FEATURED
Published in Cardiology
Journal Scan / Research · September 02, 2019
Catheter Ablation Is Associated With Mortality Benefit Over Medical Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation
Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology
1 Expert Comment
TAKE-HOME MESSAGE
The authors of this meta-analysis of 18 randomized controlled trials compared outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) treated with catheter ablation (CA) or medical therapy (MT). CA was associated with a significant reduction in all-cause mortality compared with MT, and this was driven largely by patients with concomitant heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. CA was also associated with a reduction in cardiovascular hospitalizations and recurrence of atrial arrhythmias. Analysis of subgroups showed that men and those aged <65 years derived the most benefit from CA over MT.
The use of CA in patients with AF is associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality compared with MT, especially in those with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Men and younger patients appear to derive the maximal benefit from CA.
