What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cohort. Population: Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) (n=1758). Intervention: Age ≥ 70 years vs. Age < 70 years. Primary outcome: Immediate complication and success rates.

What does this research mean for the field?

Elderly patients undergoing SVT ablation had shorter procedure times and comparable success and complication rates compared to younger patients, indicating safe efficacy. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.CONFIRMATORY. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.SUPPORTS_CONSENSUS.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate the clinical and procedural characteristics, safety, and acute outcomes of catheter ablation for supraventricular tachycardia in elderly patients compared to younger individuals.

February 5, 2026Journal of ArrhythmiaOpen Access

Supraventricular Tachycardia Ablation in the Elderly—Characteristics and Outcomes

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

SVT ablation in elderly patients (≥70 years, n=150) had shorter procedure times (P<0.05) and similar immediate success and complication rates compared to younger patients (<70 years, n=1608).

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Elderly patients undergoing SVT ablation had shorter procedure times and comparable success and complication rates compared to younger patients, indicating safe efficacy. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.CONFIRMATORY. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.SUPPORTS_CONSENSUS.

Q: What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate the clinical and procedural characteristics, safety, and acute outcomes of catheter ablation for supraventricular tachycardia in elderly patients compared to younger individuals.

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Key result

SVT ablation in the elderly matches younger patients in safety and success with shorter procedure times.

n=1,758

Why the study?

Most studies of catheter ablation for symptomatic SVT target the general adult population, leaving data on elderly patients less robust.

Does catheter ablation for supraventricular tachycardia have similar acute success and complication rates in elderly patients (≥ 70 years) compared to younger patients (< 70 years)?

Key Points

To evaluate the clinical and procedural characteristics, safety, and acute outcomes of catheter ablation for supraventricular tachycardia in elderly patients compared to younger individuals.
Single-center comparative cohort study of 1758 consecutive patients undergoing ablation for AVNRT, AVRT, or atrial tachycardia between May 2011 and May 2022.
Patients were stratified into an elderly cohort (≥ 70 years, n=150) and a younger cohort (< 70 years, n=1608), excluding cases with concurrent ablation for atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, or ventricular arrhythmias.
Acute procedural success was achieved in 99.3% (149/150) of elderly patients and 99.3% (1597/1608) of younger patients (p = 0.98).
Immediate complication rates did not differ significantly between cohorts, occurring in 0.7% (1/150) of elderly patients versus 0.4% (7/1608) of younger patients (p = 0.511).
Elderly patients had shorter procedure times (94.9 ± 44.9 vs. 103.8 ± 48.1 minutes, p = 0.024) and fluoroscopy times (12.4 ± 13.3 vs. 16.8 ± 20.6 minutes, p = 0.039), driven by higher rates of AVNRT (86.7% vs. 55.4%, p < 0.001) and right-sided ablations (85.3% vs. 66.0%, p < 0.001).

Study Design

Type

Cohort (n=1,758)

Multicenter

Structured PICO

Does catheter ablation for supraventricular tachycardia have similar acute success and complication rates in elderly patients (≥ 70 years) compared to younger patients (< 70 years)?

Population

1,758 patients undergoing ablation for AVNRT, AVRT, or atrial tachycardia at a single center, comparing those aged ≥70 years (n=150) to those <70 years (n=1608).

Exposure

Catheter ablation for supraventricular tachycardia in elderly patients (aged ≥ 70 years, n=150)

Comparator

Catheter ablation for supraventricular tachycardia in younger patients (aged < 70 years, n=1608)

Outcome

Immediate complication rates and acute procedural success rates (defined by non-inducibility or inability to reinitiate tachycardia)

Catheter ablation for supraventricular tachycardia in elderly patients (≥ 70 years) is highly effective and safe, with acute success and complication rates comparable to younger patients, despite a higher prevalence of structural heart disease and AVNRT.

Limitations

Lack of data on patient comorbidities
Lack of longer-term outcomes
Lack of follow-up data on long-term complication rates and clinical outcomes
Selection bias as data only includes patients who underwent SVT ablation
Lack of data on hard outcomes such as hospitalization rates and patient-reported quality of life
Frailty was not assessed
Data on patient autonomy and other comorbidities were not available

Discussion

No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.

Implication

Supports SVT ablation consideration in elderly; leaves open need for randomized confirmation.

Cite This Study

Chua et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) (n=1,758). Age ≥ 70 years vs. Age < 70 years was evaluated on Immediate complication and success rates. SVT ablation in elderly patients (≥70 years, n=150) had shorter procedure times (P<0.05) and similar immediate success and complication rates compared to younger patients (<70 years, n=1608).

synapsesocial.com/papers/69843383f1d9ada3c1fb0b7b https://doi.org/10.1002/joa3.70283

Topics

AF ablation outcomes

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Supraventricular Tachycardia Ablation in the Elderly—Characteristics and Outcomes

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Limitations

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

Topics

Supraventricular Tachycardia Ablation in the Elderly—Characteristics and Outcomes

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Limitations

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

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Topics

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