Novel scoring system derived from meta-analysis and validated in cohort population for predicting 1-year atrial fibrillation recurrence after cryoballoon catheter ablation: The HeLPS-Cryo score

BACKGROUND

Atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence rates in 1 year after cryoballoon ablation catheter (CBCA) are still high. We purposed to identify strong predictors for AF recurrence after the successful CBCA procedure and develop a new scoring system based only on pre-procedural parameters.

METHODS

In the derivation phase, a systematic review and meta-analysis identified the strong predictors of AF recurrence after the CBCA. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) was used to create the new scoring system. The second phase validated the new scoring system in the cohort population.

RESULTS

A meta-analysis including 29 cohort studies with 16196 participants confirmed that persistent AF, stroke, heart failure, and left atrial diameter (LAD) >40 mm were powerful predictors for AF recurrence after the CBCA procedure. The HeLPS-Cryo (heart failure [1], left atrial dilatation [1], persistent AF [2], and stroke [2]) was developed based on those pre-procedural predictors. It was validated in 140 patients receiving CBCA procedures and revealed excellent predictive performance for 1-year AF recurrence (AUC = 0.8877; 95% CI = 0.8208 to 0.9546). The HeLPS-Cryo score of ≥3 could predict 1-year AF recurrence with sensitivity and specificity of 78.9% and 87.9%, respectively. The positive predictive value was 66.7%, and the negative predictive value was 93.1%.

CONCLUSION

The HeLPS-Cryo score can help the physician estimate the probability of 1-year AF recurrence after the successful CBCA procedure. Patients with HeLPS-Cryo score <3 are good candidates for the CBCA procedure.

Pulmonary vein and left atrial posterior wall isolation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation: Comparable outcomes for adults with congenital heart disease

INTRODUCTION

Optimal treatment strategies for ACHD with AF are unknown. This study sought to assess outcomes of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) ± left atrial (LA), posterior wall isolation (PWI) for adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD), and atrial fibrillation (AF).

METHODS

A retrospective review of all cryoballoon (CB) PVI ± PWI procedures at a single center over a 3-year period were performed. Clinical characteristics and outcomes for patients with and without ACHD were compared. The primary outcome was the occurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmia at 12-months postablation after a 90-day blanking period.

RESULTS

Three-hundred and sixteen patients (mean: 63 ± 12 years, [63% male]) underwent CB PVI ± PWI during the study, including 31 (10%) ACHD (simple 35%, moderate 39% complex 26%; nonparoxysmal AF in 52%). ACHD was younger (51 vs. 64 years; p < .001) with a lower CHADS₂ DS₂ -VASc score (1.2 vs. 2.1; p = .001) but had a greater LA diameter (4.9 vs. 4.0 cm; p < .001) and a number of prior cardioversions (0.9 vs. 0.4; p < .001) versus controls. 12-month freedom from recurrent AF was similar for ACHD and controls (76% vs. 80%; p = .6) and remained nonsignificant in multivariate analysis (hazard ratio: 1.8, 95% confidence interval: 0.7-5.1; p = .22). At 12-months postablation, 75% of ACHD versus 93% of control patients were off antiarrhythmic drug therapy (p = .07).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates younger age and lower conventional stroke risk, yet clinically advanced AF for ACHD relative to controls. CB PVI ± PWI was an effective strategy for the treatment of AF among all forms of ACHD with similar 12-month outcomes as compared to controls.

Cryoballoon ablation of atrial fibrillation in patients with advanced systolic heart failure and cardiac implantable electronic devices

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary vein isolation with cryoballoon catheter ablation (CCB) is an effective method of treatment in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), but in patients with heart failure (HF) the role of CCB remains unknown.

AIM

The aim of the study was to assess the feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of CCB in patients with HF and cardiac im-plantable electronic devices (CIEDs), the impact of the procedure on symptoms, and echocardiographic parameters.

METHODS

Thirty consecutive HF patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 40% and CIED, referred for CCB of AF, were included. Procedural parameters were compared to a group of 59 consecutive patients without cardiac diseases referred for CCB (control group).

RESULTS

The number of veins ablated per patient was smaller and application was performed less frequently in the right inferior pulmonary vein in the HF group compared with the control group (66.7% vs. 88.1%; p = 0.01, respectively). In two (6.7%) patients from the HF group and in five (8.5%) from the control group procedure-related complications occurred (p = 0.76). After six months 21 HF patients (70%), after one year 13 (43%), and after 625 days only three (10%) were free from arrhythmia. AF burden was significantly reduced after six months compared to the pre-ablation period (18.5% vs. 52.9%; p = 0.001). New York Heart Association and European Heart Rhythm Association classes were both significantly (p < 0.001) reduced and LVEF was higher after six months in the HF patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Safety and feasibility of CCB for AF in HF patients with CIED are comparable to subjects with structurally nor-mal heart; however, stable positioning of the balloon in the right inferior pulmonary vein may be more challenging. Although late recurrences are common, ablation reduces arrhythmia burden and leads to a long-term improvement of symptoms and echocardiographic indices.

An ECG Index of P-Wave Force Predicts the Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation after Pulmonary Vein Isolation

BACKGROUND

Although several prognostic factors of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) have been investigated, the accurate prediction of AF recurrence remains difficult. We propose an electrocardiogram (ECG) index, the P-wave force (PWF), which is the product of the amplitude of the negative terminal phase of the P wave in the V1 electrode and the filtered P-wave duration, obtained by a signal-averaged P-wave analysis. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of the PWF on the recurrence of AF after PVI.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated 79 paroxysmal AF patients (64 ± 9 years, 56 males) who underwent PVI by cryoballoon ablation. Standard 12-lead ECG and a P-wave signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG) were recorded the day before and 1 month after the PVI procedure.

RESULTS

During the mean follow-up of 10.2 months, AF recurred in 11 (14%) patients. The PWF 1 month after ablation was significantly higher in the recurrence group compared to that in the nonrecurrence group (8.8 ± 3.1 mVms vs 6.5 ± 2.9 mVms, P = 0.017). The patients with a PWF value ≥9.3 mVms had a significantly greater risk of recurrence after the ablation compared to the patients with a PWF value <9.3 mVms (log-rank test, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Higher PWF after cryoballoon ablation was associated with poor prognosis during follow-up. The PWF may be a useful and noninvasive marker to predict the recurrence of AF.