Cryoballoon Ablation for Elderly Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: Results From the Korean Cryoballoon Registry

Cryoballoon ablation (CBA) is considered an effective rhythm control treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF) and is increasing exponentially. However, data regarding the efficacy and safety of CBA in elderly patients are limited.

A total of 2,652 patients (55.2% with non-paroxysmal AF) from the Korean CBA registry database with follow-up of ≥12-months after de novo CBA were divided into 2 groups based on age (<75 and ≥75 years old). Procedure related complications and clinical outcomes were compared.

Compared to the control group (n=2,403), the elderly group (n=249) had female predominance (41.8% vs. 21.1%, p<0.001), a higher CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores (4.0 [3.0-5.0] vs. 2.0 [1.0-3.0]; p<0.001), and a higher prevalence of heart failure (33.3% vs. 21.9%; p<0.001) and chronic kidney disease (42.2% vs. 10.4%; p<0.001). A total of 120 procedure-related minor complications were reported, but no significant difference was observed between the 2 groups (6.4% vs. 4.3%; p=0.18). Recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmias was observed in 67 patients (27.2%) in the elderly group and 788 patients (33.3%) in the control group. After adjusting for confounding variables, the freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmias during 24-month was similar between the 2 groups (67.0% vs. 62.7%; adjusted hazard ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.62-1.34; p=0.63).

CBA showed a reasonable efficacy and safety profile in elderly population with AF, comparable to that in younger patients.