Abstract 4145376: Carbon Monoxide-Induced Atrial Fibrillation: Unveiling the Cardiovascular Spectrum Through a Case Report and Systematic Review of Reported Cases.

Circulation, Volume 150, Issue Suppl_1, Page A4145376-A4145376, November 12, 2024. Background:Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is a significant public health threat, with emerging attention on its cardiovascular consequences such as myocardial injury, heart failure, and arrhythmias. Notably, atrial fibrillation (AF) has been sporadically reported, suggesting a potential link between CO exposure and cardiac dysrhythmias.Case Report:A 72-year-old female with hypothyroidism and IBS presented to the emergency department with sudden gait imbalance, dizziness, and an occipital headache. Her ECG showed new-onset atrial fibrillation, with subsequent unremarkable echocardiography and brain imaging. Remarkably, her husband exhibited similar symptoms and both had recently been camping. Suspecting CO poisoning, carboxyhemoglobin was tested and found to be 2.9%, with no methemoglobinemia. The patient spontaneously converted to normal sinus rhythm during hospitalization and maintained it during hospitalization without hyperbaric oxygen therapy.Systematic Review of Case Reports: We identified seven cases of carbon monoxide-induced atrial fibrillation from 45 citations. Patients were mostly male (57.14%), aged 21 to 82, and presented with diverse symptoms, primarily headache (57.1%) and nausea (57.1%). Rapid ventricular response occurred in 85.7% of cases, none with a prior history of atrial fibrillation. Most (85.7%) returned to normal sinus rhythm upon discharge, and 71.4% maintained it on follow-up. Normobaric oxygen therapy was given in 57.1% of cases, and hyperbaric oxygen in 42.9%. Most patients (85.7%) had no known cardiovascular disease.Discussion:Despite being underexplored, evidence suggests a notable escalation in dysrhythmia risk, particularly in patients with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions, following acute CO poisoning. Potential mechanisms for CO-induced dysrhythmias include the strong binding of CO to hemoglobin, resulting in hypoxia-induced myocardial changes, and molecular alterations affecting cardiac voltage-gated channels.Conclusion:While the association between acute CO poisoning and dysrhythmias warrants further investigation, emerging evidence underscores the necessity of raising awareness among healthcare providers regarding the potential cardiovascular consequences of CO exposure.

Read More

Perspectives on the sustained engagement with digital health tools: protocol for a qualitative interview study among people living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease or irritable bowel syndrome

Introduction
Digital health tools can be beneficial in the care of patients with chronic conditions and have the potential for widespread impact as readily scalable and cost-effective health interventions. However, benefits are often contingent on users sustaining their engagement with these tools over time. Sustained engagement with digital health tools can be challenging, and high rates of attrition from digital interventions are common. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are prominent gastrointestinal conditions resulting in significant burdens for individuals and society. Emerging evidence suggests digital health tools can be beneficial for IBD and IBS management; however, it is not clear what barriers and enablers are experienced by people living with these conditions to sustaining their engagement with these tools, when necessary. Such knowledge could inform the tailoring of new and existing digital health tools to the needs of people living with IBD and/or IBS. This study will seek to identify the barriers and enablers of sustained engagement with digital health tools among adults living with IBD and/or IBS.

Methods and analysis
We will conduct semistructured interviews with a purposive sample of approximately 30 adults ( >18 years) who (a) reside in Canada, (b) self-report that they have been diagnosed with IBD and/or IBS, (c) have ever used a digital health tool (ie, any application/platform) to manage their condition and (d) are capable of providing informed consent. Interviews will be audio and video recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data will be coded deductively and barriers and enablers to sustained engagement will be categorised in accordance with the Theoretical Domains Framework. Data analysis will be verified by a patient research partner.

Ethics and dissemination
The study has been approved by the Ottawa Health Science Network Research Ethics Board. The findings will inform the codevelopment of strategies to overcome modifiable barriers and leverage identified enablers of sustained engagement with digital health tools for IBD and IBS care. These strategies can inform the design of new, or modifications to existing, digital health tools for IBD and IBS care where sustained engagement is desirable. Strategies will be compiled into a guidebook and disseminated via the Inflammation, Microbiome and Alimentation: Gastro-Intestinal and Neuropsychiatric Effects (IMAGINE) Strategy for Patient Oriented Research chronic disease network in Canada.

Read More