Predictors of arrhythmia recurrence in patients with heart failure undergoing left atrial ablation for atrial fibrillation

Publisher： John Wiley & Sons Inc

E-ISSN： 1932-8737|41|1|63-67

ISSN： 0160-9289

Source： Clinical Cardiology, Vol.41, Iss.1, 2018-01, pp. : 63-67

Disclaimer: Any content in publications that violate the sovereignty, the constitution or regulations of the PRC is not accepted or approved by CNPIEC.

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Abstract

BackgroundAtrial fibrillation (AF) ablation is increasingly used in patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long‐term results of a single radiofrequency catheter ablation procedure in heart failure (HF) patients with AF.

HypothesisWe tested the hypothesis that left atrial ablation is an effective therapeutic modality in patients with heart failure.

MethodsOur study included HF patients with LVEF <50% who underwent catheter ablation for AF at our department between January 2010 and March 2017. All patients underwent our institution's protocol for follow‐up post‐ablation.

ResultsThe study enrolled a total of 38 patients (mean age, 54.1 ± 12.2 years; 28 [73.7%] males; mean LVEF, 38.2% ± 6.3%). After a mean follow‐up period of 38.2 months (range, 5–92 months), 28 patients (73.7%) were free from arrhythmia recurrence. In multivariate analysis, early arrhythmia recurrence (P = 0.03) and amiodarone antiarrhythmic drug administration (P = 0.003) remained independent predictors of arrhythmia recurrence.

ConclusionsThe main findings of this study are that (1) a single radiofrequency catheter ablation procedure is an effective and safe modality for AF in patients with concomitant HF; (2) after a mean 3.3 years of follow‐up, 73.7% of HF patients remained in sinus rhythm; and (3) early arrhythmia recurrence was a significant predictor of arrhythmia recurrence after the blanking period.