Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Adherence to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing catheter ablation: A “real-world” analysis
Authors' conclusion
Consistent nightly CPAP use offers a 3-year AF-free survival postablation in 1 of 5 patients with OSA who undergo ablation for AF. Inconsistent CPAP use, defined as <287 minutes per night, offers no benefit compared with no CPAP.
Study context
- Population
- Patients who underwent catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York and who had a concurrent diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)consecutive patients with catheter ablation for AF and OSA · adherent to CPAP 97 · not adherent to CPAP 93
- Participants
- 190 patients
- Comparison
- Adherent group vs nonadherent group
- Adherent groupn = 97
- Nonadherent groupn = 93reference
- Outcome
- AF recurrence
- Follow-up
- Until last visit
Methodological detailsmatched, consecutive patients
- Matched
- Consecutive patients
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
P = 0.02
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Estimate | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composite AF recurrence | odds ratio 0.24 (95% CI 0.08–0.68) | P = 0.007 | |
| AF recurrence with cutoff of 287 minutes of CPAP per night (ROC-derived)≥287 minutes of CPAP per night vs <287 minutes of CPAP per night | adjusted odds ratio 0.17 (95% CI 0.12–0.71) | P = 0.004 | |
| 0.050.21520Ratio (log scale) |
Secondary analysis: not adherent to optimal CPAP use vs no CPAP at all · no benefit
P = 0.75
- Composite AF recurrence: stepwise multivariate regression model; lower chances with adherence
Baseline characteristics
- Mean age
- 66.3 ± 9.4 years
- Male
- 78%
Original publication
Adherence to CPAP for patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing catheter ablation: A “real-world” analysis. Heart Rhythm. Published 6 March 2025. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it