0.889) or left atrial size (3.9 ± 0.6 cm vs. 3.9 ± 0.6 cm, p = 0.752) between losartan- and atenolol-treated patients, respectively.

Patients treated with losartan had, compared to those receiving atenolol, similar baseline characteristics (Table 2) and reductions of systolic (–28.5 ± 18.9 mm Hg vs. –27.3 ± 19.3 mm Hg), mean arterial (–20.0 ± 11.5 vs. –19.7 ± 11.5), and diastolic (–15.8 ± 10.1 mm Hg vs. – 15.9 ± 10.0 mm Hg) blood pressure, but had more reduction in ECG LV hypertrophy by Cornell voltage-duration product (–268 ± 820 mV·ms vs. 122 ± 872 mV·ms, p < 0.0001).


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  		Table 2. Baseline Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Patients With New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation Randomized to Losartan or Atenolol
 
There were no differences at baseline or during the study in concomitant treatment with class IA-IC or III antiarrhythmic drugs, digoxin, or non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers between losartan- and atenolol-treated patients (data not shown). However, atenolol-treated patients were more likely to receive anticoagulation therapy (5.3% vs. 7.7%, p < 0.001).

New-onset AF.   New-onset AF occurred in 150 losartan- (6.8 per 1,000 person-years of follow-up) and 221 atenolol-treated patients (10.1 per 1,000 person-years of follow-up, HR = 0.67, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.83, p < 0.001). Adjustment for differences in LV hypertrophy by Cornell voltage duration and Sokolow-Lyon criteria and Framingham risk score had only minimal effect on the reduction of new-onset AF associated with losartan (Fig. 2). Furthermore, patients taking losartan tended to stay in sinus rhythm longer from baseline (1,809 ± 225 vs. 1,709 ± 254 days from baseline, p = 0.057) than those taking atenolol.



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  		Figure 2 Kaplan-Meier curves illustrating new-onset electrocardiogram-verified atrial fibrillation during follow-up. CI = confidence interval; HR = hazard ratio.

 
New-onset AF and outcome.   Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality was more frequent in patients with new-onset AF than with persistent sinus rhythm (Table 3). Patients with new-onset AF had an approximately twofold increased risk of cardiovascular events, about threefold higher risk of fatal or nonfatal stroke, and fivefold increased rate of hospitalization for heart failure (HF), even after adjustment for covariates.


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  		Table 3. End Points in Patients With and Without New-onset Atrial Fibrillation
 
Although patients with new-onset AF treated with losartan versus atenolol had similar baseline characteristics (Table 2), losartan-treated patients with new-onset AF had a 40% lower rate of subsequent composite events compared with atenolol-treated patients (n = 31 vs. 51, HR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.94, p = 0.03). There were substantially fewer subsequent strokes (n = 19 vs. 38, HR = 0.49, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.86, p = 0.01), a trend toward fewer myocardial infarctions (n = 9 vs.16, HR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.25 to 1.27, p = 0.16) and no difference in cardiovascular mortality (n = 14 vs. 14, p = NS) in losartan- and atenolol-treated patients with new-onset AF. In contrast, atenolol-treated patients with new-onset AF had fewer hospitalizations for HF (n = 20 vs. 30, HR = 0.43, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.76, p = 0.004) and a trend toward fewer sudden cardiac deaths (n = 2 vs. 6, HR = 0.22, 95% CI 0.05 to 1.10, p = 0.07).

In multivariate analysis that adjusted for differences in age; blood pressure; Framingham risk score; ECG LV hypertrophy; albuminuria; diabetes; and coronary, cerebral, and peripheral vascular disease, both new-onset AF (HR = 2.31, 95% CI 1.70 to 3.14, p < 0.001) and atenolol treatment (HR = 1.27, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.54, p = 0.015) were independently associated with fatal and nonfatal stroke among patients free of AF at baseline.

