Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Cryoballoon or radiofrequency ablation for symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: reintervention, rehospitalization, and quality-of-life outcomes in the FIRE AND ICE trial
Authors' conclusion
Patients treated with cryoballoon as opposed to RFC ablation had significantly fewer repeat ablations, direct-current cardioversions, all-cause rehospitalizations, and cardiovascular rehospitalizations during follow-up. Both patient groups improved in quality-of-life scores after AF ablation.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with drug-refractory symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF)modified ITT cohort
- Participants
- 374 vs 376
- Comparison
- Cryoballoon vs radiofrequency current (RFC) catheter ablation
- Cryoballoonn = 374
- RFCn = 376reference
- Primary endpoint
- Reinterventions, rehospitalizations and quality of life
- Follow-up
- 1000 days
Methodological detailskey secondary analyses, modified intention-to-treat
- Key secondary analyses
- Modified intention-to-treat
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Repeat ablations
P = 0.03
Direct-current cardioversions
P = 0.04
All-cause rehospitalizations
P = 0.01
CV rehospitalizations
P < 0.01
Further findings
Quality of life over time, all patients · from 6 months to 30 months
- Improvement in mental and physical quality of life beginning at 6 months, maintained through 30 months
Original publication
Cryoballoon or radiofrequency ablation for symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: reintervention, rehospitalization, and quality-of-life outcomes in the FIRE AND ICE trial. Eur Heart J. Published 5 July 2016. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it