Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyCohort study
Shortest pulmonary vein atrial fibrillation cycle length identifies pulmonary vein isolation responders beyond clinical atrial fibrillation pattern: the FARS-AF II study
- Prospective cohort study
- single-centre
- consecutive patients
Authors' conclusion
PV-FARS10 can accurately identify PVI responders among patients with persistent and paroxysmal AF. Patients with slow PV (shortest PV-FARS10 > 155 ms) experience a higher rate of AF/AFL/AT recurrence after PVI-only approach. The shortest PV-FARS10 ≤ 155 ms occurs more frequently in paroxysmal AF patients than in persistent AF patients.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with persistent or paroxysmal AF undergoing first pulmonary vein isolation (PVI)70 paroxysmal, 149 persistent AF
- Participants
- 219 patients
- Exposure
- Shortest PV-FARS10 ≤155 ms vs >155 ms
- Outcome
- Atrial arrhythmia recurrence (AF/AF/atrial flutter (AFL)/atrial tachycardia (AT))
- Follow-up
- Median 18.0 months (IQR 10.2-42.3)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
AF/AFL/AT recurrence
PV-FARS10 ≤ 155 ms vs PV-FARS10 > 155 msHazard ratio (CI)P value
multivariable; only significant predictor of recurrence-free survival
0.45(0.26–0.78)
P = 0.005- overall population
- HR 0.34; P < 0.001
- persistent AF
- HR 0.40; P = 0.002
- paroxysmal AF
- HR 0.18; P = 0.01
- Overall recurrence
- 72 (32.9%)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Shortest PV-FARS10 ≤ 155 ms by AF type
P = 0.009
Original publication
Shortest pulmonary vein atrial fibrillation cycle length identifies pulmonary vein isolation responders beyond clinical atrial fibrillation pattern: the FARS-AF II study. Europace. Published 23 February 2026. doi:10.1093/europace/euag033
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it