title: Predictive value of early recurrence and delayed cure after catheter ablation for patients with chronic atrial fibrillation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for curing atrial fibrillation (AF) is often followed by early recurrence and delayed cure, so the present study investigate the predictive factors this in patients with chronic AF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-two consecutive patients (70 males; mean age, 58.7+/-6.4 years) with chronic AF who underwent RFCA for treatment of symptomatic AF were enrolled. Early recurrence of AF (ERAF) occurred in 45 patients after ablation. Not achieving AF termination could predict ERAF (odds ratio (OR) 0.95; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84-1.13; p=0.02) in multivariate analysis. During a follow-up of 12+/-11 (range, 5-25) months, delayed cure occurred in 35.6% (16/45) of the patients with ERAF. Left atrial size and AF termination during ablation were related to delayed cure. AF termination was the only independent predictive factor for delayed cure (OR 1.47; 95% CI 1.05-1.87; p=0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Not achieving AF termination is the only independent predictor of ERAF. Among patients with ERAF, those with a smaller left atrium and AF termination have a higher probability of delayed cure. AF termination can independently predict delayed cure. These results emphasize the importance of AF termination during ablation for patients with chronic AF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xu Ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jian Zeng
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Xing Peng
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: De Yong
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Rong Hui
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Yin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Ri Bo
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Fu Li
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Li Sheng
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Chang Sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome