Long-term outcome of atrial fibrillation ablation: impact and predictors of very late recurrence.

INTRODUCTION: Ablation eliminates atrial fibrillation (AF) in studies with 1 year follow-up, but very late recurrences may compromise long-term efficacy. In a large cohort, we sought to describe the determinants of delayed recurrence after AF ablation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Seven hundred and seventy-four patients with AF (428 paroxysmal [PAF, 55%] and 346 persistent or longstanding persistent [PersAF, 45%]) underwent wide area circumferential ablation (WACA, 62%) or pulmonary vein isolation (38%). Over 3.0 ± 1.9 years, there were 135 recurrences in PAF patients and 142 in PersAF patients. AF elimination was achieved in 61% of patients with PersAF at 2 years after last ablation and in 71% of patients with PAF (P = 0.04). This finding was related to a higher initial rate of very late recurrence in PersAF. From 1.0 to 2.5 years, the recurrence increased by 20% (from 37% to 57%) in PersAF patients versus only 12% (from 27% to 39%) in PAF patients. Independent predictors of overall recurrence included diabetes (HR 1.9 [1.3-2.9], P = 0.002) and PersAF (HR 1.6 [1.2-2.0], P < 0.001). Independent predictors of very late recurrence included PersAF (HR 1.7 [1.1-2.7], P = 0.018) and WACA (HR 1.8 [1.1-2.7], P = 0.018), while diabetes came close to significance. In PAF patients, left atrial size >45 mm was identified as an AF-type specific predictor (HR 2.4 [1.3-4.7], P = 0.009), whereas in PersAF patients, no unique predictors were identified. CONCLUSION: Late recurrences reduced the long-term efficacy of AF ablation, particularly in patients with PersAF and underlying cardiovascular diseases.

Long-term quality of life after ablation of atrial fibrillation the impact of recurrence, symptom relief, and placebo effect.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the relationship between atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation efficacy, quality of life (QoL), and AF-specific symptoms at 2 years. BACKGROUND: Although the primary goal of AF ablation is QoL improvement, this effect has yet to be demonstrated in the long term. METHODS: A total of 502 symptomatic AF ablation recipients were prospectively followed for recurrence, QoL, and AF symptoms. RESULTS: In 323 patients with 2 years of follow-up, 72% achieved AF elimination off antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs), 15% achieved AF control with AADs, and 13% had recurrent AF. The physical component summary scores of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 increased from 58.8 +/- 20.1 to 76.2 +/- 19.2 (p < 0.001) and the mental component summary scores of the Short Form 36 increased from 65.3 +/- 18.6 to 79.8 +/- 15.8 (p < 0.001). Post-ablation QoL improvements were noted across ablation outcomes, including recurrent AF (change in physical component summary: 12.1 +/- 19.7 and change in mental component summary: 9.7 +/- 17.9), with no significant differences in QoL improvement across 3 ablative efficacy outcomes. However, in 103 patients who completed additional assessment with Mayo AF Symptom Inventories (on a scale of 0 to 48), those with AF elimination off AADs had a change in AF symptom frequency score of -9.5 +/- 6.3, which was significantly higher than those with AF controlled with AADs (-5.6 +/- 3.8, p = 0.03) or those with recurrent AF (-3.4 +/- 8.4, p = 0.02). Independent predictors of limited QoL improvement included higher baseline QoL, obesity, and warfarin use at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: AF ablation produces sustained QoL improvement at 2 years in patients with and without recurrence. AF-specific symptom assessment more accurately reflects ablative efficacy.