Introduction: Correlation between symptoms and atrial fibrillation (AF) episodes after catheter ablation may have clinical relevance, especially for anticoagulation usage. The aim of our project was to analyze the relationship between symptoms and AF recurrences in unselected patients following AF catheter ablation during long-term follow-up.
Methods and results: One hundred and forty-three consecutive patients (mean age 59 ± 9 years, 85% male) were implanted with a continuous cardiac monitor (RevealXT, Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA) following first pulmonary vein ablation procedure. Device data were downloaded every 3 months and correlated to patients' symptom diary. AF was paroxysmal in 55% and persistent in 45%. At a mean follow-up of 14 ± 6 months, 98/143 (69%) patients had at least one AF recurrence. Among these, 53 (54%) reported AF-related symptoms while 45 (46%) were totally asymptomatic. Conversely, 13 (29%) out of 45 patients without AF recurrences reported symptoms. Globally, a significant reduction of symptoms (from 82% at baseline to 44% at last follow-up; P < 0.0001) was observed. SF-12 questionnaire showed a significant improvement of physical and mental functioning (respectively 44.5 ± 8.5 vs 51.0 ± 6.7, and 45.7 ± 9.3 vs 49.2 ± 6.1, P < 0.05 baseline vs last follow-up). At the 12-month follow-up, 80% and 77% of patients were on AAD and anticoagulant drugs, respectively. There were not differences in AAD usage in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.
Conclusions: Continuous ECG monitoring is a valuable tool for long-term follow-up after AF catheter ablation facilitating reliable assessment of symptomatic and asymptomatic AF episodes. This may have clinical implications with regards to anticoagulation therapy in high-risk patients.
Keywords: antiarrhythmic drug; atrial fibrillation; continuous ECG monitoring; pulmonary venin ablation; symptoms.
© 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.