Early Cryoablation After First Diagnosis of Atrial Fibrillation Reduces Arrhythmia Recurrence in Heart Failure Patients
Monami Ando, Satoshi Yanagisawa, Hirohiko Suzuki, Yukihiko Yoshida, Yasunori Kanzaki, Itsuro Morishima, Shinji Ishikawa, Yosuke Kamikubo, Satoshi Okumura, Hiroyuki Kato, Yoshiaki Mizutani, Yosuke Murase, Kosuke Nakasuka, Shunichiro Warita, Satoru Sekimoto, Yoshio Takemoto, Nobuhiro Takasugi, Shiou Ohguchi, Michiharu Senga, Kenichiro Yokoi, Ryo Watanabe, Yasuhiro Ogura, Rei Shibata, Yasuya Inden, Toyoaki Murohara
Abstract
Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) often coexist, leading to increased mortality. A cryoballoon-based approach is a potential treatment for patients with HF because of its safety and efficacy. Objectives: The authors sought to evaluate the optimal timing of cryoballoon ablation after the first clinical diagnosis of AF and its prognosis for patients with HF. Methods: This large-scale multicenter study retrospectively collected data of patients with HF who underwent cryoballoon ablation for AF from 17 Japanese institutions. Patients were divided into 2 groups depending on the duration between the first diagnosis and ablation using a median time of 0.5 year (IQR: 0.3-2.0 years). Clinical endpoints of recurrence, mortality, and HF hospitalization were compared between the 2 groups. Results: = 0.004). Delayed time for cryoballoon ablation incrementally increased the risk of postablation recurrence. Antiarrhythmic drug use was independently associated with delayed ablation. No significant differences in mortality or HF hospitalization were observed between the 2 groups. Conclusions: Early cryoablation reduced the risk of recurrence in patients with HF, which may help improve clinical management.