Arrhythmias & electrophysiology

Cardiac deceleration/acceleration capacity demonstrates autonomic modulation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation undergoing pulsed-field ablation

Heart RhythmPublished prospective study

Authors' conclusion

Our evaluation via DC/AC revealed significant alterations in autonomic activity after PFA. Furthermore, DC/AC and their trajectories demonstrated moderate predictive value for AF recurrence, underscoring the need to reconsider the impact of PFA on cardiac autonomic innervation.

Study context

Population
Patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) undergoing pulsed-field ablation (PFA)consecutive patients with PAF who experienced PFA
Participants
45 patients
Exposure
Deceleration capacity (DC)/acceleration capacity (AC) and heart rate variability (HRV) at baseline, immediately after ablation, and at 3-month follow-up
Outcome
Pulmonary vein isolation success
Methodological detailsconsecutive patients
  • Consecutive patients

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

Intraprocedural vagal responses

91.1%

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Further findings

DC and |AC| · immediately after PFA and at 3 months

DC and |AC| decreased immediately after PFA and partially recovered at 3 months
overall P < .05 for both

Correlation of HRV parameters with DC/AC

Most HRV parameters had weak correlations with DC/AC (Pearson r)
0.08-0.67

Drug-free atrial tachycardia-free rate · 12 months

Drug-free atrial tachycardia-free rate
75.56%

Prediction of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence (area under the curve)

Preablation DC/AC
0.63/0.64
Changes in DC/AC
0.68/0.67

AF recurrence by autonomic indices (Kaplan-Meier) · 12 months

Lower preablation |AC| and smaller ΔDC/ΔAC had significantly higher AF recurrence rates
log-rank P < .05

Original publication

Cardiac deceleration/acceleration capacity demonstrates autonomic modulation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation undergoing pulsed-field ablation. Heart Rhythm. Published 5 January 2026. doi:10.1016/j.hrthm.2025.12.043

Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →

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