title: [Outcomes of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in patients over 65 years of age].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed ablation techniques, recurrent arrhythmias, long-term outcomes, and complications of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients 65 years of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients aged < 65 years (n = 653) vs 65 years (n = 213), who underwent catheter ablation of AF in the course of eight years, were compared. Ablation strategy and procedure endpoints were left at the operators discretion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The group of patients 65 years comprised more females (p < 0.001), and more frequently presented with persistent AF (p = 0.010). These patients less frequently underwent simple pulmonary vein isolation (p = 0.017); on the contrary, extensive ablation including coronary sinus intervention was more common (p = 0.020). There was no difference in repeat ablation procedures (25 % vs 26 % patients; p = 0.823, or 1.4 vs 1.5 ablation procedures/1 patients; p = 0.479, respectively). Spectrum of recurrent arrhythmias did not differ between the groups except for more frequent paroxysmal AF before the first repeat ablation in patients < 65 years (p = 0.050). At the end of 49 ± 26 month total follow-up, stable sinus rhythm (SR) was achieved in 85 % patients < 65 years vs 76 % patients 65 years (p = 0.318). To maintain stable SR, older patients more often continued to take antiarrhythmic medication (p = 0.054). More serious complication occurred in 3.8 % of the patients 65 years vs 2.1 % of the patients < 65 years of age (p = 0.207).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients 65 years of age achieved insignificantly worse long-term outcome after insignificantly fewer repeat ablation procedures, and with more frequent use of antiarrhythmic drugs. SR maintenance and risk of complications were, however, favorable.
authors: Oddélení Kardiologie Nemocnice Podlesí, a.s, Tnnec, Prednosta Prim, MUDr, Marian Branny. martin.fiala@gmail.com
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Fiala
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Skňouřil
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Toman
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Pindor
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Wojnarová
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Bulková
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Chovančík
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Dorda
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Szymeczek
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Neuwirth
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Vavřík
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Krawiec
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Jiravský
authors: L
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authors: Rybka
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Lábrová
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Januška
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Spinar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome