title: The difference of predictors for recurrence after catheter ablation of non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation according to follow-up period.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the clinical and echocardiographic predictors for the recurrence of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) after ablation during a long-term period.A total of 130 patients with persistent AF who had undergone radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) were enrolled. We analyzed the relation between clinical parameters, echocardiographic parameters, and AF recurrences at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after ablation.During the 2-year follow-up, AF recurred in 61 patients (46.6%). In the 6 month follow-up, AF recurrence was associated only with total ablation time only. However, during the 1-year and 2-year follow-up periods, the presence of hypertension, impaired left atrial (LA) emptying fraction (eF) (≤ 20%), decreased LA appendage (LAA) emptying velocity (≤ 20 cm/sec), and LAAeF (≤ 20%) were correlated with AF recurrence (odds ratio [OR] = 1.87, 2.45, 1.93, and 2.15 respectively, P = 0.016, 0.004, 0.029, and 0.004 respectively). Among these factors, impaired LAeF was the only independent predictor of AF recurrence in multivariate analysis (OR = 2.81, P = 0.012).In patients with persistent AF who had undergone RFCA, the best predictor of AF recurrence after ablation varied according to the follow-up period. Diminished LA function was the only predictor of recurrence in the 2-year follow-up. Pre-procedural assessment of LA function might be helpful in selecting those patients who would benefit from RFCA.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Korea University Cardiovascular Center, Korea University Anam Hospital.
authors.forename: Mi-Na
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae Joong
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Su-A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yong Hyun
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jong Il
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Seong-Mi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sang Weon
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Young-Hoon
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Wan-Joo
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Shim
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D016279:Atrial Function, Left; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013614:Tachycardia, Paroxysmal; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome