Arrhythmias & electrophysiologySecondary analysis
Comprehensive atrial fibrillation burden and symptom reduction post-ablation: insights from DECAAF II
- Secondary analysis of the DECAAF II randomised trial
Authors' conclusion
Catheter ablation reduces AF burden, irrespective of arrhythmia recurrence post-procedure. There is a strong correlation between AF burden reduction and symptom improvement post-ablation. Notably, elevated LA fibrosis impedes AF burden decrease following catheter ablation.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing catheter ablation, with pre-ablation follow-up
- Participants
- 98 patients
- Comparison
- AF recurrence vs no recurrence after catheter ablation
- Recurrencen = 69
- No-recurrencen = 29reference
- Primary endpoint
- Atrial arrhythmia recurrence
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Recurrence
69
events
No-recurrence
29
events
Further findings
AF burden (proportion of AF days among submitted electrocardiogram (ECG) days), recurrence group, pre- vs post-ablation
- AF burden pre-ablation vs post-ablation
- 65 vs. 15%, P < 0.0001
Predictors of AF burden improvement
- Utah Stage 4 fibrosis and diabetes predicted less improvement in AF burden
Symptom severity score (AF severity scale), recurrence group · 12 months post-ablation
- Correlation of symptom score reduction with AF burden reduction
- R = 0.39, P = 0.001
- Significantly reduced vs pre-ablation score
Baseline differences, recurrence vs no recurrence
- Recurrence patients older
- P = 0.005
- Higher prevalence of hyperlipidaemia
- P = 0.007
- Larger left atrial (LA) volume
- P = 0.01
Original publication
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it