Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Very Long-Term Follow-Up of Pulmonary Vein Isolation Using Cryoballoon for Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: An 8-Year Multicenter Experience
Authors' conclusion
Cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation as the index procedure for AF ablation resulted in a favorable long-term outcome in patients with symptomatic AF, with limited progression towards permanent AF during follow-up. Persistent AF was the strongest predictor of recurrences at long-term follow-up.
Study context
- Population
- Patients treated with cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation for symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) between 2012 and 2018enrolled (28.4% female patients, mean age was 60.1±10.5 years), paroxysmal AF 73.1%
- Participants
- 1,330 patients
- Outcome
- AF/atrial tachycardia recurrences (AF or atrial tachycardia lasting >30 seconds beyond a 3-month blanking period)
- Follow-up
- 8-year follow-up
Methodological details13 institutions, consecutive patients, ≥5-year follow-up after the index procedure
- 13 institutions
- Consecutive patients
- ≥5-year follow-up after the index procedure
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Event rate
52.5%
49.4%–55.8%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Independent predictors of arrhythmia recurrences (multivariate analysis)
| Hazard ratio (95% CI) | P value | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Persistent AFAF type; comparator not stated · multivariate analysis | 1.36 (1.14–1.62) | P < 0.001 | |
| Chronic kidney diseaseComparator not stated · multivariate analysis | 1.77 (1.12–2.81) | P = 0.016 | |
| 0.20.5125Hazard ratio (log scale) |
Progression to permanent AF
- Progression to permanent AF in the entire cohort
- 7.0%
Redo ablation for AF · during follow-up
- Patients who underwent a redo ablation for AF
- 15.7%
- Of the redo cases, all PVs isolated at the redo procedure
- 45.9%
- Median number of PVs isolated after the index procedure (in redo cases)
- 3 (1-4) veins
Baseline characteristics
- Median history of AF
- 36.0 (13.0-75.0) months
Original publication
Very Long-Term Follow-Up of Pulmonary Vein Isolation Using Cryoballoon for Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: An 8-Year Multicenter Experience. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. Published 25 July 2025. doi:10.
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