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Comparison of Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation Between Asymptomatic and Symptomatic Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: A Propensity Score Matched Analysis
Author(s) -
WU LINGMIN,
LU YANLAI,
ZHENG LIHUI,
QIAO YU,
CHEN GANG,
DING LIGANG,
HOU BINGBO,
SUN WEI,
LIEW REGINALD,
ZHANG SHU,
YAO YAN
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.193
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1540-8167
pISSN - 1045-3873
DOI - 10.1111/jce.12930
Subject(s) - medicine , asymptomatic , atrial fibrillation , cardiology , catheter ablation , sinus rhythm , ablation , clinical endpoint , propensity score matching , atrial tachycardia , pulmonary vein , atrial flutter , radiofrequency ablation , surgery , randomized controlled trial
RFCA for Asymptomatic Persistent AF Background Whether patients with asymptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) could benefit from radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) remains unclear. This study aimed to compare the outcomes of RFCA between asymptomatic and symptomatic AF. Methods Sixty‐six patients with asymptomatic persistent AF who underwent the primary ablation for AF were enrolled; 132 patients with symptomatic persistent AF were matched using propensity score matching. All patients underwent circumferential pulmonary vein isolation in combination with linear ablation using AF termination as the primary procedural endpoint. Results Sinus rhythm (SR) was restored by ablation in 18 (27.3%) patients in the asymptomatic group and 93 (70.5%) in the symptomatic group (P < 0.001). Combined with intravenous infusion of ibutilide (1 mg), the numbers were 45 (68.2%) and 116 (87.8%), respectively (P = 0.001). At 1‐year follow‐up, SR was present in 23 (34.8%) patients in the asymptomatic group and 78 (59.1%) in the symptomatic group without any antiarrhythmic medication after a single procedure (P = 0.001). Of the 43 patients experiencing recurrence in the asymptomatic group, 16 (37.2%) had recurrent atrial tachycardia (AT)‐related symptoms. Multivariate analysis showed that asymptomatic AF was independently associated with AF failed to be terminated by ablation (OR: 7.1; 95% CI: 3.4 to 14.9; P < 0.001) and recurrence (OR: 2.2; 95% CI: 1.1 to 4.4; P = 0.018). Patients with asymptomatic AF showed less improvement in quality of life postablation than those with symptoms. Conclusion Current catheter ablation techniques showed worse outcomes in asymptomatic AF patients than in those with symptoms. Recurrent AT could cause significant symptoms in previously asymptomatic patients.