How to deal with suspected arrhythmia CCG Educational Evening 17.7.14 Dr Sanjay Kumar Lead Consultant Cardiologist Dr Ravi Kamdar Consultant Cardiologist in Devices and Arrhythmia Croydon Health Services NHS Trust © your company name. All rights reserved. Objectives • Brief overview of new suspected arrhythmia pathway • Things to do before referral • Case studies • Questions Suspected Arrhythmia – diagnosis & management Immediate transfer to hospital for specialist assessment/treatment treatment * In all adult age groups , use traffic lights system to guide further action ( slides 2 & 3) Patient presents with symptoms, palpitations, chest pain, dyspnoea, syncope/pre syncope, asymptomatic Red Flag signs: • Patient looks unwell e.g. signs of heart failure • Exercise – induced dizziness/syncope • Syncope with injury • Syncope with angina • Syncope with known structural/ischaemic heart disease • 2nd or 3rd Degree Heart Block • Other ECG abnormality – evidence of previous MI,LV hypertrophy ,short PR interval, long QT,LBBB, significant twave inversion Assessment – history & examination. Onset of symptoms (duration) – palpitations, dyspnoea, and impact of activities of daily living or at night. Past medical history & family history. Examination: General appearance, respiratory rate, pulse, BP, chest auscultation. Full blood count, urea & electrolytes, glucose, TFTs & LFTs and chest X ray if appropriate Red flag signs Steps that are based in primary care Steps that are based in acute Steps that are taken in community services Decision making point Shared decision making with patient 12 lead ECG with accurate interpretation and reporting. Consider echocardiogram Review of results to determine if single episode. Normal ECG and no evidence of structural heart disease. Consider other diagnosis and further investigation if appropriate. Management in primary care. Consider virtual Cardiac advise Service Normal results – changes required e.g. reduce caffeine intake Abnormal results with recurrent symptoms Incidental finding of Atrial fibrillation e.g. pulse check Atrial fibrillation Complete CHADS₂ - Vasc risk score Referral to Community Arrhythmia clinic if : • Age <65yrs • Adequate heart rate or rhythm control not achieved • Symptomatic despite good rate/rhythm control • Paroxysmal AF • AF with other ECG abnormality, structural heart disease or heart failure • Lone AF e.g. no history or echo evidence of cardiovascular disease Initiate Anticoagulant therapy if appropriate with Primary care management with annual review to monitor rate and rhythm in line with Croydon guidelines. http://nhscroydonintranet.croydonpct.nhs.uk/TeamsAndDepartmen ts/primarycarecommissioning/prescribing/Pages/Documents.aspx Recurrent palpitations, recurrent presyncope/syncope/symptomatic bradycardia See slide 4 Family history of inherited cardiac condition Community Arrhythmia clinic – Consultant –led with Arrhythmia Nurse Specialist Discharge to primary care as appropriate LIFESTYLE Inherited Cardiac Condition Clinic Community Anti Coagulant Clinic Impact of exercise and advise regarding management to maintain an active lifestyle without fear Smoking cessation course Alcohol advice and guidance on healthy eating Work – driving or flying issues. Sensitive issues regarding sexual activity Palpitations - What to do before referral (1) Identify specific patients….high risk of adverse outcomes? Can intervention improve QoL? What does the patient mean? ‘Abnormally perceived heartbeat’ – tachycardia, bradycardia, irregularity, pounding, ‘missed beats’, ‘extra beats’, ‘fluttering’ Do they mean chest discomfort? Duration, frequency, Onset/offset, Precipitating factors – nocturnal? exertional? Emotional? Mode of termination – vagal? What else happens? Pre-syncope or syncope, acute-onset sustained SOB, chest pain What’s making it worse? Mental health – anxiety, depression, somatisation disorders Caffeine, alcohol Recreational drugs – amphetamines, cocaine Medications – β agonist, theophylline, T4, calcium antagonists, class I anti-arrhythmics (e.g. flecainide), drugs prolonging QTc Family history? Evidence of early-onset AF, heart failure or premature CAD in close relative? Sudden cardiac or unexplained death <40yrs old? RTA? Drowning? Potential misdiagnosis of epilepsy? Sudden death? Palpitations - What to do before referral (2) Examination & simple tests Physical evidence of structural heart disease (HF, abnormal HS, murmurs)? Thyrotoxicosis? Anaemia? 