Risk Factors for Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation within 3 Years after Radiofrequency Ablation

Abstract

Background: Atrial fibrillation is chronic cardiovascular disease, particularly in older patients. Radiofrequency ablation can successfully treat this condition and restore sinus rhythm. However, the postoperative recurrence rate is relatively high. This investigation aimed to address the factors that might increase the risk of recurrence after radiofrequency ablation. Methods: We studied patients who had a successful radiofrequency ablation in our center between 2017 and 2020. We collected information about these patients before the procedure, including their age, sex, obesity, medical history, preoperative laboratory test results, and cardiac ultrasound findings. We divided patients into two groups: those who had atrial fibrillation again within three years and those who did not. We compared the information we collected about these two groups to see if there were any differences to explain why some people had atrial fibrillation again and others did not. We used a statistical method called multivariate logistic regression to analyze these data. Results: After reviewing the patients based on specific criteria, we included 297 patients in our final analysis. Within three years after surgery, 109 patients (36.7%) had a recurrence, whereas 188 (63.3%) did not. When we compared the two groups, we found that older patients, those with obesity, a longer history of atrial fibrillation, a larger left atrium, persistent atrial fibrillation, and higher levels of C-reactive protein before surgery were likely to have atrial fibrillation again within three years (p < 0.05). Our statistical analysis revealed that these factors were independent predictors of atrial fibrillation recurrence. Conclusions: Age, obesity, duration of atrial fibrillation, the size of left atrium, the type of atrial fibrillation, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels before surgery are closely related to atrial fibrillation recurrence within 3 years after radiofrequency ablation.