Background: Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) has emerged as a promising physiologic pacing strategy. Though many clinical studies have established the feasibility and safety of LBBAP, the data for very elderly patients are lacking.
Aims: This study aimed to assess the feasibility and safety of LBBAP in very elderly patients (≥80 years).
Methods: Two hundred and forty consecutive patients who received LBBAP implantation were retrospectively enrolled in the present study. Inclusion criteria were patients with atrioventricular block, atrial fibrillation with a slow ventricular response, and heart failure with bundle branch block. The patients were divided into two groups: those aged ≥80 years and those aged <80 years. LBBAP implantation was successfully performed in 48 of 53 (90.6%) very elderly patients and 162 of 187 (86.5%) counterparts. In the very elderly group, the mean (standard deviation [SD]) age was 84 (3) years, mean (SD) paced QRS duration was 112.4 (9.0), and the mean (SD) stimulus to R wave peak time was 82.0 (14.2) ms. Mean (SD) pacing thresholds and mean (SD) R wave sensing were 0.61(0.21) V and 12.1 (4.7) mV at implant. Pacing parameters in very elderly patients were similar to those in their counterparts. During a median follow-up of 6 months, pacing parameters remained stable. Five patients in the very elderly group developed complications (1 with septal perforation during the procedure, 1 with pocket hematoma, 1 with pacing threshold increase, and 2 with micro lead dislodgement during follow-up).
Conclusion: LBBAP is safe and effective in patients ≥80 years old. LBBAP can be considered as an alternative method for delivering physiological pacing in this special population.
Keywords: feasibility; left bundle branch area pacing; physiological pacing; safety; very elderly patients.