Purpose: Cardiac radioablation is a novel, non-invasive treatment for ventricular tachycardia (VT), involving a single fractional stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) session with a prescribed dose of 25 Gy. This complex procedure requires a detailed workflow and stringent dose constraints compared to conventional radiation therapy. This study aims to establish a consistent institutional workflow for single-fraction cardiac VT-SABR, emphasizing robust plan evaluation and quality assurance. Materials and Methods: The study developed a consistent institutional workflow for VT-SABR, including computed tomography (CT) simulation, target volume definition, treatment planning, robust plan evaluation, quality assurance, and image-guided strategy. The workflow was implemented for two patients with cardiac arrhythmia. Accurate target volume definition using planning CT images and electronic anatomical mapping was critical. A four-dimensional (4D) cone-beam CT (CBCT) and breath-hold electrocardiographic gated CT images reliably detected target motion. Results: The resulting plans exhibited a conformity index greater than 0.7 and a gradient index around G4.0. Dose constraints for the planning target volume (PTV) aimed for 95% or higher PTV dose coverage, with a maximum dose of 200% or lower. However, one case did not meet the PTV dose coverage due to the proximity of the PTV to gastrointestinal organs. Plans adhered to dose constraints for organs at risk near the heart, but meeting constraints for specific cardiac sub-structures was challenging and dependent on PTV location. Conclusion The plans demonstrated robustness against respiratory motion and patient positional uncertainty through a robust evaluation function. The 4D and intra-fractional CBCT were effective in verifying target motion and setup stability.

Purpose: Cardiac radioablation is a novel, non-invasive treatment for ventricular tachycardia (VT), involving a single fractional stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) session with a prescribed dose of 25 Gy. This complex procedure requires a detailed workflow and stringent dose constraints compared to conventional radiation therapy. This study aims to establish a consistent institutional workflow for single-fraction cardiac VT-SABR, emphasizing robust plan evaluation and quality assurance. Materials and Methods: The study developed a consistent institutional workflow for VT-SABR, including computed tomography (CT) simulation, target volume definition, treatment planning, robust plan evaluation, quality assurance, and image-guided strategy. The workflow was implemented for two patients with cardiac arrhythmia. Accurate target volume definition using planning CT images and electronic anatomical mapping was critical. A four-dimensional (4D) cone-beam CT (CBCT) and breath-hold electrocardiographic gated CT images reliably detected target motion. Results: The resulting plans exhibited a conformity index greater than 0.7 and a gradient index around G4.0. Dose constraints for the planning target volume (PTV) aimed for 95% or higher PTV dose coverage, with a maximum dose of 200% or lower. However, one case did not meet the PTV dose coverage due to the proximity of the PTV to gastrointestinal organs. Plans adhered to dose constraints for organs at risk near the heart, but meeting constraints for specific cardiac sub-structures was challenging and dependent on PTV location. Conclusion The plans demonstrated robustness against respiratory motion and patient positional uncertainty through a robust evaluation function. The 4D and intra-fractional CBCT were effective in verifying target motion and setup stability.

Purpose: Cardiac radioablation is a novel, non-invasive treatment for ventricular tachycardia (VT), involving a single fractional stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) session with a prescribed dose of 25 Gy. This complex procedure requires a detailed workflow and stringent dose constraints compared to conventional radiation therapy. This study aims to establish a consistent institutional workflow for single-fraction cardiac VT-SABR, emphasizing robust plan evaluation and quality assurance. Materials and Methods: The study developed a consistent institutional workflow for VT-SABR, including computed tomography (CT) simulation, target volume definition, treatment planning, robust plan evaluation, quality assurance, and image-guided strategy. The workflow was implemented for two patients with cardiac arrhythmia. Accurate target volume definition using planning CT images and electronic anatomical mapping was critical. A four-dimensional (4D) cone-beam CT (CBCT) and breath-hold electrocardiographic gated CT images reliably detected target motion. Results: The resulting plans exhibited a conformity index greater than 0.7 and a gradient index around G4.0. Dose constraints for the planning target volume (PTV) aimed for 95% or higher PTV dose coverage, with a maximum dose of 200% or lower. However, one case did not meet the PTV dose coverage due to the proximity of the PTV to gastrointestinal organs. Plans adhered to dose constraints for organs at risk near the heart, but meeting constraints for specific cardiac sub-structures was challenging and dependent on PTV location. Conclusion The plans demonstrated robustness against respiratory motion and patient positional uncertainty through a robust evaluation function. The 4D and intra-fractional CBCT were effective in verifying target motion and setup stability.

