Benefits and risks of catheter ablation in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation

Abstract

Elderly patients with AF benefit from AF ablation, which is safe and effective in maintaining sinus rhythm and is associated with lower mortality and stroke risks.

Complication Rates of Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients Aged ≥75 Years versus <75 Years—Results from the German Ablation Registry

“…We suggested in our previous analysis that age is a predictor for severe, nonfatal complication and death . There are limited data on the clinical outcome and complication rates of CA for AF in patients aged ≥75 years . In contrast to our previous published data, in the aforementioned studies, there was no increased risk of periprocedural adverse events in elderly patients.…”

Healthcare Utilization and Quality of Life Improvement after Ablation for Paroxysmal AF in Younger and Older Patients

“…The benefits of catheter ablation in the elderly population are increasingly being reported . In a study of patients undergoing ablation at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Hoyt et al.…”

“…reported some important trends: a steady increase in the number of ablation procedures (25 in 2001 vs 142 in 2005) and repeat procedures (four in 2001 vs. 56 in 2009), an increase in the mean age of patients undergoing ablation (52 years in 2001 vs 60 years in 2009), a shorter duration of AF prior to referral for ablation (7.8 years in 2001 vs 4.2 years in 2009), and a decrease in the number of AADs used prior to first ablation (2.3 vs 1.2) . In a population of 261 AF patients ≥75 years old undergoing catheter ablation, 83% remained in NSR with lower mortality and stroke risks at mean follow‐up time of 3 ± 2.5 years . In a study by Corrado et al., 73% of septuagenarians maintained sinus rhythm with a single ablation procedure over a mean follow‐up period of 20 ± 14 months .…”

EHRA/HRS/APHRS/SOLAECE expert consensus on atrial cardiomyopathies: definition, characterization, and clinical implication

“…167,455 Numerous studies have evaluated ablation outcomes in ageing patients (variously defined as .65 through to .80). 444,445,[456][457][458][459][460][461][462] Observational studies have consistently reported high multiple procedure success rates at 12 months of up to 80% in older patients. Conflicting data exist regarding outcomes in comparative studies with one study demonstrating a reduced success rate in patients over 65 years while another study showed similar efficacy in patients over the age of 80 years to the younger cohort.…”