Prediction of new-onset AF.   For each baseline characteristic, a univariate proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate the hazard ratio for new-onset AF and its 95% CI (Table 4). Variables with significant associations (p < 0.05) were used to develop multivariate models. To identify the most important factors associated with development of new-onset AF, we developed four multivariate prediction models (Table 5). In the first model, which considered baseline characteristics, age was by far the most important predictor of new-onset AF, with each year of age associated with a 9% higher rate of new-onset AF. Age is followed, in order, by male gender (56% increase in risk compared to women), systolic blood pressure (6% increase per 10 mm Hg) and ECG LV hypertrophy by Cornell product (4% increase per 100 mV·ms). In an alternative model (data not shown) lower ECG LV hypertrophy by Cornell product at the annual re-examination was predictive of less new-onset AF.


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  		Table 4. Univariate Predictors of New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation
 

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  		Table 5. Multivariate Predictors of New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation
 
Addition of study treatment to the second model (Table 5) indicated that randomization to losartan was associated with a 33% lower rate of new-onset AF, independent of other risk factors (p < 0.001). Addition of study treatment to the model left the other predictors of new-onset AF from the first model almost unchanged, documenting an independent effect of losartan treatment on prevention of AF. Additional models showed that age and male gender predicted new-onset AF within each treatment group considered separately.


   Discussion
Top
 Abstract
 Methods
 Results
 Discussion
References
 
This study is, to our knowledge, the first to show that one antihypertensive treatment regimen is more effective than another with equal blood pressure reduction in reducing new-onset AF. That losartan reduced the rate of new-onset AF by 33% compared to atenolol with similar blood pressure reduction is surprising, as many regard beta-blockade a first-line therapy to prevent AF as well as preferred treatment for rate-control in established AF (10). In addition, patients receiving losartan-based therapy tended to stay in sinus rhythm longer.

Furthermore, our study demonstrates the clinical relevance of preventing new-onset AF, as it was associated with two-, three-, and five-fold higher rates of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, stroke, or hospitalization for HF. New-onset AF was associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality even when taking additional risk factors, as summarized by the Framingham risk score and ECG measures of LV hypertrophy, into account. Furthermore, we found losartan-based treatment significantly reduced cardiovascular events in patients with new-onset AF, with the difference of 19 strokes between the treatment-arms in patients with new-onset AF, comprising about 25% of the 77 fewer strokes associated with losartan- versus atenolol-based therapy in the entire LIFE study (12). However, patients with new-onset AF had fewer hospitalizations for HF when treated with atenolol than losartan. This might be explained by the fact that atenolol showed a better effect on LV ejection fraction in the LIFE echocardiographic substudy, associated with greater reduction in heart rate (18). Of further interest was the trend toward a lower risk of sudden cardiac death associated with new-onset AF in atenolol- than in losartan-treated patients. This is in contrast to findings in the LIFE trial's diabetic subpopulation (19) and merits further research.

Our study extends previous reports suggesting that renin-angiotensin system blockade by either angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition (4,20) or angiotensin II receptor blockade (9) reduces incident AF. In the TRACE study new-onset AF was reduced by 45% with trandolapril (4). A subanalysis of the SOLVD study reported that new-onset AF was reduced as much as 78% with enalapril (20). However, both studies were placebo-controlled, and therefore superior antihypertensive effect of the study drug may have contributed to the lower rate of AF. Our study further supports this inference, as higher systolic blood pressure was an independent predictor of new-onset AF, underlining the importance of blood pressure control for prevention of AF.

Furthermore, the present results are consistent with our previous finding that LIFE patients with a history of AF benefited from losartan-based treatment, with 42% reduction of both composite end points and cardiovascular mortality and 45% risk reduction for stroke (11).