Purpose: Cardiac radioablation is a novel, non-invasive treatment for ventricular tachycardia (VT), involving a single fractional stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) session with a prescribed dose of 25 Gy. This complex procedure requires a detailed workflow and stringent dose constraints compared to conventional radiation therapy. This study aims to establish a consistent institutional workflow for single-fraction cardiac VT-SABR, emphasizing robust plan evaluation and quality assurance. Materials and Methods: The study developed a consistent institutional workflow for VT-SABR, including computed tomography (CT) simulation, target volume definition, treatment planning, robust plan evaluation, quality assurance, and image-guided strategy. The workflow was implemented for two patients with cardiac arrhythmia. Accurate target volume definition using planning CT images and electronic anatomical mapping was critical. A four-dimensional (4D) cone-beam CT (CBCT) and breath-hold electrocardiographic gated CT images reliably detected target motion. Results: The resulting plans exhibited a conformity index greater than 0.7 and a gradient index around G4.0. Dose constraints for the planning target volume (PTV) aimed for 95% or higher PTV dose coverage, with a maximum dose of 200% or lower. However, one case did not meet the PTV dose coverage due to the proximity of the PTV to gastrointestinal organs. Plans adhered to dose constraints for organs at risk near the heart, but meeting constraints for specific cardiac sub-structures was challenging and dependent on PTV location. Conclusion The plans demonstrated robustness against respiratory motion and patient positional uncertainty through a robust evaluation function. The 4D and intra-fractional CBCT were effective in verifying target motion and setup stability.

Purpose: Cardiac radioablation is a novel, non-invasive treatment for ventricular tachycardia (VT), involving a single fractional stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) session with a prescribed dose of 25 Gy. This complex procedure requires a detailed workflow and stringent dose constraints compared to conventional radiation therapy. This study aims to establish a consistent institutional workflow for single-fraction cardiac VT-SABR, emphasizing robust plan evaluation and quality assurance. Materials and Methods: The study developed a consistent institutional workflow for VT-SABR, including computed tomography (CT) simulation, target volume definition, treatment planning, robust plan evaluation, quality assurance, and image-guided strategy. The workflow was implemented for two patients with cardiac arrhythmia. Accurate target volume definition using planning CT images and electronic anatomical mapping was critical. A four-dimensional (4D) cone-beam CT (CBCT) and breath-hold electrocardiographic gated CT images reliably detected target motion. Results: The resulting plans exhibited a conformity index greater than 0.7 and a gradient index around G4.0. Dose constraints for the planning target volume (PTV) aimed for 95% or higher PTV dose coverage, with a maximum dose of 200% or lower. However, one case did not meet the PTV dose coverage due to the proximity of the PTV to gastrointestinal organs. Plans adhered to dose constraints for organs at risk near the heart, but meeting constraints for specific cardiac sub-structures was challenging and dependent on PTV location. Conclusion The plans demonstrated robustness against respiratory motion and patient positional uncertainty through a robust evaluation function. The 4D and intra-fractional CBCT were effective in verifying target motion and setup stability.

Background and objectives: This study aimed to analyze and present updated trends in atrial fibrillation (AF) epidemiology within the Korean population, providing a foundation for planning and implementing appropriate management and treatment strategies for patients with AF. Patients and methods: We used the Korean National Health Insurance Service database to evaluate the prevalence, incidence, comorbidities, and clinical adverse outcomes of patients with AF in Korea between 2013 and 2022. Results: AF prevalence in Korean adults aged ≥ 20 years doubled (1.1 to 2.2%) between 2013 and 2022, with significant increases observed across various sex and age groups. Similarly, the number of newly diagnosed patients with AF per year increased steadily, with the incidence rising from 184 to 275 per 100,000 person-years, particularly among older populations. Over this period, the mean age of patients with AF increased from 67.7 to 70.3 years, and comorbidities prevalence and CHA2DS2-VASc score rose significantly, indicating a higher stroke risk. Compared with patients without AF, AF was associated with an increased risk of mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.78), ischemic stroke (HR: 2.39), major bleeding (HR: 2.10), myocardial infarction (HR: 1.44), and heart failure admission (HR: 2.42). Conclusion AF prevalence and incidence have steadily increased between 2013 and 2022, with a more pronounced increase in older patients. Patients with AF are increasingly becoming a high-risk population and are at increased risk of clinical adverse outcomes compared to non-AF patients. Therefore, a sustained national effort to improve AF awareness and comprehensive care quality for patients with AF is required.

