Improved Survival in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Heart Failure
Undergoing Catheter Ablation Compared to Medical Treatment: A Systematic
Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Abstract
Introduction: Increasing evidence has suggested improved
outcomes in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with heart failure (HF)
undergoing catheter ablation (CA) as compared to medical therapy. We
sought to investigate the benefit of CA on outcomes of patients with AF
and HF as compared to medical therapy. Methods and Results: A
systematic review of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of
Clinical Trials was performed for clinical studies evaluating the
benefit of CA for patients with AF and HF. Primary endpoint was
all-cause mortality. Secondary endpoints included atrial-arrhythmia
recurrence and improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).
Eight randomized controlled trials were included with a total of 2121
patients (mean age: 65 ± 5 years; 72% male). Mean follow-up duration
was 32.9 ± 14.5 months. All-cause mortality in patients who underwent CA
was significantly lower than in the medical treatment group (8.8% vs.
13.5%, RR 0.65, 95% CI 0.51-0.83, P=0.0005). A 35% relative risk
reduction and 4.7% absolute risk reduction in all-cause mortality was
observed with CA. Rates of atrial-arrhythmia recurrence were
significantly lower in the CA group (39.9% vs 69.6%, RR 0.55, 95% CI
0.40-0.76, P=0.0003). Improvement in LVEF was significantly higher in
patients undergoing CA (+9.4 ±7.6%) as compared to conventional
treatment (+3.3±8%) (Mean difference 6.2, 95% CI 3.6-8.8,
P<0.00001). Conclusion: CA for AF in patients with HF
decreases all-cause mortality, improves atrial-arrhythmia recurrence
rate and LVEF when compared to medical management. CA should be
considered the treatment of choice to improve survival in this select
group of patients.