Resumption of sinus rhythm in patients with heart failure and permanent atrial fibrillation undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy: a longitudinal observational study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the temporal patterns, predictors, and prognostic impact of spontaneous sinus rhythm resumption (SRR) of heart failure (HF) patients with permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).


RESULTS
This multicentre, retrospective, longitudinal study analysed 330 consecutive HF patients with permanent AF treated with a CRT device (mean age 70 +/- 9 years, male 83%, ischaemic aetiology 44%, NYHA class III-IV 93%, mean QRS duration 167 +/- 40 ms, and mean ejection fraction 26 +/- 7%). Clinical, echocardiographic, and outcome data were collected during follow-up. Thirty-four patients experienced SRR after CRT (10.3%) at a median 4-month follow-up. The strongest independent predictors were end-diastolic diameter (EDD) [hazard ratios (HR) 4.03, 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) 1.43-11.36, P = 0.008], post-CRT QRS <or=150 ms (HR 2.63, 95% CI 1.02-6.67, P = 0.05), left atrium (LA) diameter <or=50 mm (HR 4.76, 95% CI 1.72-11.82, P = 0.002), and atrioventricular junction (AVJ) ablation (HR 4.27, 95% CI 1.54-11.84, P = 0.02). The coexistence of three predictors vs. zero to two predictors increased by 3.5-fold the likelihood of SRR; while the presence of all four factors improves the probability by a factor of 5.7-fold. Sinus rhythm resumption was associated with a significantly better long-term survival (log rank P = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
One in every 10 HF patients with permanent AF may experience SRR after CRT. Baseline EDD <or=65 mm, CRT-paced QRS <or=150 ms, LA <or=50 mm, and AVJ ablation appear to be predictive of this phenomenon.
Gasparini
Maurizio
M
Electrophysiology and Pacing Unit, Cardiology Department, IRCCS Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Via Manzoni 56, Rozzano, Milano, Italy. maurizio.gasparini@humanitas.it
Steinberg
Jonathan S
JS
Arshad
Aysha
A
Regoli
François
F
Galimberti
Paola
P
Rosier
Arnaud
A
Daubert
Jean Claude
JC
Klersy
Catherine
C
Kamath
Ganesh
G
Leclercq
Christophe
C
D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D058406:Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome