Follow-up
First follow-up occurred at 43.4 and 44.0 days in the HBP and LBBAP groups, respectively (p = 0.94). At this follow-up, 40% fewer patients receiving HBP met the APE compared to patients receiving LBBAP (56 vs 96.4%, p = 0.001). Unlike in patients with LBBAP, pacing thresholds increased from post-implantation to first follow-up in patients with HBP. Pacing thresholds were significantly higher (1.4±1.1 vs. 0.7±0.3 V, p < 0.001) while R-wave amplitudes and impedance remained significantly lower (8.6± 6.4 vs. 16.0±4.9 mV, p < 0.001; 454±118.4 vs. 540.3± 59.6 Ohms, p < 0.001) in the HBP group compared to the LBBAP group.
Most recent follow-up was significantly longer for the HBP compared to the LBBAP group (398.8±259.3 vs. 228.0±124.3 days, p = <0.001). At most recent follow-up, the HBP group demonstrated a persistently lower rate of APE compared to the LBBAP group (60.7% vs 94.9%, p < 0.001). Compared with the HBP group, the LBBAP group had a significantly greater proportion of survival with APE (p < 0.001) (Figure 3 ). Threshold amplitudes remained significantly higher in patients with HBP compared to LBBAP (2.1±2.2 vs. 0.8±0.3 V, p < 0.001), whereas R-wave amplitudes and impedances continued to be significantly lower after HBP (8.9±6.6 vs. 16.1±4.5 mV, p < 0.001; 434.2±108.1 vs. 535.5±56.8 Ohms, p < 0.001). During the study period, 13.3% of patients in the HBP group required lead revision and generator replacement due to early battery depletion at a mean of 664.3 days.