Left atrial appendage occlusion with the Amplatzer™ Amulet™ device: full results of the prospective global observational study
In this trial of left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) with > 1,000 patients in atrial fibrillation and two years of follow-up, the annualized rate of ischaemic stroke was 2.2% per year [95% CI 1.6– 2.9%] - a 67% reduction compared to the predicted stroke rate according to the CHA2DS2-VASc Score. Major adverse events (< 7 days post-procedure) occurred in 4.0%, including death (0.3%), stroke (0.4%), major vascular (1.3%), and device embolization (0.2%). Implant success was 99. The proportion of patients on single antiplatelet therapy was 63% at 2 years, and an additional 23% were off any antithrombotic medication. Overall, LAAO offered effective prevention of AF-related thromboembolic events without the need for long-term oral anticoagulation.
Hildick-Smith D, Landmesser U, Camm AJ, Diener HC, Paul V, Schmidt B, Settergren M, Teiger E, Nielsen-Kudsk JE, Tondo C.
The associations of major foods and fibre with risks of ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke: a prospective study of 418,329 participants in the EPIC cohort across nine European countries
In a total of 418,329 men and women from 22 centres in nine European countries (Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the UK), who were recruited between 1992 and 2000 an completed country-specific dietary and lifestyle questionnaires, dietary habits were associated with stroke risk. A total of 4,280 strokes were observed after a mean follow-up of 12 years. Lower risk of ischaemic stroke was observed with higher consumption of fruit and vegetables, dietary fibre and dairy products, while higher risk was observed with higher consumption of red meat. The observed associations might be partly explained by effects on blood pressure and blood cholesterol. Interestingly, different dietary factors were associated with different risks of ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke.
Tong TYN, Appleby PN, Key TJ, Dahm CC, Overvad K, Olsen A, Tjonneland A, Katzke V, Kuhn T, Boeing H, Karakatsani A, Peppa E, Trichopoulou A, Weiderpass E, Masala G, Grioni S, Panico S, Tumino R, Boer JMA, Verschuren WMM, Quiros JR, Agudo A, Rodriguez-Barranco M, Imaz L, Chirlaque MD, Moreno-Iribas C, Engstrom G, Sonestedt E, Lind M, Otten J, Khaw KT, Aune D, Riboli E, Wareham NJ, Imamura F, Forouhi NG, di Angelantonio E, Wood AM, Butterworth AS, Perez-Cornago A.
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