Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in patients ≥75 years is associated with higher periprocedural stroke rates compared to patients <75 years (1.3% vs. 0.1%, P<0.01).
Cohort (n=4,449)
Yes
Does catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in patients aged ≥75 years compared to <75 years increase the risk of periprocedural and long-term complications?
Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in patients aged ≥75 years is associated with a higher risk of periprocedural stroke compared to younger patients, though overall 1-year complication rates are similar.
Absolute Event Rate: 1.3% vs 0.1%
p-value: p=< 0.01
Age‐Related Complication Rates in AF Ablation Introduction Despite a rising demand for catheter ablation (CA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) in an elderly population, complication and success rates are not fully elucidated. We sought to compare complication rates of CA of AF in patients ≥75 versus <75 years of age. Methods and Results Patients with symptomatic, drug‐refractory AF were prospectively enrolled from January 2007 to 2010 in this multicenter study. A total of 4,449 patients, group 1 ≥75 years and group 2 <75 years (n = 227, age 77.3 ± 2.2 vs. 59.7 ± 9.8 years, 52.0% vs. n = 4,222, 68.9% male, CHA 2 DS 2 ‐VASc‐Score 3.7 ± 1.0 vs. 1.7 ± 1.2; P < 0.001, respectively), with paroxysmal AF (59.9% in group 1 vs. 63.3% in group 2, P = 0.30), and persistent AF (34.8% in group 1 vs. 29.4% in group 2, P = 0.082) underwent CA of AF. A centralized follow‐up was obtained in 4,347 patients by the Institute for Myocardial Infarction Research (IHF, Ludwigshafen). There was a significant difference between periprocedural stroke rates in the elderly versus the younger cohort (1.3% vs. 0.1%, P < 0.01). In‐hospital severe nonfatal complications did not differ significantly between the groups (4.4% vs. 2.7%, P = 0.14). Other procedure‐related, in‐hospital complications were not significantly different. After a mean follow‐up of 472 ± 99 days (group 1) and 477 ± 94 days (group 2), no differences were found in complication rates. Conclusion CA of AF in patients ≥75 years is associated with higher in‐hospital stroke rates. In a 1‐year follow‐up, complication rates do not differ between the groups.
Moser et al. (Wed,) conducted a cohort in symptomatic, drug-refractory atrial fibrillation (n=4,449). Catheter ablation in patients ≥75 years vs. Catheter ablation in patients <75 years was evaluated on Periprocedural stroke rates (p=< 0.01). Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in patients ≥75 years is associated with higher periprocedural stroke rates compared to patients <75 years (1.3% vs. 0.1%, P<0.01).