Evaluation in a dedicated atrial fibrillation clinic significantly reduced median diagnosis-to-ablation time to 342 days compared to 813 days in a conventional electrophysiology clinic.
Observational (n=182)
No
Does a dedicated atrial fibrillation clinic reduce diagnosis-to-ablation time in patients undergoing AF ablation?
Evaluation through a dedicated atrial fibrillation clinic significantly reduces diagnosis-to-ablation time, which is associated with lower AF recurrence.
Absolute Event Rate: 342% vs 813%
p-value: p=0.01
BackgroundOutcomes following catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) improve as the diagnosis-to-ablation time (DAT) shortens. Use of a protocol-based integrated care model through a dedicated atrial fibrillation clinic (AFC) may serve to standardize treatment pathways and decrease DAT.ObjectiveTo evaluate the DAT and clinical characteristics of patients with AF referred from an AFC vs a conventional electrophysiology clinic (EC).MethodsRetrospective analysis was completed in consecutive patients undergoing index AF ablation at Riverside Methodist Hospital in 2019 with minimum 1 year follow-up. Patients were categorized based off their CA referral source (AFC vs EC) and where the initial visit following index diagnosis of AF occurred (AFC vs EC).ResultsA total of 182 patients (mean age 65 years, 64% male) were reviewed. Patients referred from an AFC (21%) had a median DAT of 342 days (interquartile range IQR, 125–855 days) compared to patients referred from EC (79%) with a median DAT of 813 days (IQR, 241–1444 days; P = .01). Patients with their index visit following AF diagnosis occurring in the AFC (9%) had significantly shorter median DAT (127 days IQR, 95–188 days) compared to EC (91%) (789 days IQR, 253–1503 days; P = .002). Patients with DAT 1 year (P = .04, hazard ratio = 0.58, 95% confidence interval 0.3418–1.000).ConclusionDAT is a modifiable factor that may affect CA outcomes. Significant reductions in DAT were observed in patients evaluated through a dedicated AF clinic. Outcomes following catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) improve as the diagnosis-to-ablation time (DAT) shortens. Use of a protocol-based integrated care model through a dedicated atrial fibrillation clinic (AFC) may serve to standardize treatment pathways and decrease DAT. To evaluate the DAT and clinical characteristics of patients with AF referred from an AFC vs a conventional electrophysiology clinic (EC). Retrospective analysis was completed in consecutive patients undergoing index AF ablation at Riverside Methodist Hospital in 2019 with minimum 1 year follow-up. Patients were categorized based off their CA referral source (AFC vs EC) and where the initial visit following index diagnosis of AF occurred (AFC vs EC). A total of 182 patients (mean age 65 years, 64% male) were reviewed. Patients referred from an AFC (21%) had a median DAT of 342 days (interquartile range IQR, 125–855 days) compared to patients referred from EC (79%) with a median DAT of 813 days (IQR, 241–1444 days; P = .01). Patients with their index visit following AF diagnosis occurring in the AFC (9%) had significantly shorter median DAT (127 days IQR, 95–188 days) compared to EC (91%) (789 days IQR, 253–1503 days; P = .002). Patients with DAT 1 year (P = .04, hazard ratio = 0.58, 95% confidence interval 0.3418–1.000). DAT is a modifiable factor that may affect CA outcomes. Significant reductions in DAT were observed in patients evaluated through a dedicated AF clinic.
Robinson et al. (Fri,) conducted a observational in Atrial fibrillation (n=182). Dedicated atrial fibrillation clinic (AFC) vs. Conventional electrophysiology clinic (EC) was evaluated on Diagnosis-to-ablation time (DAT) in days (p=0.01). Evaluation in a dedicated atrial fibrillation clinic significantly reduced median diagnosis-to-ablation time to 342 days compared to 813 days in a conventional electrophysiology clinic.