Joana Maria Ribeiro1, Pedro A Sousa2, Natália António3, Rui Baptista4, Luís Elvas1, Sérgio Barra5, Lino Gonçalves6. 1. Cardiology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. 2. Cardiology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address: peter@chuc.min-saude.pt. 3. Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. 4. Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; iCRB, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. 5. Cardiology Department, Hospital da Luz Arrábida, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal; Cardiology Department, Centro Hospitalar Vila Nova de Gaia - Espinho, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal; Cardiology Department, Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom. 6. Cardiology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Catheter ablation has been shown to improve left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF). Our aim was to assess the impact of AF ablation on the outcome of patients with HF and LV systolic dysfunction. METHODS: We performed a retrospective observational cohort study of all patients with HF and LVEF <50% and with no apparent cause for systolic dysfunction other than AF who underwent catheter ablation in a tertiary referral center between July 2016 and November 2018. The primary endpoint was a ≥5% improvement in LVEF. Secondary endpoints included improvement in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class and reduction in LV end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and left atrial diameter (LAD). RESULTS: Of 153 patients who underwent AF ablation in this period, 22 (77% male, median age 61 [IQR 54-64] years) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Median follow-up was 11.1 months (IQR 6.1-19.0). After ablation, median LVEF increased from 40% (IQR 33-41) to 58% (IQR 55-62) (p<0.01), mean NYHA class improved from 2.35±0.49 to 1.3±0.47 (p<0.001), and median LAD and LVEDD decreased from 48.0 (IQR 43.5-51.5) mm to 44 (IQR 40-49) mm (p<0.01) and from 61.0 (IQR 54.0-64.8) mm to 55.0 (52.2-58.0) mm (p<0.01), respectively. CONCLUSION: In patients with HF and LV systolic dysfunction, AF ablation is associated not only with improved functional status but also with favorable structural remodeling, including improvement in LVEF and decreases in LAD and LVEDD.
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Catheter ablation has been shown to improve left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF). Our aim was to assess the impact of AF ablation on the outcome of patients with HF and LV systolic dysfunction. METHODS: We performed a retrospective observational cohort study of all patients with HF and LVEF <50% and with no apparent cause for systolic dysfunction other than AF who underwent catheter ablation in a tertiary referral center between July 2016 and November 2018. The primary endpoint was a ≥5% improvement in LVEF. Secondary endpoints included improvement in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class and reduction in LV end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and left atrial diameter (LAD). RESULTS: Of 153 patients who underwent AF ablation in this period, 22 (77% male, median age 61 [IQR 54-64] years) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Median follow-up was 11.1 months (IQR 6.1-19.0). After ablation, median LVEF increased from 40% (IQR 33-41) to 58% (IQR 55-62) (p<0.01), mean NYHA class improved from 2.35±0.49 to 1.3±0.47 (p<0.001), and median LAD and LVEDD decreased from 48.0 (IQR 43.5-51.5) mm to 44 (IQR 40-49) mm (p<0.01) and from 61.0 (IQR 54.0-64.8) mm to 55.0 (52.2-58.0) mm (p<0.01), respectively. CONCLUSION: In patients with HF and LV systolic dysfunction, AF ablation is associated not only with improved functional status but also with favorable structural remodeling, including improvement in LVEF and decreases in LAD and LVEDD.
Authors: Ricardo Fontes-Carvalho; Gláucia Maria Moraes de Oliveira; Pedro Gonçalves-Teixeira; Carlos Eduardo Rochitte; Nuno Cardim Journal: Arq Bras Cardiol Date: 2022-07 Impact factor: 2.667