Circumferential Pulmonary Vein Isolation With vs Without Additional Low-Voltage-Area Ablation in Older Patients With Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Chen Hongwu , Li Chengzong , Han Bing , Xiao Fangyi , Yi Fu , Wei Youquan , Jiang Chenyang , Zou Cao , Shi Linsheng , Ma Wei , Wang Weiming , Wang Yuegang , Du Hong , Chen Long , Chen Minglong ,   STABLE-SR-III Investigators, Chen Minglong , Han Bing , Jiang Chenyang , Ju Weizhu , Yang Gang , Wang Zidun , Yang Hao , Wang Jinfeng , Fang Ping , Wang Zhirong , Zhang Chaoqun , Li Fei , Chen Xiaoli , Huang Jianfei , Tai Chenhui , Hao Jie , Chen Yihe , Wu Shengjie , Jiang Tingbo , Zhang Yuzhen , Hu Mingsheng , Li Jie , Hu Miaoyang , Li Shijie , Li Weidong , Li Xianjin , Yang Ling , Zhai Lishang , Wang Xiaoqing , Liu Qiang , Yu Lu , Jiang Ruhong , Chen Shiquan , Fan Shaobo , Zhang Fan , Li Jianyong , Li Xinzhong , Liu Yaowu , Ma Genshan , Li Mingfang , Shen Youmei , Cui Chang , Liu Hailei , Cai Cheng , Jiang Xiaohong , Wu Nan , Sun Xingxing , Yan Qing , Wang Kexin , Wu Wenxi , Zhang Fumin , Yao Xin , Yu Hao , Wang Xiuqing , Lu Zhibin , Wang Lichun , Cao Jiang 
Published: June 2023

Importance

The overall success rate of circumferential pulmonary vein isolation (CPVI) treatment in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) remains suboptimal, especially in older patients.

Objective

To explore the incremental benefit of low-voltage-area ablation after CPVI in older patients with paroxysmal AF.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This randomized clinical trial was an investigator-initiated trial to compare the efficacy of additional low-voltage-area ablation beyond CPVI vs CPVI alone in older patients with paroxysmal AF. Participants were patients aged 65 to 80 years with paroxysmal AF who were referred for catheter ablation. They were enrolled in 14 tertiary hospitals in China from April 1, 2018, to August 3, 2020, and follow-up occurred through August 15, 2021.

Interventions

Patients were randomized (1:1) to undergo CPVI plus low-voltage-area ablation or CPVI alone. Low-voltage areas were defined as areas with amplitude less than 0.5 mV in more than 3 adjacent points. If low-voltage areas existed, additional substrate ablation was performed in the CPVI plus group but not the CPVI alone group.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary end point of the study was freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmia as documented by electrocardiogram during a clinical visit or lasting longer than 30 seconds during Holter recordings occurring after a single ablation procedure.

Results

Among 438 patients who were randomized (mean [SD] age, 70.5 [4.4] years; 219 men [50%]), 24 (5.5%) did not complete the blanking period and were not included for efficacy analysis. After a median follow-up of 23 months, the recurrence rate of atrial tachyarrhythmia was significantly lower in the CPVI plus group (31/209 patients, 15%) compared with the CPVI alone group (49/205, 24%; hazard ratio [HR], 0.61; 95% CI, 0.38-0.95; P = .03). In subgroup analyses, among all patients with low-voltage area, CPVI plus substrate modification was associated with a 51% decreased risk of ATA recurrence compared with CPVI alone (HR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.25-0.94; P = .03).

Conclusions and Relevance

This study found that additional low-voltage-area ablation beyond CPVI decreased the ATA recurrence in older patients with paroxysmal AF compared with CPVI alone. Our findings merit further replication by larger trials with longer follow-up.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03462628