Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 5, 2026

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
28:13

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: February 26, 2013

Rising Comorbidity Burden in Inpatient Atrial Fibrillation Catheter Ablation: Temporal Trends and In-Hospital

Eran Leshem1,2, Bar Ehrenberg1,2, Adam Folman1,2

  • 1Technion Israel Institute of Technology, The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion City, Haifa, Israel.

Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology : PACE
|July 30, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) is increasingly performed in patients with high comorbidity burden. This trend is associated with increased complications and mortality, necessitating careful risk assessment.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Health Services Research

Background:

  • Catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) has seen technical advancements, yet success rates remain stagnant.
  • Treating elderly patients with multiple comorbidities may reduce CA efficacy and increase complication risks.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze trends in comorbidity burden among patients undergoing inpatient CA for AF.
  • To assess the association between comorbidity burden and in-hospital outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 64,995 inpatient CA procedures for AF from the National Inpatient Sample (2016-2021).
  • Comorbidity burden evaluated using a standardized index; outcomes compared between high and low burden groups.
  • Annual trends in high comorbidity burden patient rates calculated.

Main Results:

  • The proportion of AF CA patients with high comorbidity burden rose from 11.7% (2016) to 22.1% (2021).
  • High comorbidity burden patients experienced higher total complications (14.2% vs. 7.8%) and in-hospital mortality (1.5% vs. 0.2%).
  • Complications were driven by vascular, infectious, and respiratory issues, not cardiac ones.

Conclusions:

  • Inpatient AF CA is increasingly performed in patients with significant comorbidities.
  • Preprocedural risk-benefit assessment is crucial for optimizing outcomes in high-comorbidity patients.
Abstract

Keywords:
ablationatrial fibrillationcomorbiditiesin‐hospital outcomes

More Related Videos

Robotic Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation11:21

Robotic Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: May 29, 2015

Reduction of Iatrogenic Atrial Septal Defects with an Anterior and Inferior Transseptal Puncture Site when Operating the Cryoballoon Ablation Catheter08:00

Reduction of Iatrogenic Atrial Septal Defects with an Anterior and Inferior Transseptal Puncture Site when Operating the Cryoballoon Ablation Catheter

Published on: June 15, 2015

Related Concept Videos

ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias II: Atrial, Junctional and Ventricular Arrhythmias01:25

ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias II: Atrial, Junctional and Ventricular Arrhythmias

Arrhythmia is a condition characterized by an irregular heart rhythm, with ECG changes that differ based on its origin and nature. The types of arrhythmias discussed below include atrial, junctional, and ventricular arrhythmias.Atrial ArrhythmiasPremature Atrial Complexes (PACs): PACs are early atrial beats caused by stress, caffeine, alcohol, electrolyte imbalances, hypoxia, hyperthyroidism, or certain medications (e.g., bronchodilators and decongestants). The ECG shows early P waves with an...
Disturbances in Heart Rhythm01:29

Disturbances in Heart Rhythm

Arrhythmia or dysrhythmia refers to an abnormal heart rhythm caused by a defect in the heart's conduction system. It can cause the heart to beat irregularly, too quickly, or too slowly, leading to symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, and fainting. Factors such as stress, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, cocaine, certain drugs, congenital defects, diseases, and electrolyte abnormalities can trigger arrhythmias.
Arrhythmias are categorized by their speed, rhythm, and origin. A slow heart...
Pulse rhythm01:30

Pulse rhythm

Pulse rhythm refers to the pattern of pulsations within specific intervals, offering valuable insights into the regularity or irregularity of the heart's beats as observed through the pattern of pulsation within specific intervals. A regular pulse exhibits a consistent heart rate with uniform waveforms and pulsation force, variations of which can be classified as normal, weak, or bounding.
Conversely, an irregular pulse pattern is termed dysrhythmia, stemming from disruptions in cardiac muscle...
Dysrhythmias VI: Management of Dysrhythmias01:25

Dysrhythmias VI: Management of Dysrhythmias

Dysrhythmia management involves a multifaceted approach, incorporating pharmacological treatments, medical procedures, surgical interventions, lifestyle modifications, and patient education.Pharmacological ManagementAntiarrhythmic Drugs:Class I (Sodium Channel Blockers): This class includes quinidine and procainamide, which reduce the speed of impulse conduction in the heart, stabilize the cardiac membrane, and control arrhythmias. Quinidine and procainamide are Class IA agents that prolong the...