Mechanisms.   One explanation for the added benefit of losartan in preventing new-onset AF and events associated therewith in hypertensive patients with LV hypertrophy could be parallel effects of losartan on regression of atrial and ventricular hypertrophy. Our data suggest that sustained LV hypertrophy is an important predictor of new-onset AF. We have recently shown in the LIFE echocardiography substudy (21) that patients with LV hypertrophy also exhibit increased left atrial size, which has been associated with increased stroke risk in normotensive (22) and hypertensive adults (23). The greater regression of ECG and echo LV hypertrophy with losartan- than atenolol-based therapy (24,25) may have been paralleled by greater reduction of left atrial overload and dilatation, thereby reducing stimuli to new-onset AF. A recent animal study showed that angiotensin II receptor blockade prevented the promotion of AF by reducing atrial structural remodeling (5). Furthermore, a recent study suggests that renin-angiotensin system polymorphisms are associated with non-familial AF (26).

Study limitations.   Potential limitations of the study include the evaluation of an overwhelmingly Caucasian population from the Nordic countries, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. All patients had ECG LV hypertrophy and hypertension and were thus at high cardiovascular risk. On the other hand, our annual ECG sampling undoubtedly underestimated the incidence of AF and reduced precision of treatment effect estimates.

Although the analysis of AF was not prespecified in the 1995 LIFE study analysis plan, evaluation of treatment effects in the subgroup of patients with new-onset AF was a planned secondary analysis before study termination (September 2001) and unblinding. Furthermore, patients with new-onset AF were recruited for hypertension and ECG LV hypertrophy and randomization within patients with new-onset AF may not be balanced.

Because outcomes were analyzed by the intention-to-treat principle, without restriction after study drug discontinuation, open-label use of angiotensin II receptor blocker/angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/beta-blocker may have diminished differences between the groups. However, we found no statistical differences in open-label drug usage between losartan versus atenolol arms in patients with new-onset AF. Furthermore, information is unavailable regarding levels of anticoagulation between treatment arms.

Conclusions.   Our novel finding is that new-onset AF and subsequent stroke were significantly reduced by losartan- compared with atenolol-based antihypertensive treatment with similar blood pressure reduction. Approximately 25% of the total reduction in stroke associated with losartan- as opposed to atenolol-based antihypertensive treatment in the entire LIFE study occurred in the subset of patients with new-onset AF.


   Acknowledgments
 
We are indebted to Sigrid Helle Berg for her dedicated work with the LIFE study.


   Footnotes
 
Drs. Wachtell, Olsen, Dahlöf, Ibsen, Julius, Kjeldsen, Lindholm, Nieminen and Devereux have received grant support from Merck and Co., Inc. The trial was supported by an unrestricted grant from Merck and Co. The presentation of data is the intellectual property of the LIFE Steering Committee, and Merck has reviewed the manuscript.


   References
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 Abstract
 Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 

