Analyzing the association of critical illness and cardioversion success in patients with atrial fibrillation at the emergency department

Abstract In critically ill patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), standard treatment algorithms might not be applicable. Emergency departments (ED) play a crucial role in implementing individualized treatment approaches. The aim of this study was to assess the association of lactate and cardioversi...

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Main Authors: Sophie Gupta, Sebastian Schnaubelt, Julia Oppenauer, Martin Lutnik, Filippo Cacioppo, Alexander Spiel, Hans Domanovits, Patrick Sulzgruber, Jan Niederdöckl
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-01-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85224-7
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author Sophie Gupta
Sebastian Schnaubelt
Julia Oppenauer
Martin Lutnik
Filippo Cacioppo
Alexander Spiel
Hans Domanovits
Patrick Sulzgruber
Jan Niederdöckl
author_facet Sophie Gupta
Sebastian Schnaubelt
Julia Oppenauer
Martin Lutnik
Filippo Cacioppo
Alexander Spiel
Hans Domanovits
Patrick Sulzgruber
Jan Niederdöckl
author_sort Sophie Gupta
collection DOAJ
description Abstract In critically ill patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), standard treatment algorithms might not be applicable. Emergency departments (ED) play a crucial role in implementing individualized treatment approaches. The aim of this study was to assess the association of lactate and cardioversion success rates in AF patients presenting to an ED. This was a retrospective single-center study analyzing 3535 AF episodes between 2012 and 2022. The main outcome was cardioversion (CV) to sinus rhythm (SR) depending on serum lactate levels (mmol/L). Lactate levels were divided into quintiles (lac < 1.1, 1.1–1.3, 1.4–1.7, 1.8–2.3 and > 2.3 mmol/L). Overall CV success declined with rising lactate levels (SR: lac < 1.1 79% (n = 547), 1.1–1.3 76% (n = 579), 1.4–1.7 73% (n = 562), 1.8–2.3 66% (n = 447), > 2.3 mmol/L 61% (n = 393); p < 0.001). Electrical CV (eCV) was conducted in 1021 (SR 95%), medical CV (mCV) in 706 (SR: 72%), facilitated CV in 523 (SR: 88%) and spontaneous conversion was observed in 591 (46% of all patients without treatment) cases. ECV was effective independent of lactate levels (SR: lac < 1.1 96% (n = 225), 1.1–1.3 93% (n = 253), 1.4–1.7 97% (n = 228), 1.8–2.3 92% (n = 154), > 2.3 mmol/L 95% (n = 106); p = 0.716). However, for mCV, conversion success decreased with increasing lactate levels (SR: lac < 1.1 84% (n = 95), 1.1–1.3 80% (n = 109), 1.4–1.7 75% (n = 115), 1.8–2.3 67% (n = 93), > 2.3 mmol/L 59% (n = 97); p < 0.001). Overall cardioversion success was less likely with rising lactate levels; especially medical cardioversion success rates decreased. Therefore, AF in critically ill may benefit from either electrical cardioversion, treatment of the underlying condition, or primary rate control.
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spelling doaj-art-bf3144d9b992431399b7b55ba88b5f5b2025-01-12T12:20:27ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-011511710.1038/s41598-025-85224-7Analyzing the association of critical illness and cardioversion success in patients with atrial fibrillation at the emergency departmentSophie Gupta0Sebastian Schnaubelt1Julia Oppenauer2Martin Lutnik3Filippo Cacioppo4Alexander Spiel5Hans Domanovits6Patrick Sulzgruber7Jan Niederdöckl8Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical University of ViennaDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Medical University of ViennaDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Medical University of ViennaDepartment of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of ViennaDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Medical University of ViennaDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Clinic Ottakring, Vienna Healthcare GroupDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Medical University of ViennaDivision of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of ViennaDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Medical University of ViennaAbstract In critically ill patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), standard treatment algorithms might not be applicable. Emergency departments (ED) play a crucial role in implementing individualized treatment approaches. The aim of this study was to assess the association of lactate and cardioversion success rates in AF patients presenting to an ED. This was a retrospective single-center study analyzing 3535 AF episodes between 2012 and 2022. The main outcome was cardioversion (CV) to sinus rhythm (SR) depending on serum lactate levels (mmol/L). Lactate levels were divided into quintiles (lac < 1.1, 1.1–1.3, 1.4–1.7, 1.8–2.3 and > 2.3 mmol/L). Overall CV success declined with rising lactate levels (SR: lac < 1.1 79% (n = 547), 1.1–1.3 76% (n = 579), 1.4–1.7 73% (n = 562), 1.8–2.3 66% (n = 447), > 2.3 mmol/L 61% (n = 393); p < 0.001). Electrical CV (eCV) was conducted in 1021 (SR 95%), medical CV (mCV) in 706 (SR: 72%), facilitated CV in 523 (SR: 88%) and spontaneous conversion was observed in 591 (46% of all patients without treatment) cases. ECV was effective independent of lactate levels (SR: lac < 1.1 96% (n = 225), 1.1–1.3 93% (n = 253), 1.4–1.7 97% (n = 228), 1.8–2.3 92% (n = 154), > 2.3 mmol/L 95% (n = 106); p = 0.716). However, for mCV, conversion success decreased with increasing lactate levels (SR: lac < 1.1 84% (n = 95), 1.1–1.3 80% (n = 109), 1.4–1.7 75% (n = 115), 1.8–2.3 67% (n = 93), > 2.3 mmol/L 59% (n = 97); p < 0.001). Overall cardioversion success was less likely with rising lactate levels; especially medical cardioversion success rates decreased. Therefore, AF in critically ill may benefit from either electrical cardioversion, treatment of the underlying condition, or primary rate control.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85224-7Atrial fibrillationDysrhythmiaCardioversionCritical illnessLactateEmergency medicine
spellingShingle Sophie Gupta
Sebastian Schnaubelt
Julia Oppenauer
Martin Lutnik
Filippo Cacioppo
Alexander Spiel
Hans Domanovits
Patrick Sulzgruber
Jan Niederdöckl
Analyzing the association of critical illness and cardioversion success in patients with atrial fibrillation at the emergency department
Scientific Reports
Atrial fibrillation
Dysrhythmia
Cardioversion
Critical illness
Lactate
Emergency medicine
title Analyzing the association of critical illness and cardioversion success in patients with atrial fibrillation at the emergency department
title_full Analyzing the association of critical illness and cardioversion success in patients with atrial fibrillation at the emergency department
title_fullStr Analyzing the association of critical illness and cardioversion success in patients with atrial fibrillation at the emergency department
title_full_unstemmed Analyzing the association of critical illness and cardioversion success in patients with atrial fibrillation at the emergency department
title_short Analyzing the association of critical illness and cardioversion success in patients with atrial fibrillation at the emergency department
title_sort analyzing the association of critical illness and cardioversion success in patients with atrial fibrillation at the emergency department
topic Atrial fibrillation
Dysrhythmia
Cardioversion
Critical illness
Lactate
Emergency medicine
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85224-7
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