Effects of different thyroid function status on the success rate of catheter ablation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

Abstract

Objective The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction among the general population is common.This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different thyroid function conditions on the recurrence of atrial fibrillation(AF) after catheter ablation. Methods A total of 822 consecutive patients with paroxysmal AF who underwent AF ablation for the first time in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Beijing Anzhen Hospital from January 2010 to September 2012 were analyzed retrospectively.Of them, 28 patients received thyroid hormone replacement therapy(group 1), 104 patients had low thyroid function(group 2), 59 patients had thyroid function hyperthyroidism(group 4), and the remaining 631 patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism were designated as the control group(group 3). Results During a mean follow-up of(28.0±6.7)months, AF recurrence rates of the four groups were 64.3%, 37.5%, 37.1%, and 55.9%, respectively(P=0.001). After adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, structural heart disease, and left atrial diameter, the group 1(HR 1.879, 95% CI 1.136~3.106, P=0.014)and the group 4(HR 1.529, 95% CI 1.040~2.250, P=0.031)had an increased risk of AF recurrence compared with the control group. Conclusions The incidence of thyroid dysfunction among patients with AF undergoing ablation is common.Patients with thyroid function hyperthyroidism or taking thyroid hormone therapy have an increased risk of recurrence of AF.Low thyroid function is neither an adverse nor a protective adverse factor for the success of AF ablation. Key words: Atrial fibrillation; Catheter ablation; Thyroid disease