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Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in the elderly

Louiza Lioni1, Konstantinos P Letsas1, Michael Efremidis1

  • 1Second Department of Cardiology, Laboratory of Cardiac Electrophysiology, Evangelismos General Hospital of Athens, Athens 10676, Greece.

Journal of Geriatric Cardiology : JGC
|January 17, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) is safe and effective in elderly patients. This procedure offers a viable alternative for older individuals experiencing symptomatic AF.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Electrophysiology
  • Geriatric Medicine

Background:

  • Atrial fibrillation (AF) catheter ablation is a key treatment, yet adoption in the elderly is limited.
  • The safety and efficacy of AF catheter ablation in older populations require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in elderly patients.

Main Methods:

  • A study involving 316 patients with paroxysmal AF undergoing left atrial ablation.
  • Comparison of outcomes between 95 elderly patients (≥65 years) and 221 younger patients (<65 years).
  • Mean follow-up of 34.0 ± 15.1 months to assess arrhythmia recurrence and procedural complications.

Main Results:

  • Arrhythmia recurrence was observed in 57.9% of elderly patients versus 67.4% of younger patients (P=0.169).
  • Procedural complications were infrequent in both age groups.
  • Independent predictors of AF recurrence in the elderly included left atrial diameter, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and coronary artery disease.

Conclusions:

  • Catheter ablation for AF demonstrates safety and efficacy in older individuals.
  • Invasive ablation strategies should be considered for symptomatic elderly patients with AF.
Abstract

Keywords:
AblationAtrial fibrillationThe elderly

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