Open AccessElectrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy predicts recurrence of atrial arrhythmias after catheter ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
Author(s) -
Li SongNan,
Wang Lu,
Dong JianZeng,
Yu RongHui,
Long DeYong,
Tang RiBo,
Sang CaiHua,
Jiang ChenXi,
Liu Nian,
Bai Rong,
Du Xin,
Ma ChangSheng
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
clinical cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.263
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1932-8737
pISSN - 0160-9289
DOI - 10.1002/clc.22957
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiology , atrial fibrillation , left ventricular hypertrophy , interquartile range , catheter ablation , sinus rhythm , electrocardiography , left atrial enlargement , blood pressure
Background Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent predictor of new‐onset atrial fibrillation. Whether LVH can predict the recurrence of arrhythmia after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) remains unclear. Hypothesis PAF patients with baseline‐electrocardiographic LVH has a higher recurrence rate after RFCA procedure compared with those without LVH. Methods A total of 436 patients with PAF undergoing first RFCA were consecutively enrolled and clustered into 2 groups based on electrocardiogram (ECG) findings: non‐ECG LVH (218 patients) and ECG LVH (218 patients). LVH was characterized by the Romhilt‐Estes point score system; the score ≥5points were defined as LVH. Results At 42 months' (interquartile range, 18.0–60.0 months) follow‐up after RFCA, 151 (69.3%) patients in the non‐ECG LVH group and 108 (49.5%) patients in the ECG LVH group maintained sinus rhythm without using antiarrhythmic drugs ( P < 0.001). Patients with ECG LVH tended to experience a much higher prevalence of stroke and recurrence of atrial arrhythmia episodes compared with those without ECG LVH (log‐rank P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis found the presence of ECG LVH and left atrial diameter to be independent risk factors for recurrence after adjusting for confounding factors. Conclusions The presence of ECG LVH was a strong and independent predictor of recurrence in patients with PAF following RFCA.