When Atrial Fibrillation Co-Exists with Coronary Artery Disease in Patients with Prior Coronary Intervention - Does Ablation Benefit?

Eric Chong*, Hung Yu Chang, Yun Yu Chen, Kian Keong Poh, Fa Bo Chung, Shih Lin Chang, Li Wei Lo, Yu Feng Hu, Tze Fan Chao, Ta Chuan Tuan, Shih Ann Chen, Yenn Jiang Lin

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) can be associated with an increased risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD) due to mechanisms of inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and adverse atrial remodelling. It is unclear if adverse coronary events can be further reduced after successful catheter ablation of AF. We hypothesise that AF ablation and sinus maintenance could reduce future adverse cardiac events in patients with underlying CAD. Methods: A total of 310 patients with drug-refractory paroxysmal AF and prior history of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for underlying CAD were recruited in the retrospective case control study. Of these, 155 patients underwent AF ablation (the Ablation Group), while 155 patients received medical treatment (the Medical Group). All patients were followed up for major adverse cardiac events, including acute coronary syndrome requiring hospitalisation, stroke, pulmonary embolism and mortality. Results: The clinical characteristics were comparable between the two groups, except for higher antiarrhythmic drug use in the Medical Group. During a follow-up duration of 61±32 months, all-cause mortality (8.4% vs. 1.3%, p=0.004) and the overall major adverse events (47.7% vs. 12.3%, p<0.001) were significantly higher in the Medical Group than the Ablation Group. There were also more instances of stroke (10.3% vs. 3.2%, p=0.013) and acute coronary syndrome requiring hospitalisation (29% vs. 7.1%, p<0.001) in the Medical Group than the Ablation Group. Multivariate analysis confirmed that non-ablation was an independent risk factor for major adverse events (p<0.001, HR 3.4, 95% confidence interval 1.9-5.9). Conclusion: In PAF patients with established CAD who underwent PCI, catheter ablation could lead to fewer major adverse cardiac events compared to medical therapy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)538-550
Number of pages13
JournalHeart Lung and Circulation
Volume25
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jun 2016

Keywords

  • AF
  • PCI
  • Radiofrequency Ablation

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