Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Association of Left Atrial Intramyocardial Fat Infiltration With Atrial Arrhythmia Recurrence After Pulsed-Field Ablation for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation
Authors' conclusion
Greater inFAT volume was associated with atrial arrhythmia recurrence after pulsed-field ablation for persistent AF, suggesting that inFAT may represent a candidate imaging marker of recurrence risk.
Study context
- Population
- Patients who underwent pulsed-field ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation (AF)
- Participants
- 59 patients
- Exposure
- Association of infiltration (inFAT) and LA-EAT with atrial arrhythmia recurrence
- Patients with recurrencen = 21 (36%)
- Outcome
- Atrial arrhythmia recurrence
- Follow-up
- Median 11.2 [6.4-11.9] months
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Recurrence
21 (36%) patients
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
inFAT volume, patients with vs without recurrence
LA-EAT volume, patients with vs without recurrence
Association with recurrence (Cox regression)
| Comparison | HR for recurrence (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| inFAT (higher) | 1.93 (1.13–3.27) | P = 0.015 | |
| 0.20.5125HR for recurrence (log scale) |
| Outcome | HR for recurrence (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Association with recurrence (Cox regression)LA-EAT · per-unit estimate; unit not stated | 1.02 (0.99–1.06) | P = 0.227 | |
| 0.512HR for recurrence (log scale) |
- inFAT volume, patients with vs without recurrence: p=0.021
- LA-EAT volume, patients with vs without recurrence: p=0.419
Association with recurrence (Cox regression)
- The significant association between inFAT and recurrence remained consistent after adjustment for body mass index
Original publication
Association of Left Atrial Intramyocardial Fat Infiltration With Atrial Arrhythmia Recurrence After Pulsed-Field Ablation for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation. Heart Rhythm. Published 22 October 2026. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it