Welcome to Cardiology Today – Recorded September 28, 2025. This episode summarizes 5 key cardiology studies on topics like accelerometry and sudden cardiac death. Key takeaway: Polygenic Risk Drives A.fib More in Men.
Article Links:
Article 1: Trends in burden of atrial fibrillation over three decades: a population-based study. (Heart (British Cardiac Society))
Article 2: Accelerometry-defined physical activity and quality of life in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. (Heart (British Cardiac Society))
Article 3: Sex Differences in the Association between Polygenic Risk Score and Atrial Fibrillation Incidence: A Prospective Cohort Study. (The Canadian journal of cardiology)
Article 4: Percutaneous Intramyocardial Septal Radiofrequency Ablation for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy with residual obstruction after Alcohol Septal Ablation. (The Canadian journal of cardiology)
Article 5: Association Between Electrocardiographic Changes and Myocardial Injury or Death after Cardiac Surgery. (The Canadian journal of cardiology)
Full episode page: https://podcast.explainheart.com/podcast/polygenic-risk-drives-a-fib-more-in-men-09-28-25/
Featured Articles
Article 1: Trends in burden of atrial fibrillation over three decades: a population-based study.
Journal: Heart (British Cardiac Society)
PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41015500
Summary: This population-based study across three decades demonstrated an increase in atrial fibrillation prevalence, particularly in men, with age, hypertension, and heart failure being key risk factors. The observed increase in atrial fibrillation incidence remained stable over time, highlighting the persistent need for effective prevention and management strategies. The findings suggest a growing burden of atrial fibrillation, necessitating continued attention to risk factor modification and targeted interventions.
Article 2: Accelerometry-defined physical activity and quality of life in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Journal: Heart (British Cardiac Society)
PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40887133
Summary: This study, using accelerometry in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, revealed that reduced physical activity levels correlate with poorer quality of life, independent of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy demonstrated significantly lower daily step counts compared to genotype-positive, phenotype-negative individuals. These findings underscore the importance of encouraging and supporting increased physical activity in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients to improve their overall well-being.
Article 3: Sex Differences in the Association between Polygenic Risk Score and Atrial Fibrillation Incidence: A Prospective Cohort Study.
Journal: The Canadian journal of cardiology
PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41015248
Summary: This prospective cohort study of over 444,000 participants found that a higher polygenic risk score for atrial fibrillation was associated with an increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation, with this association being more pronounced in men compared to women. The sex-specific effects of the polygenic risk score were consistent across different levels of clinical risk as defined by the CHARGE-A.F. score. These results suggest that genetic predisposition to atrial fibrillation may differ between sexes, which could inform personalized risk stratification and prevention strategies.
Article 4: Percutaneous Intramyocardial Septal Radiofrequency Ablation for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy with residual obstruction after Alcohol Septal Ablation.
Journal: The Canadian journal of cardiology
PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41015247
Summary: This study investigated percutaneous intramyocardial septal radiofrequency ablation as a treatment for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients with persistent left ventricular outflow tract obstruction following alcohol septal ablation. The findings suggest that percutaneous intramyocardial septal radiofrequency ablation is a feasible option in carefully selected patients, demonstrating both acute and short-term reductions in left ventricular outflow tract gradients and improved symptoms. Further research is needed to assess long-term outcomes and identify optimal patient selection criteria.
Article 5: Association Between Electrocardiographic Changes and Myocardial Injury or Death after Cardiac Surgery.
Journal: The Canadian journal of cardiology
PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41015246
Summary: This study of patients undergoing cardiac surgery found that new potential ischemic E.C.G. changes after surgery were significantly associated with a higher risk of 30-day mortality. Specifically, new Q waves, S.T. segment depression, or T wave inversion were all independent predictors of increased mortality. These findings highlight the importance of vigilant post-operative E.C.G. monitoring for early detection of myocardial ischemia and prompt intervention to improve outcomes following cardiac surgery.
Transcript
Today’s date is September 28, 2025. Welcome to Cardiology Today. Here are the latest research findings.
Article number one. Trends in burden of atrial fibrillation over three decades: a population-based study. This population-based study across three decades demonstrated an increase in atrial fibrillation prevalence, particularly in men, with age, hypertension, and heart failure being key risk factors. The observed increase in atrial fibrillation incidence remained stable over time, highlighting the persistent need for effective prevention and management strategies. The findings suggest a growing burden of atrial fibrillation, necessitating continued attention to risk factor modification and targeted interventions.
Article number two. Accelerometry-defined physical activity and quality of life in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This study, using accelerometry in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, revealed that reduced physical activity levels correlate with poorer quality of life, independent of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy demonstrated significantly lower daily step counts compared to genotype-positive, phenotype-negative individuals. These findings underscore the importance of encouraging and supporting increased physical activity in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients to improve their overall well-being.
Article number three. Sex Differences in the Association between Polygenic Risk Score and Atrial Fibrillation Incidence: A Prospective Cohort Study. This prospective cohort study of over 444,000 participants found that a higher polygenic risk score for atrial fibrillation was associated with an increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation, with this association being more pronounced in men compared to women. The sex-specific effects of the polygenic risk score were consistent across different levels of clinical risk as defined by the CHARGE-A.F. score. These results suggest that genetic predisposition to atrial fibrillation may differ between sexes, which could inform personalized risk stratification and prevention strategies.
Article number four. Percutaneous Intramyocardial Septal Radiofrequency Ablation for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy with residual obstruction after Alcohol Septal Ablation. This study investigated percutaneous intramyocardial septal radiofrequency ablation as a treatment for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients with persistent left ventricular outflow tract obstruction following alcohol septal ablation. The findings suggest that percutaneous intramyocardial septal radiofrequency ablation is a feasible option in carefully selected patients, demonstrating both acute and short-term reductions in left ventricular outflow tract gradients and improved symptoms. Further research is needed to assess long-term outcomes and identify optimal patient selection criteria.
Article number five. Association Between Electrocardiographic Changes and Myocardial Injury or Death after Cardiac Surgery. This study of patients undergoing cardiac surgery found that new potential ischemic E.C.G. changes after surgery were significantly associated with a higher risk of 30-day mortality. Specifically, new Q waves, S.T. segment depression, or T wave inversion were all independent predictors of increased mortality. These findings highlight the importance of vigilant post-operative E.C.G. monitoring for early detection of myocardial ischemia and prompt intervention to improve outcomes following cardiac surgery.
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Keywords
accelerometry, sudden cardiac death, prevalence, ischemia, radiofrequency ablation, electrocardiogram, myocardial injury, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, alcohol septal ablation, left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, Rotterdam Study, cardiac surgery, atrial fibrillation, genetic predisposition, quality of life, sex differences, physical activity, mortality, risk factors, CHARGE-A.F., polygenic risk score, septal reduction therapy, incidence.
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The post Polygenic Risk Drives A.fib More in Men 09/28/25 first appeared on Cardiology Today.