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Updated: Jun 3, 2026
Robotic Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: May 29, 2015
Demographic profile of patients undergoing catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation
Hana Hoyt1, Saman Nazarian, Fawaz Alhumaid
1Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Insights
Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) shows increasing patient age and repeat procedures. Significant gender and racial disparities exist, favoring Caucasian men, warranting further study.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Electrophysiology
- Medical Trends
Background:
- Catheter ablation is a standard treatment for drug-refractory atrial fibrillation (AF).
- Understanding demographic shifts in patients undergoing AF ablation is crucial for clinical practice and research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze secular trends in the demographic characteristics of patients undergoing atrial fibrillation ablation.
- To identify changes in patient profiles over time.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of data from 792 patients who underwent AF catheter ablation at Johns Hopkins Hospital between 2001 and 2009.
- Analysis of demographic data, procedure frequency, and pre-ablation treatment history.
Main Results:
- A notable increase in the total number and repeat procedures for AF ablation was observed.
- The patient population undergoing ablation became older (mean age increased from 52 to 60 years) and predominantly Caucasian men.
- There was a decrease in the mean number of antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) used and the duration of AF prior to referral.
Conclusions:
- Significant gender and racial disparities exist in AF ablation patients, favoring Caucasian men.
- Trends indicate an aging patient population, reduced AAD use, and more repeat ablation procedures.
- These findings are vital for interpreting AF ablation outcomes and informing future clinical trials.
Background:
Catheter ablation is a widely accepted treatment for drug refractory atrial fibrillation (AF). The purpose of our study was to examine secular trends in the demographic profile of patients undergoing AF ablation.
Methods And Results:
Data for 792 patients who underwent catheter ablation for AF at Johns Hopkins Hospital between years 2001 and 2009 were systematically reviewed. There has been a steady increase in total number of procedures and repeat procedures. The majority of patients undergoing AF ablation at our institution are men (76.6%). Females accounted for 36.0% of patients in 2001 versus 19.6% in 2009. A total of 93.3% of patients undergoing AF ablation were Caucasian. The mean age of patients has increased over time (52 years in 2001 to 60 years in 2009, P = 0.015) and the number of antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) used prior to first ablation has decreased (2.3 to 1.2, P = 0.009). In addition, the mean duration of AF prior to first referral has decreased (7.8 years in 2001 vs 4.2 years in 2009).
Conclusion:
There is a significant gender and racial disparity in patients undergoing AF ablation favoring Caucasian men that warrants further investigation. We also observed a significant increase in age of patients, decrease in number of AADs, and increase in number of repeat procedures. These results are important when interpreting outcomes of AF ablation and designing future trials.
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