AF ablation in patients with systolic LV dysfunction results in significant improvement of LV function , but the extent of this improvement is heterogeneous .
Patients with coronary artery disease seem to benefit less than patients with other underlying diseases .
These results may be explained by patient selection
BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation ( AF ) and heart failure are often coexisting major public health burdens .
Although several studies have reported partial restoration of systolic left ventricular ( LV ) function after catheter ablation for AF , the method is not widely applied in patients with LV dysfunction .
We review ed the results of AF ablation in patients with systolic LV dysfunction .
Atrial fibrillation and heart failure in cardiology practice: reciprocal impact and combined management from the perspective of atrial fibrillation: results of the Euro Heart Survey on atrial fibrillation.
OBJECTIVES Our aim was to identify shortcomings in the management of patients with both atrial fibrillation ( AF ) and heart failure ( HF ) . BACKGROUND AF and HF often coincide in cardiology practice , and they are known to worsen each other 's prognosis , but little is known about the quality of care of this combination . METHODS In the observational Euro Heart Survey on AF , 5,333 AF patients were enrolled in 182 centers across 35 European Society of Cardiology member countries in 2003 and 2004 . A follow-up survey was performed after 1 year . RESULTS At baseline , 1,816 patients ( 34 % ) had HF .  Recommended therapy for HF with left ventricular systolic dysfunction ( LVSD ) with a beta-blocker and either an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor ( ACEI ) or angiotensin II receptor blocker was prescribed in 40 % of HF patients , while 29 % received the recommended drug therapy for both LVSD-HF and AF , consisting of the combination of a beta-blocker , either ACEI or angiotensin II receptor blocker , and oral anticoagulation .  Rate control was insufficient with 40 % of all HF patients with permanent AF having a heart rate < or = 80 beats/min . In the total cohort , HF patients had a higher risk for mortality ( 9.5 % vs. 3.3 % ; p < 0.001 ) , ( progression of ) HF ( 24.8 % vs. 5.0 % ; p < 0.001 ) , and AF progression ( 35 % vs. 19 % ; p < 0.001 ) during 1-year follow-up . Of all recommended drugs for AF and LVSD-HF , only ACEI prescription was associated with improved survival during 1-year follow-up ( odds ratio : 0.51 [ 95 % confidence interval : 0.31 to 0.85 ] ; p = 0.011 ) . CONCLUSIONS The prescription rate of guideline -recommended drug therapy for AF and LVSD-HF is low . R and omized controlled trials targeting this highly prevalent subgroup with AF and HF are warranted
AF ablation in patients with systolic LV dysfunction results in significant improvement of LV function , but the extent of this improvement is heterogeneous .
Patients with coronary artery disease seem to benefit less than patients with other underlying diseases .
These results may be explained by patient selection
BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation ( AF ) and heart failure are often coexisting major public health burdens .
Although several studies have reported partial restoration of systolic left ventricular ( LV ) function after catheter ablation for AF , the method is not widely applied in patients with LV dysfunction .
We review ed the results of AF ablation in patients with systolic LV dysfunction .