Portuguese National Registry on Cardiac Electrophysiology, 2021 and 2022

We present the results of the national cardiac electrophysiology registry of the Portuguese Association of Arrhythmology, Pacing and Electrophysiology (APAPE) and the Portuguese Institute of Cardiac Rhythm for 2021 and 2022.

Data were collected from 26 electrophysiology centers registered with APAPE using an online digital platform. Data collection included information on human and technological resources, electrophysiological studies, ablations performed, atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation, and ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation procedures.

In the 26 centers, 4491 ablations were performed in 2021 and 4968 ablations in 2022. AF ablation was the most frequently performed procedure: 1673 ablations in 2021 and 1994 in 2022, 70% paroxysmal AF, with clinically relevant complications was reported in 1.2-1.5% of the procedures. VT ablation was performed in 294 patients in 2021 (45% with structural disease), and in 331 in 2022 (42% with structural disease). Clinically relevant complications were reported in 2.7-2.4% of the procedures (2021 and 2022, respectively).

In Portugal, the number of cardiac electrophysiology procedures is on the rise, but it has not reached the levels expected based on European Society of Cardiology data. AF ablation is the most common procedure, accounting for 37% in 2021 and 40% in 2022. VT ablation is still low. Additionally, cardioneuroablation and Brugada syndrome ablation are gaining importance at several Portuguese centers.