title: Effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy on incidence of atrial fibrillation in patients with poor left ventricular systolic function.
abstract: Although the beneficial role of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in selected patients with heart failure is well proven, its effect on the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) is unclear. The present study compared the incidence of AF in 36 consecutive patients with chronic heart failure receiving CRT with its incidence in controls matched for age, gender, and left ventricular ejection fraction but not receiving CRT. The findings suggest that patients with CRT had a significantly lower incidence of AF than controls. Further studies to establish the role of CRT in preventing AF and its mechanisms are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China. jwhfung@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: Jeffrey Wing-Hong
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.forename: Cheuk-Man
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Joseph Yat-Sun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Hamish Chi-Kin
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Gabriel Wai-Kwok
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Sanderson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D013599:Systole; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*