PUB - Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld

BACKGROUND: Limited information is available on the safety and efficacy of cryoballoon ablation (CBA) in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Moreover, global utilization of CBA in this population (≥80years old) has not been reported. This study's objectives were to determine the use, efficacy, and safety of CBA to treat octogenarians suffering from AF.; METHODS: In this sub-analysis of the Cryo Global Registry, 12-month outcomes of treating AF via CBA in octogenarians were compared to patients<80years old. Efficacy was evaluated as time to a≥30s atrial arrhythmia (AA) recurrence. Healthcare utilization was determined via repeat ablations and hospitalizations. Improvement upon disease burden was evaluated through patient reporting of symptoms and the EQ-5D-3L quality of life (QoL) survey.; RESULTS: The octogenarian cohort (n=101) had a higher prevalence of females (51.5% vs 35.7%) and CHA2DS2-VASc scores (4.2±1.3 vs 2.0±1.5) compared to the control cohort (n=1573, both p<0.01). Even when adjusting for baseline characteristics and antiarrhythmic drug usage, freedom from AA recurrence at 12months (80.6% vs 78.9%, HRadj:0.97 [95% CI:0.59-1.58], p=0.90) was comparable between octogenarians and control, respectively. Similar serious adverse event rates were observed between octogenarians (5.0%) and control (3.2%, p=0.38). The groups did not differ in healthcare utilization nor reduction of AF-related symptoms from baseline to follow-up, but both experienced an improvement in QoL at 12months.; CONCLUSIONS: Despite more age-related comorbidities, CBA is a safe and effective treatment for AF in octogenarians, with efficacy and adverse events rates akin to ablations performed in younger patients.; CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02752737. © 2023. The Author(s).