New-onset atrial high-rate episodes in left bundle branch area pacing versus right ventricular pacing for patients...

Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) demonstrated beneficial effects on clinical outcomes. Comparative data on the risk of atrial high-rate episodes (AHREs) between LBBAP and right ventricular pacing (RVP) are lacking.

This study aimed to investigate whether LBBAP can reduce the risk of new-onset AHREs compared with RVP in patients with atrioventricular block (AVB).

We enrolled 175 consecutive AVB patients with no history of atrial fibrillation undergoing dual-chamber pacemaker implantation (LBBAP or RVP). Propensity score matching for baseline characteristics yielded 43 matched pairs. The primary outcome was new-onset AHREs detected on a scheduled device follow-up. Changes in echocardiographic measurements were also compared between the groups.

New-onset AHREs occurred in 42 (24.0%) of all enrolled patients (follow-up 14.1 [7.5] months) and the incidence of new-onset AHREs in the LBBAP group was lower than in the RVP group (19.8% vs. 34.7%; P = 0.04). After propensity score matching, LBBAP still resulted in a lower incidence of new-onset AHREs (11.6% vs. 32.6%; P = 0.02), and a lower hazard ratio for new-onset AHREs compared with RVP (HR, 0.274; 95% CI, 0.113-0.692). At 1 year, LBBAP achieved preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (63.0 [3.2]% to 63.1 [3.1]%; P = 0.56), while RVP resulted in reduced LVEF (63.4 [4.9]% to 60.5 [7.3]%; P = 0.01]). Changes in LVEF were significantly different between the 2 groups (by 2.6% [0.2 to 5.0]%; P = 0.03).

LBBAP demonstrated a reduced risk of new-onset AHREs compared with RVP in patients with AVB.