AFCA efficacy in patients with impaired left ventricular systolic function improves when performed early in the natural history of atrial fibrillation and heart failure .
AFCA provides long-term benefits on left ventricular function , significantly reducing the number of patients with severely impaired systolic function
BACKGROUND Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation ( AFCA ) is an established therapeutic option for rhythm control in symptomatic patients .
Its efficacy and safety among patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction is based on small population s , and data concerning long-term outcome are limited .
We performed this meta- analysis to assess safety and long-term outcome of AFCA in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction , to evaluate predictors of recurrence and impact on left ventricular function .
Patients treated with catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation have long-term rates of death, stroke, and dementia similar to patients without atrial fibrillation.
INTRODUCTION  Atrial fibrillation ( AF ) adversely impacts mortality , stroke , heart failure , and dementia .  AF ablation eliminates AF in most patients . We evaluated the long-term impact of AF ablation on mortality , heart failure ( HF ) , stroke , and dementia in a large system-wide patient population . METHODS A total of 4,212 consecutive patients who underwent AF ablation were compared ( 1:4 ) to 16,848 age/gender matched controls with AF ( no ablation ) and 16,848 age/gender matched controls without AF . Patients were enrolled from the large ongoing prospect i ve Intermountain AF study and were followed for at least 3 years . RESULTS Of the 37,908 patients , mean age 65.0 ± 13 years , 5,667 ( 14.9 % ) died , 1,296 ( 3.4 % ) had a stroke , and 1,096 ( 2.9 % ) were hospitalized for HF over > 3 years of follow-up . AF ablation patients were less likely to have diabetes , but were more likely to have hypertension , HF , and significant valvular heart disease . AF ablation patients had a lower risk of death and stroke in comparison to AF patients without ablation . Alzheimer 's dementia occurred in 0.2 % of the AF ablation patients compared to 0.9 % of the AF no ablation patients and 0.5 % of the no AF patients ( P < 0.0001 ) . Other forms of dementia were also reduced significantly in those treated with ablation . Compared to patients with no AF , AF ablation patients had similar long-term rates of death , dementia , and stroke . CONCLUSIONS AF ablation patients have a significantly lower risk of death , stroke , and dementia in comparison to AF patients without ablation . AF ablation may eliminate the increased risk of death and stroke associated with AF
AFCA efficacy in patients with impaired left ventricular systolic function improves when performed early in the natural history of atrial fibrillation and heart failure .
AFCA provides long-term benefits on left ventricular function , significantly reducing the number of patients with severely impaired systolic function
BACKGROUND Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation ( AFCA ) is an established therapeutic option for rhythm control in symptomatic patients .
Its efficacy and safety among patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction is based on small population s , and data concerning long-term outcome are limited .
We performed this meta- analysis to assess safety and long-term outcome of AFCA in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction , to evaluate predictors of recurrence and impact on left ventricular function .