Abstract
Introduction: The long-term effects of catheter ablation (CA) compared to medical therapy on cardiovascular outcomes for atrial fibrillation (AF) remain undetermined. We examined the outcomes associated with CA compared to rate or rhythm control therapy in a population cohort with AF. Methods: Using Alberta administrative data, patients with AF as the primary diagnosis during hospitalization or emergency department/physician visit were included between 2008-2018. Based on therapy received, patients were assigned to CA, rate (digoxin, calcium channel or beta blocker) or rhythm control (amiodarone, sotalol, flecainide, propafenone, dronedarone). If treatment changed over time, the patient was censored in the prior treatment arm and assigned to the new arm. The association of treatment (included as time-varying covariate) with the primary composite outcome of death, hospitalization for heart failure or stroke was examined using multivariable Cox models after adjusting for age, sex, comorbidities and baseline medications. Secondary outcomes included cardiovascular hospitalizations, and individual components of the composite. Results: There were 2,149 (4.0%) patients treated with CA and 51,315 with medical treatment (rate : 41,948, (81.5%) rhythm: 9,367 (18.2%). During a median follow-up of 4.2 years, CA for AF was associated with a lower crude incidence of the composite outcome (rate per 100 person-years was 3.3 for CA, 9.5 for rate control, and 6.3 for rhythm control). In multivariate analysis, compared to CA, both rate (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.55, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.44 to 1.68) and rhythm control (aHR 1.37; 95% CI 1.27 to 1.49) were associated with a higher risk of the primary composite outcome.(Figure) Secondary outcomes are shown in the Figure. Conclusions: Only a small percentage of patients with AF undergo CA. Patients selected for CA have a lower risk of long-term adverse outcomes compared to medical therapy in patients with AF.
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