title: Cardiac resynchronisation therapy response predicts occurrence of atrial fibrillation in non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine whether or not cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has a favourable effect on the incidence of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) in a homogeneous population of patients with non-ischaemic idiopathic-dilated cardiomyopathy and severe heart failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  We designed a single-centre prospective study and enrolled 58 patients AF naïve when received CRT. After 1 year of follow-up our population was subdivided into responders (72.4%) and non-responders (27.6%), so as to compare the incidence of AF after 1, 2 and 3 years of follow-up in these two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Already after 1 year, there was a significant (p < 0.05) difference in new-onset AF in non-responder patients with respect to responders (18.2% vs. 3.3%). These data were confirmed at 2 years (33.3% vs. 12.2%) and 3 years (50.0% vs. 15.0%) follow-up. In particular, 3 years after device implantation non-responders had an increased risk to develop new-onset AF (OR = 5.67).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study analysing long-term effects of CRT in a homogeneous population of patients with non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy, indicating the favourable role of this non-pharmacological therapy on the prevention of AF.
authors: Division of Cardiology, Department of Clinical Medicine, Cardiovascular and Immunologic Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors: S L
authors: SL
authors: D'Ascia
authors: C
authors: C
authors: D'Ascia
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Marino
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Lombardi
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Santulli
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Chiariello
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Santulli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000517:prevention & control*; D058406:Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000150:complications*; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome