Key result
Older age (>60 years) and female gender were associated with a higher incidence of early complications following catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (4.7% vs 3.3% for >60 vs <60 years, p=0.03).
Why the study?
Do age and gender influence the incidence and severity of early complications in patients undergoing catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation?
Observational (n=2,323)
Yes
Do age and gender influence the incidence and severity of early complications in patients undergoing catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation?
Absolute Event Rate: 4.7% vs 3.3%
p-value: p=0.03
Female gender and older age (>60 years) are associated with a significantly higher risk of early complications following catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation.
May warrant closer monitoring in older female AF ablation patients; leaves open whether risk-stratified protocols reduce complications.
BACKGROUND: Despite catheter ablation (CA) has become an accepted treatment option for symptomatic, drug-resistant atrial fibrillation (AF), safety of this procedure continues to be cause for concern. OBJECTIVE: Aim of the present multicenter study was to assess the influence of age and gender on incidence and severity of early CA complications. METHODS: From January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011, data from 2,323 consecutive patients who underwent CA (mean age 59.1+10.9; 72.3% male) for AF in 29 Italian centres were collected. All complications occurring to the patients from admission to 30th post-procedural day were recorded. RESULTS: Complications occurred in 94 patients (4.0%); of these 7 (0.30%) developed permanent sequelae. There was a significant trend toward a greater incidence of complications with increasing age-group. In particular, the incidence of complications was 35/1066 (3.3%) in patients <60 year-old vs 59/1257 (4.7%) in those > 60 year-old (p=0.03). All 7 patients with permanent sequeale were older than 60. Females had a higher incidence of complications both among younger [13/231 (5.6%) vs 22/915 (2.5%), p=0.02] and older patients [32/405 (7.9%) vs 27/739 (3.5%) p=0.001]. In subjects older than 60, 5/405 (1.2%) females and 2/176 (0.3%) males (p=0.04) suffered from permanent sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: Older patients and females are a subgroup at higher risk of complications during AF ablation. A particular care should be taken when performing CA in this clinical setting.
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Stabile et al. (2015) conducted an observational in Atrial fibrillation (n=2,323). Older age (>60 years) and female gender vs. Younger age (<60 years) and male gender was evaluated on Complications from admission to 30th post-procedural day (p=0.03). Older age (>60 years) and female gender were associated with a higher incidence of early complications following catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (4.7% vs 3.3% for >60 vs <60 years, p=0.03).
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