12 lead ECG – AF, high-grade heart block, old MI, LVH, LBBB, ischaemic ST/t-wave change, short PR, long QTc Sources of advice for patients CUH arrhythmia nurse / clinic Charities: Arrhythmia Alliance: www.heartrhythmcharity.org.uk Atrial Fibrillation Association: www.atrialfibrillation.org.uk Sudden Adult Death Trust: www.sadsuk.org Cardiac Risk in the Young: www.c-r-y.org.uk Occupation / driving: DVLA rules If arrhythmia identified that causes (or is likely to cause) incapacity, stop driving Doctors’ responsibility to inform patient If no diagnosis (or awaiting specialist assessment), but disabling symptoms, advise patient to stop driving Working at height? Control of potentially dangerous machinery? Suspected Arrhythmia Community Clinic Referral Form Please complete form and fax to Clinic administrator on 020 8401 3022 Enquiries: Arrhythmia nurse specialist: 020 8401 3000, ext. 5771 or bleep 273 Cardiology GP Advice Service: email mhn-tr.gpcardiologyadviceservice@nhs.net; http://www.croydonhealth.nhs.uk/GPadviceservice Referrals without an ECG and incomplete forms will be returned Refer patients with “red flag” signs to A&E: · · · · · · Patient acutely unwell, haemodynamic compromise, heart failure nd rd High-grade (2 or 3 degree) heart block, except nocturnal Wenkebach Ventricular tachycardia Exercise-induced syncope Syncope associated with angina or known structural heart disease (e.g. previous MI, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy, left ventricular hypertrophy) Syncope with abnormal ECG e.g. evidence of acute ischaemia or prior MI, left ventricular hypertrophy, long QT, LBBB Referral criteria for Community Clinic (no “red flag” signs): · · · · · Symptomatic bradycardia Recurrent dizziness or syncope Recurrent palpitations New diagnosis “Supra-ventricular tachycardia” (SVT) New diagnosis atrial fibrillation or flutter, unless patient is asymptomatic and >65yrs old Patients with known arrhythmia already under Cardiologist follow-up will be redirected to Cardiology OPC. Manage in Primary Care (web link to traffic lights): Single episode of palpitation or dizziness, or Suspected vasovagal syndrome responding to simple conservative measures AND no evidence of structural heart disease (i.e. normal 12-lead ECG, normal physical examination, normal echocardiogram) Patient'details' ! ! ' Name! ! ! ! Sex! d.o.b.! ! ! ! NHS!Number! ! ! Hosp.!Number! Address! ! ! ! ! Telephone! ! ! Ethnicity!! Interpreter!needed?!!Y!/!N! ! ! ! GP'details' ! ! ! GP!name! ! ! ! ! ! ! Practice!name! Practice!address! ! ! ! ! ! ! Postcode! Telephone!! ! Syncope? ! Other:! Clinical'history! ! Palpitations? ! ! ! Frequency:! ! Shortness!of!breath?!! !!!!!! Dizziness? !!! ! Asymptomatic!(incidental!finding)?! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Fatigue? ! ! Page 1/2 Reason'for'referral' '' Syncope'/'dizziness' ' ' AF/flutter'' Palpitations''' Other' ' Clinical'examination'&'investigation'(fax'all'results'B'*'denotes'data'without'which'referral'will'be'rejected):' Medications' · · Initial'primary'care'management' · · Where'would'your'patient'prefer'to'be'seen?' To be completed by clinic staff Date referral received: ECG included? Y/N Provisional appointment date: Tests required before clinic appointment: If inappropriate referral, referrer informed? Y/N How would you manage these patients? Case Study 1 64yr old lady Irregular pulse on recent pulse check 12-lead ECG: Atrial fibrillation, heart rate 120bpm, otherwise NAD Many years’ minor (NYHA class 2) exertional breathlessness, otherwise no symptoms Hypertension, type 2 diabetes, 30U alcohol/week o/e Looks well, BP 150/90, RR 12, no cardiac murmurs FBC, U&E, TFT normal CXR – no parenchymal lung abnormality, borderline cardiomegaly Action Advice? Reduce alcohol intake. Avoid vigorous effort until rate-controlled. Treat co-morbidity e.g. salt/BP Drugs? Rate