Catheter Ablation versus Medical Therapy of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Heart Failure: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Michele Magnocavallo, Antonio Parlavecchio, Giampaolo Vetta, Carola Gianni, Marco Polselli, Francesco De Vuono, Luigi Pannone, Sanghamitra Mohanty, Filippo Maria Cauti, Rodolfo Caminiti, Vincenzo Miraglia, Cinzia Monaco, Gian Battista Chierchia, Pietro Rossi, Luigi Di Biase, Stefano Bianchi, Carlo de Asmundis, Andrea Natale, Domenico Giovanni Della Rocca

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) often coexist and synergistically contribute to an increased risk of hospitalization, stroke, and mortality. Objective: To compare the efficacy of catheter ablation (CA) versus medical therapy (MT) in HF patients with AF. Methods: Electronic databases were queried for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of CA versus MT of AF in patients with HF. Risk ratios (RRs), mean differences (MDs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were measured using the Mantel–Haenszel method. Results: A total of nine RCTs enrolling 2155 patients met the inclusion criteria. Compared to MT, CA led to a significant reduction in the composite of all-cause mortality and HF hospitalization (24.6% vs. 37.1%; RR: 0.65 (95% CI: 0.53–0.80); p < 0.0001), all-cause mortality (8.8% vs. 13.6%; RR: 0.65 (95% CI: 0.51–0.82); p = 0.0005), HF hospitalization (15.4% vs. 22.4%; (RR: 0.67 (95% CI: 0.54–0.82); p = 0.0001), AF recurrence (31.8% vs. 77.0%; RR: 0.36 (95% CI: 0.24–0.54); p < 0.0001), and cardiovascular (CV) death (4.9% vs. 8.4%; RR: 0.58 (95% CI: 0.39–0.86); p = 0.007). CA improved the left ventricular ejection fraction (MD:4.76% (95% CI: 2.35–7.18); p = 0.0001), 6 min walk test (MD: 20.48 m (95% CI: 10.83–30.14); p < 0.0001), peak oxygen consumption (MD: 3.1 2mL/kg/min (95% CI: 1.01–5.22); p = 0.004), Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire score (MD: −6.98 (95% CI: −12–03, −1.93); p = 0.007), and brain natriuretic peptide levels (MD:−133.94 pg/mL (95% CI: −197.33, −70.55); p < 0.0001). Conclusions: In HF patients, AF catheter ablation was superior to MT in reducing CV and all-cause mortality. Further significant benefits occurred within the ablation group in terms of HF hospitalizations, AF recurrences, the systolic function, exercise capacity, and quality of life.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number5530
JournalJournal of Clinical Medicine
Volume11
Issue number19
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2022

Keywords

  • atrial fibrillation
  • catheter ablation
  • heart failure
  • medical therapy
  • randomized controlled trials
  • recurrence

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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