Abstract 13877: 5-Year Impact of Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With a Prior History of Stroke

• Published in: Circulation (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2016-11, Vol.134 (Suppl_1 Suppl 1), p.A13877-A13877
• Main Authors: Bunch, Thomas J, May, Heidi T, Bair, Tami L, Cutler, Michael J, Crandall, Brian G, Jacobs, Victoria, Mallender, Charles, Osborn, Jeffrey S, Weiss, J P, Day, John D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0009-7322; 1524-4539
• DOI: 10.1161/circ.134.suppl_1.13877

BackgroundCatheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is an established therapeutic rhythm approach. Patients with a prior history of a stroke (CVA) represent a unique high-risk population for recurrent thromboembolic events. The role of antiarrhythmic treatment on the long-term natural history of stroke recurrence in these high patients is not fully understood.HypothesisThe process of AF ablation will impact the long-term history of disease progression in high risk CVA patients.Methods3 patient groups with a prior CVA and 5 years of follow-up were matched 1:3:3 by propensity score (±0.01)AF ablation patients receiving their first ablation (n=139), AF patients that did not receive an ablation (n=416), and CVA patients without clinical AF (n=416). Prior CVA was determined by medical chart review using ICD 9/10 codes. Patients were followed for 5-year outcomes of recurrent CVA, heart failure, death.ResultsThe average age of the population was 69±11 years and 51% male. The AF was paroxysmal in 25%, persistent in 34.7%, and longstanding persistent in 41%. AF ablation patients had higher rates of hypertension (p