Background: and Objective: The effects of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) on right ventricular (RV) function are not well known. Methods: Patients who underwent RFCA for AF and underwent pre- and post-procedural echocardiography were enrolled consecutively. Fractional area change (FAC), RV free-wall longitudinal strain (RVFWSL), and RV 4-chamber strain including the ventricular septum (RV4CSL) were measured. Changes in FAC, RVFWSL, and RV4CSL before and after RFCA were compared among paroxysmal AF (PAF), persistent AF (PeAF), and long-standing persistent AF (LSPeAF) groups. Results: A total of 164 participants (74 PAF, 47 PeAF, and 43 LSPeAF; age, 60.8 ± 9.8 years;men, 74.4%) was enrolled. The patients with PeAF and LSPeAF had worse RV4CSL (p<0.001) and RVFWSL (p<0.001) than those with PAF and reference values. Improvements in RVFWSL and RV4CSL after RFCA were significant in the PeAF group compared with the PAF and LSPeAF groups (ΔRV4CSL, 8.4% [5.1, 11.6] in PeAF vs. 1.0% [−1.0, 4.1] in PAF, 1.9% [−0.2, 4.4] in LSPeAF, p<0.001; ΔRVFWSL, 9.0% [6.9, 11.5] in PeAF vs. 0.9% [−1.4, 4.9] in PAF, 1.0% [−1.0, 3.6] in LSPeAF, p<0.001). In patients without recurrence, improvements in RVFWSL and RV4CSL after RFCA were significant in the PeAF group compared to the LSPeAF group. Conclusions RV systolic function is more impaired in patients with PeAF and LSPeAF than in those with PAF. RV systolic function is more improved after RFCA in patients with PeAF than in those with PAF or LSPeAF.

Purpose: Heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) frequently coexist, with over 50% patients with HF having AF, while onethird of those with AF develop HF. Differences in obesity-mediated association between HF and HF-related AF among Asians and Europeans were evaluated. Materials and Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening (K-NHIS-HealS) cohort and the UK Biobank, we included 394801 Korean and 476883 UK adults, respectively aged 40–70 years. The incidence and risk of HF were evaluated based on body mass index (BMI). Results: The proportion of obese individuals was significantly higher in the UK Biobank cohort than in the K-NHIS-HealS cohort (24.2% vs. 2.7%, p<0.001). The incidence of HF and HF-related AF was higher among the obese in the UK than in Korea. The risk of HF was higher among the British than in Koreans, with adjusted hazard ratios of 1.82 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.30–2.55] in KNHIS-HealS and 2.00 (95% CI, 1.69–2.37) in UK Biobank in obese participants (p for interaction <0.001). A 5-unit increase in BMI was associated with a 44% greater risk of HF-related AF in the UK Biobank cohort (p<0.001) but not in the K-NHIS-HealS cohort (p=0.277). Conclusion Obesity was associated with an increased risk of HF and HF-related AF in both Korean and UK populations. The higher incidence in the UK population was likely due to the higher proportion of obese individuals.

Background: It has become important to identify and manage risk factors for subclinical atrial fibrillation (AF) with an increase in its detection rate. Thus, this research aimed to investigate whether alcohol consumption contrib‑ utes to the development of subclinical AF. Methods: This prospective study enrolled 467 patients without AF from a multicenter pacemaker registry. The incidence of subclinical AF (episodes of atrial rate > 220 beats per minute without symptoms) was compared between alcohol-drinking and non-drinking groups. Results: During followup (median 18 months), the incidence and risk of long-duration atrial high-rate episodes (AHRE) ≥ 24 h were increased in the alcohol group compared to the non-alcohol group [5.47 vs. 2.10 per 100 personyears, adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 2.83; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.14–7.04; P = 0.03]. After propensity score match‑ ing, the incidence and risk of long-duration AHRE were higher in the alcohol group (6.97 vs. 1.27 per 100 personyears, adjusted HR, 7.84; 95% CI, 1.21–50.93; P = 0.03). The mean burden of long-duration subclinical AF was higher in the alcohol group than in the non-alcohol group (0.18 vs. 1.61% during follow-up, P = 0.08). Conclusion Alcohol consumption was associated with an increased risk of subclinical AF. Long-duration AHRE inci‑ dence and AHRE burden were higher in alcohol drinkers than in non-drinkers.