  1. Stewart S, Hart CL, Hole DJ, McMurray JJ. A population-based study of the long-term risks associated with atrial fibrillation: 20-year follow-up of the Renfrew/Paisley study Am J Med 2002;113:359-364.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
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  10. Fuster V, Ryden LE, Asinger RW, et al. ACC/AHA/ESC guidelines for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation: executive summaryA report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines and the European Society of Cardiology Committee for Practice Guidelines and Policy Conferences (Committee to Develop Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation): developed in collaboration with the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology. J Am Coll Cardiol 2001;38:1231-1266.[Free Full Text]
  11. Wachtell K, Hornestam B, Lehto M, et al. Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in hypertensive patients with a history of atrial fibrillation: the Losartan Intervention for End Point Reduction in Hypertension (LIFE) study. J Am Coll Cardiol 2005;45:705–12..
  12. Dahlöf B, Devereux RB, Kjeldsen SE, et al. Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction in hypertension study (LIFE): a randomised trial against atenolol Lancet 2002;359:995-1003.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
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Y. M. Kim, H. Kattach, C. Ratnatunga, R. Pillai, K. M. Channon, and B. Casadei
Association of atrial nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activity with the development of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery.
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., January 1, 2008; 51(1): 68 - 74.
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F. G. Cosio, E. Aliot, G. L. Botto, H. Heidbuchel, C. J. Geller, P. Kirchhof, J.-C. De Haro, R. Frank, J. P. Villacastin, J. Vijgen, et al.
Delayed rhythm control of atrial fibrillation may be a cause of failure to prevent recurrences: reasons for change to active antiarrhythmic treatment at the time of the first detected episode
Europace, January 1, 2008; 10(1): 21 - 27.
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P. Kirchhof, A. Auricchio, J. Bax, H. Crijns, J. Camm, H.-C. Diener, A. Goette, G. Hindricks, S. Hohnloser, L. Kappenberger, et al.
Outcome parameters for trials in atrial fibrillation: executive summary: Recommendations from a consensus conference organized by the German Atrial Fibrillation Competence NETwork (AFNET) and the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA)
Eur. Heart J., November 2, 2007; 28(22): 2803 - 2817.
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P. Kirchhof, A. Auricchio, J. Bax, H. Crijns, J. Camm, H.-C. Diener, A. Goette, G. Hindricks, S. Hohnloser, L. Kappenberger, et al.
Outcome parameters for trials in atrial fibrillation: Recommendations from a consensus conference organized by the German Atrial Fibrillation Competence NETwork and the European Heart Rhythm Association
Europace, November 1, 2007; 9(11): 1006 - 1023.
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Authors/Task Force Members:, G. Mancia, G. De Backer, A. Dominiczak, R. Cifkova, R. Fagard, G. Germano, G. Grassi, A. M. Heagerty, S. E. Kjeldsen, et al.
2007 Guidelines for the Management of Arterial Hypertension: The Task Force for the Management of Arterial Hypertension of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) and of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)
Eur. Heart J., June 11, 2007; (2007) ehm236v1.
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E. Saygili, O. R. Rana, E. Saygili, H. Reuter, K. Frank, R. H. G. Schwinger, J. Muller-Ehmsen, and C. Zobel
Losartan prevents stretch-induced electrical remodeling in cultured atrial neonatal myocytes
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, June 1, 2007; 292(6): H2898 - H2905.
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T. L. Reudelhuber, K. E. Bernstein, and P. Delafontaine
Is Angiotensin II a Direct Mediator of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy?: Time for Another Look
Hypertension, June 1, 2007; 49(6): 1196 - 1201.
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A. Berruezo, D. Tamborero, L. Mont, B. Benito, J. M. Tolosana, M. Sitges, B. Vidal, G. Arriagada, F. Mendez, M. Matiello, et al.
Pre-procedural predictors of atrial fibrillation recurrence after circumferential pulmonary vein ablation
Eur. Heart J., April 1, 2007; 28(7): 836 - 841.
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M. E.W. Hemels, A. C.P. Wiesfeld, D. J. Van Veldhuisen, M. P. Van den Berg, and I. C. Van Gelder
Outcome of pharmacological rhythm control for new-onset persistent atrial fibrillation in patients with systolic heart failure: a comparison with patients with normal left ventricular function
Europace, April 1, 2007; 9(4): 239 - 245.
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A. Shiroshita-Takeshita, B. J.J.M. Brundel, B. Burstein, T.-K. Leung, H. Mitamura, S. Ogawa, and S. Nattel
Effects of simvastatin on the development of the atrial fibrillation substrate in dogs with congestive heart failure
Cardiovasc Res, April 1, 2007; 74(1): 75 - 84.
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N. Guler, C. Ozkara, H. Dulger, V. Kutay, M. Sahin, E. Erbilen, and H. A. Gumrukcuoglu
