July 29, 2026Journal of Clinical Medicine0 citationsOpen Access
View Full PaperPulsed Field Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation in Obesity: Reassessing Risk, Safety, and Success
Key Result
Pulsed field ablation for atrial fibrillation in obese patients yielded heterogeneous recurrence outcomes compared to conventional thermal ablation, with no statistically significant differences.
Key Points
- This research evaluates the effectiveness and safety of pulsed field ablation for treating atrial fibrillation in patients with obesity.
- Systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Embase for studies evaluating PFA outcomes in obese AF patients.
- Inclusion of four observational cohort studies published between 2017 and 2026.
- AF recurrence rates were lower with PFA compared to radiofrequency ablation, but not statistically significant.
- One matched-cohort study showed significantly higher one-year freedom from AF with PFA-PVI compared to cryoballoon ablation.
- Left atrial epicardial adipose tissue was identified as an independent predictor of recurrence in PFA patients.
Study Design
Type
Systematic Review
Structured PICO
Does pulsed field ablation improve freedom from atrial fibrillation recurrence and safety in obese patients compared to conventional thermal ablation?
P
Population
Four observational cohort studies evaluating pulsed field ablation outcomes in obese patients with atrial fibrillation or across BMI categories.
E
Exposure
Pulsed field ablation (PFA)
C
Comparator
Conventional thermal ablation techniques (radiofrequency ablation [RFA] or cryoballoon ablation [CBA])
O
Outcome
Atrial fibrillation recurrence (freedom from arrhythmia recurrence)hard clinical
Pulsed field ablation appears to be a feasible and safe option for atrial fibrillation ablation in obese patients, with outcomes comparable to conventional thermal ablation techniques.
Limitations
- Comparative efficacy and long-term safety remain uncertain
- Obesity-related adipose hypertrophy, systemic inflammation, and atrial remodeling may alter electric field distribution, contributing to variable recurrence outcomes
Abstract
Background: Obesity is a major independent risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF), contributing to adverse outcomes and complicating rhythm control. While lifestyle modification is recommended, catheter ablation remains central to management. Conventional thermal ablation techniques often yield suboptimal results in obese patients due to anatomical and biophysical challenges. Pulsed field ablation (PFA), a novel non-thermal modality, may overcome these limitations. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Embase identified observational cohort studies (2017–2026) evaluating PFA outcomes in obese AF patients or across BMI categories. Four cohort studies met the inclusion criteria. Results: Findings on AF recurrence were heterogeneous. Recurrence rates appeared lower with PFA compared to radiofrequency ablation (RFA), though differences were not statistically significant. In a PFA-only study, freedom from arrhythmia recurrence did not vary across BMI categories. Compared with cryoballoon ablation (CBA), one matched-cohort study demonstrated significantly higher one-year freedom from AF with PFA-PVI, whereas another reported no difference. Left atrial epicardial adipose tissue (LA EAT) emerged as the only independent predictor of recurrence in PFA patients, suggesting electrical field perturbation by fat tissue. Radiation exposure was lower with PFA than CBA, while fluoroscopy time and periprocedural complications were comparable across groups. Conclusions: Current observational evidence suggests that PFA may be a feasible and safe option for AF ablation in overweight and obese patients, with outcomes comparable to conventional ablation techniques. However, comparative efficacy and long-term safety remain uncertain. Obesity-related adipose hypertrophy, systemic inflammation, and atrial remodeling may alter electric field distribution, contributing to variable recurrence outcomes. Larger prospective and randomized trials are warranted to define the long-term role of PFA in this high-risk population.