Baroreflex Sensitivity in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Autonomic Nervous System Function

Background:

• Atrial fibrillation (AF) is linked to impaired baroreflex sensitivity (BRS).
• Differences in BRS between persistent AF (PeAF) and paroxysmal AF (PAF) remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate BRS differences between PeAF and PAF patients.
• To test if PeAF patients have more impaired BRS than PAF patients.

Main Methods:

• Prospective enrollment of 67 patients undergoing catheter ablation for PAF or PeAF.
• Baseline BRS evaluation during sinus rhythm.
• Comparison of BRS before and after catheter ablation.

Main Results:

• Baseline BRS was significantly lower in PeAF patients (2.97 ms/mm Hg) than in PAF patients (4.70 ms/mm Hg).
• Catheter ablation significantly depressed BRS in all patients (P<0.001).
• BRS depression post-ablation was attenuated in PeAF patients (25% showed no depression) compared to PAF patients (0% showed no depression).

Conclusions:

• Baseline BRS is more impaired in PeAF than in PAF.
• Catheter ablation depresses BRS in both AF types, with a more pronounced effect in PAF.