Efficacy and safety of cryoballoon ablation in the elderly: A multicenter study
Christian-Hendrik Heeger1, Barbara Bellmann2, Thomas Fink3
1Department of Cardiology, Asklepios Klinik St. Georg, Hamburg, Germany; University Heart Center Luebeck, Medical Clinic II (Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Intensive Care Medicine), Division of Electrophysiology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany.
Background:
The prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) increases with age. Second-generation cryoballoon (CB2)-based PVI has demonstrated encouraging clinical results in the treatment of paroxysmal (PAF) and persistent atrial fibrillation (PersAF). The objective of this study was to assess data on safety, efficacy and long-term clinical success of CB2-based pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients ≥75 years of age.
Methods:
CB2-based PVI was performed in 104 patients ≥75 years of age (elderly group) and symptomatic AF (PersAF: n = 44, 42.3%) in three highly experienced German EP centers. The data was compared to propensity score matched patients with age <75 years (n = 104, control group; PersAF: n = 45, 43.3%, p = 0.956).
Results:
The median age of the elderly group was 77.5 [75, 80] years while it was 63 [52, 70] years of control group patients (p = 0.0001). The median procedure time was 92.5 [75, 120] minutes (elderly group) and 100 [75, 120] (control group), p = 0.124. Major complications were registered in 7/104 (6.7%) elderly patients and 7/104 (6.7%) control group patients (p = 0.999). Clinical success in terms of freedom from AF recurrence after one-year follow-up was 80% (95% CI: 72-88) and 82% (95% CI: 75-90) and after three-year follow-up 59% (95% CI: 47-74) and 49% (95% CI: 37 64) for the elderly group and the control group, respectively (p = 0.7).
Conclusions:
CB2-based PVI in patients ≥75 years of age appears safe, is associated with low procedure times and shows promising clinical success rates equal to patients of the younger population.
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