control with β blocker (exercise-induced tachycardia) or rate-limiting CCB (BP); anti-coagulate with warfarin Investigation? Echo (LV function, LA size, valves, evidence of CAD); 24hr Holter after initiating rate-limiters (HR control) Onward referral? Suspected arrhythmia clinic – <65, rate or rhythm control? Diagnose underlying cause? The CHADS2 index has been routinely used as an initial, rapid, and easy-to-remember means of assessing stroke risk1–4 CHADS2 criteria Congestive HF CHADS2 Adjusted stroke rate* (95% CI) 6 18.2 (10.5 to 27.4) 5 12.5 (8.2 to 17.5) 4 8.5 (6.3 to 11.1) 3 5.9 (4.6 to 7.3) Score 1 Patients (%) 36.1% Hypertension 1 Age ≥75 years 1 Diabetes 1 2 4.0 (3.1 to 5.1) 30.1% Stroke or TIA (previous history) 2 1 2.8 (2.0 to 3.8) 27% 0 1.9 (1.2 to 3.0) 6.9% Sum *Adjusted stroke rate = expected stroke rate per 100 patient-years from exponential survival model, assuming ASA not taken 1. Gage et al. JAMA 2001;285:2864–2870 2. Gage et al. Circulation 2004;110:2287–2292 3. Camm et al. Eur Heart J 2010;31:2369–2429 4. Nieuwlaat et al. Eur Heart J 2006;27:3018–3026 33.6% with CHADS2 0 or 1 The CHA2DS2-VASc scheme was adopted by the ESC to complement the CHADS2 scoring system CHADS2 Score CHA2DS2-VASc Score Congestive heart failure 1 Congestive heart failure/left ventricular dysfunction 1 Hypertension 1 Hypertension 1 Aged ≥75 years 1 Aged ≥75 years 2 Diabetes mellitus 1 Diabetes mellitus 1 Stroke/TIA/TE 2 Stroke/TIA/TE 2 Maximum score 6 Vascular disease (prior MI, PAD, or aortic plaque) 1 Aged 65–74 years 1 Sex category (i.e. female gender) 1 Maximum score 9 CHA2DS2-VASc: In patients with a CHADS2 score of 0–1, or When a more detailed stroke risk assessment is indicated Camm et al. Eur Heart J 2010;31:2369–429. The 2010/2012 ESC guidelines recommend use of a simple bleeding risk score: HAS-BLED Letter Clinical characteristic Points awarded H Hypertension 1 A Abnormal renal and liver function (1 point each) S Stroke 1 B Bleeding 1 L Labile INRs 1 E Elderly (e.g. age >65 years) 1 D Drugs or alcohol (1 point each) 1 or 2 1 or 2 Maximum 9 points HAS-BLED ≥3: Indicates ”high risk”, and Some caution and regular review of the patient is needed following the initiation of antithrombotic therapy, whether with OAC or aspirin Camm et al. Eur Heart J 2010;31:2369–429. Camm et al. Eur Heart J 2012;e-published August 2012, doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehs253. Pisters et al. Chest 2010;138:1093–100. How would you manage these patients? Case Study 2 27yr old female medico-legal solicitor c/o 1 episode of severe dizziness while standing in a long post-office queue, nearly lost consciousness No chest pain, SOB No recurrent symptoms PMH: 2 previous similar episodes aged 16 and 18, while studying for exams No medication, no alcohol, occasional cannabis use FH: mother died suddenly aged 35, cause unknown o/e normal – no cardiac murmurs FBC, U&E, TFT normal 12-lead ECG: sinus rhythm 70bpm, no heart block, normal QTc Action Advice? Identify & avoid triggers e.g. prolonged standing, pain/cough/laugh, review/minimise work stresses; keep well-hydrated; curtail cannabis use Drugs? Water Investigation? Echocardiogram (subclinical cardiomyopathy, severe valvular heart disease) Onward referral? One-stop arrhythmia clinic, GP advice service What if no FHx? Re-assure likely vasovagal – advice, referral only if symptoms not controlled by conservative means How would you manage these patients? Case Study 3 79yr old man c/o 4 episodes of self-terminating palpitation, over a period of 6 weeks Each episode approximately 1-minute long, associated with minor SOB Minor (NYHA class 2) exertional SOB, no angina pectoris, no syncope MI 10 years ago, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, current smoker Rx: Aspirin, lisinopril, simvastatin (beta blocker not tolerated – dizziness) o/e normal – no cardiac murmurs FBC, U&E, TFT normal 12-lead ECG: sinus rhythm 60bpm, first degree heart block, LBBB Similar ECG appearances 3 years ago Action Advice? Stop smoking (IHD) Drugs? Avoid rate-limiting medication Investigation? CXR (HF), echo (LVSD, LVH, scar, substrate for AF/VT) Onward referral? A&E (red flag)