Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in patients under 45 years of age. Longterm outcome

Abstract

Introduction Young patients (p) with atrial fibrillation (AF) tend to be more symptomatic and more reluctant to take long-term antiarrhythmic drugs. However, AF ablation (especially when persistent) is often used as second-line treatment regardless of age. Purpose The aim is to compare clinical outcome and safety of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in young adults in comparison to older adults. Secondary endpoints were to compare the influence of other comorbidities in AF ablation outcomes. Methods From 2012–2019, consecutive patients (mean age 56±9,4 years; 72,8% men) with symptomatic paroxysmal AF (PAF 68,8%) and persistent (Pers) AF (31,2%) underwent PVI through radiofrequency (91%) or cryoballoon (9%) at our centre. Two groups were defined (group A ≤45 years, group B >45 years). Follow-up was based on outpatient visits including 24h Holter-ECG at 3, 6 and, 12 months post ablation, and every 12 months thereafter. Results A total of 202 patients undergoing AF ablation were included (group A: 35, 17,3%; group B: 167, 82,7%). Male gender (91,4 vs 68,9%, p=0,006) and smoking (37,1% vs 13,2%, p=0,001) were significantly more often present in group A. HTA (50,9% vs 22,9%, p=0,002) and CHA2DS2-VASc score (1,3±1 vs 0,4±0,6; p=0,01) were higher in the older population group. Median follow-up was 29±18 months. After 12 months AF recurrence were less common in group A: 1-year arrhythmia-free survival was 88,6% (31/35) vs 73,7% (123/167) in the older group [P 0.049]. However, outcomes at the end of follow up were similar between the two groups, the freedom from AF was 57.1% (20/35) in young patients vs 65,3% (109/167) in older group, p=0,42. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that left atrial volume was a predictor of being freedom from AF recurrent [HR 0,96 (95% IC 0,95–0,99), p=0.003]. Major complications occurred more frequently in older patients, although without reaching statistical significance (4.8% (8) vs 2.9% (1); p=0.61), in the young there was only one complication that was pulmonary vein stenosis. Redo AF ablation rate was comparable between the two groups. Conclusion(s) Catheter ablation of AF in young adults is associated with higher 1-year success rates but similar long-term outcomes. The young patients tended to have lower rates of complications in comparison to the older population. These findings suggest that it may be appropriate to consider ablative therapy as first-line therapy in this age group, but further study may be needed to confirm this FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None. Figure 1 Table 1