Do Cardiac Neuropeptides Play a Role in the Occurrence of Atrial Fibrillation After Coronary Bypass Surgery?
Ann. Thorac. Surg., February 1, 2007; 83(2): 532 - 537.
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E. Gerdts, K. Wachtell, P. Omvik, J. E. Otterstad, L. Oikarinen, K. Boman, B. Dahlof, and R. B. Devereux
Left Atrial Size and Risk of Major Cardiovascular Events During Antihypertensive Treatment: Losartan Intervention for Endpoint Reduction in Hypertension Trial
Hypertension, February 1, 2007; 49(2): 311 - 316.
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B. Williams
The Year in Hypertension
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., October 17, 2006; 48(8): 1698 - 1711.
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P. M. Okin, K. Wachtell, R. B. Devereux, K. E. Harris, S. Jern, S. E. Kjeldsen, S. Julius, L. H. Lindholm, M. S. Nieminen, J. M. Edelman, et al.
Regression of electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy and decreased incidence of new-onset atrial fibrillation in patients with hypertension.
JAMA, September 13, 2006; 296(10): 1242 - 1248.
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Writing Committee Members, V. Fuster, L. E. Ryden, D. S. Cannom, H. J. Crijns, A. B. Curtis, K. A. Ellenbogen, J. L. Halperin, J.-Y. Le Heuzey, G. N. Kay, et al.
ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 guidelines for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation: full text: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on practice guidelines and the European Society of Cardiology Committee for Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Revise the 2001 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation) Developed in collaboration with the European Heart Rhythm Association and the Heart Rhythm Society
Europace, September 1, 2006; 8(9): 651 - 745.
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V. Fuster, L. E. Ryden, D. S. Cannom, H. J. Crijns, A. B. Curtis, K. A. Ellenbogen, J. L. Halperin, J.-Y. Le Heuzey, G. N. Kay, J. E. Lowe, et al.
ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation--Executive Summary: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines and the European Society of Cardiology Committee for Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Revise the 2001 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation) Developed in Collaboration With the European Heart Rhythm Association and the Heart Rhythm Society
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., August 15, 2006; 48(4): 854 - 906.
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V. Fuster, L. E. Ryden, D. S. Cannom, H. J. Crijns, A. B. Curtis, K. A. Ellenbogen, J. L. Halperin, J.-Y. Le Heuzey, G. N. Kay, J. E. Lowe, et al.
ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines and the European Society of Cardiology Committee for Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Revise the 2001 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation) Developed in Collaboration With the European Heart Rhythm Association and the Heart Rhythm Society
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., August 15, 2006; 48(4): e149 - e246.
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V. Fuster, L. E. Ryden, D. S. Cannom, H. J. Crijns, A. B. Curtis, K. A. Ellenbogen, J. L. Halperin, J.-Y. Le Heuzey, G. N. Kay, J. E. Lowe, et al.
ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines and the European Society of Cardiology Committee for Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Revise the 2001 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation): Developed in Collaboration With the European Heart Rhythm Association and the Heart Rhythm Society
Circulation, August 15, 2006; 114(7): e257 - e354.
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V. Fuster, L. E. Ryden, D. S. Cannom, H. J. Crijns, A. B. Curtis, K. A. Ellenbogen, J. L. Halperin, J.-Y. Le Heuzey, G. N. Kay, J. E. Lowe, et al.
ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation--Executive Summary: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines and the European Society of Cardiology Committee for Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Revise the 2001 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation): Developed in Collaboration With the European Heart Rhythm Association and the Heart Rhythm Society
Circulation, August 15, 2006; 114(7): 700 - 752.
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Authors/Task Force Members, V. Fuster, L. E. Ryden, D. S. Cannom, H. J. Crijns, A. B. Curtis, K. A. Ellenbogen, J. L. Halperin, J.-Y. Le Heuzey, G. N. Kay, et al.
ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 guidelines for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation executive summary: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on practice guidelines and the European Society of Cardiology Committee for Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Revise the 2001 Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Atrial Fibrillation) Developed in collaboration with the European Heart Rhythm Association and the Heart Rhythm Society
Eur. Heart J., August 2, 2006; 27(16): 1979 - 2030.
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G. Y H Lip and A. Tello-Montoliu
Management of atrial fibrillation.
Heart, August 1, 2006; 92(8): 1177 - 1182.
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