Cited by 949Atrial Fibrillation Management and OutcomesCardiac Arrhythmias and TreatmentsCardiac Health and Mental Health

Aggressive Risk Factor Reduction Study for Atrial Fibrillation and Implications for the Outcome of Ablation

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Pathak, Rajeev K., Middeldorp, Melissa E., Lau, Dennis H., Mehta, Abhinav B., Mahajan, Rajiv, Twomey, Darragh, Alasady, Muayad, Hanley, Lorraine +5 more·2014·Journal of the American College of Cardiology

Abstract

Background The long-term outcome of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation demonstrates attrition. This outcome may be due to failure to attenuate the progressive substrate promoted by cardiovascular risk factors.Objectives The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of risk factor and weight management on AF ablation outcomes.Methods Of 281 consecutive patients undergoing AF ablation, 149 with a body mass index ≥27 kg/m(2) and ≥1 cardiac risk factor were offered risk factor management (RFM) according to American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines. After AF ablation, all 61 patients who opted for RFM and 88 control subjects were assessed every 3 to 6 months by clinic review and 7-day Holter monitoring. Changes in the Atrial Fibrillation Severity Scale scores were determined.Results There were no differences in baseline characteristics, number of procedures, or follow-up duration between the groups (p = NS). RFM resulted in greater reductions in weight (p = 0.002) and blood pressure (p = 0.006), and better glycemic control (p = 0.001) and lipid profiles (p = 0.01). At follow-up, AF frequency, duration, symptoms, and symptom severity decreased more in the RFM group compared with the control group (all p < 0.001). Single-procedure drug-unassisted arrhythmia-free survival was greater in RFM patients compared with control subjects (p < 0.001). Multiple-procedure arrhythmia-free survival was markedly better in RFM patients compared with control subjects (p < 0.001), with 16% and 42.4%, respectively, using antiarrhythmic drugs (p = 0.004). On multivariate analysis, type of AF (p < 0.001) and RFM (hazard ratio 4.8 [95% confidence interval: 2.04 to 11.4]; p < 0.001) were independent predictors of arrhythmia-free survival.Conclusions Aggressive RFM improved the long-term success of AF ablation. This study underscores the importance of therapy directed at the primary promoters of the AF substrate to facilitate rhythm control strategies.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.jacc.2014.09.028

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  • Moderate or severe OSA (AHI ≥15) is reported in 20%-62% of atrial fibrillation patients.

    “Moderate or severe OSA (AHI ≥ 15) is reported in 20%–62%.330,704,706,710–715”

    From International Consensus Statement on Obstructive Sleep Apnea (2023) · cites this paper as [330]

    Table 1 (Baseline Characteristics; page unavailable) reports AHI >30 in 55 of 88 control patients (62%) undergoing AF ablation. This supports an upper-end figure in a selected group, but the paper does not report a 20%–62% range for moderate or severe OSA defined as AHI ≥15 among AF patients generally. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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  • In studies such as the ARREST-AF cohort study or the ACTIVE-AF trial, regular exercise programs exhibited a reduction in AF-related symptoms, AF incidence, and AF recurrence rates.

    “In studies, such as the ARREST-AF cohort study or the ACTIVE-AF trial, regular exercise programs exhibited a reduction in AF-related symptoms, AF incidence, and AF recurrence rates [76,77].”

    From Atrial Fibrillation in Elite Athletes: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature (2024) · cites this paper as [76]

    The intervention description (section labeled CONCLUSIONS; page unavailable) includes prescribed regular exercise as part of a broader risk-factor and weight-management program. The ATRIAL FIBRILLATION results report greater reductions in symptoms and recurrence after ablation in the management group. The study did not isolate exercise’s effect or assess new AF incidence: participants already had symptomatic AF. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Other studies of subjective or objective tonsil evaluation and AHI reported a trend toward significance or a significant association.

    “Other groups have studied the relationship between subjective (grade) or objective (volume/weight) tonsil evaluation and AHI and reported a trend toward significance328 or a significant association.318,329–334”

    From International Consensus Statement on Obstructive Sleep Apnea (2023) · cites this paper as [330]

    The sleep-disordered breathing passage (section labeled CONCLUSIONS; page unavailable) describes how AHI was measured and used to offer treatment, but says nothing about tonsil evaluation. Searches for tonsil grade, volume, weight, and tonsillar hypertrophy found no passage assessing their association with AHI. (LLM, conf=0.76)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Atrial fibrillation occurs at a high incidence after cavotricuspid isthmus ablation for typical atrial flutter.

    “Given the high incidence of AF after CTI ablation for typical AFL”
  • Intensive weight-reduction management in addition to management of other cardiovascular risk factors (in the range of 10-15 kg weight loss achieved) led to fewer AF recurrences and symptoms compared with an approach based on general advice in obese patients with AF.

    “Intensive weight-reduction management in addition to management of other cardiovascular risk factors (in the range of 10-15 kg weight loss achieved) led to fewer AF recurrences and symptoms compared with an approach based on general advice in obese patients with AF.”

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Authors
Pathak, R. K., Middeldorp, M. E., Lau, D. H., Mehta, A. B., Mahajan, R., Twomey, D., Alasady, M., Hanley, L., Antic, N. A., McEvoy, R. D., Kalman, J. M., Abhayaratna, W. P., & Sanders, P.
Affiliations
  • Royal Adelaide Hospital (AU)
  • Australian National University (AU)
  • Flinders University (AU)
  • The Royal Melbourne Hospital (AU)
Corresponding author
Sanders, Prashanthan
Venue
Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2014-12
Volume
64
Issue
21
Pages
2222-2231
ISSN
0735-1097 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W140098974
Cited by
949
References
44
Citations by year
2026: 57 · 2025: 85 · 2024: 72 · 2023: 73 · 2022: 81 · 2021: 107 · 2020: 97 · 2019: 80 · 2018: 70 · 2017: 92 · 2016: 79 · 2015: 52 · 2014: 4
FWCI
52.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of the American College of Cardiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Flinders Academic Commons (Flinders University) (publishedVersion)
  • ANU Open Research (Australian National University) (submittedVersion)
  • Adelaide Research & Scholarship (AR&S) (University of Adelaide) (submittedVersion)
  • Flinders Academic Commons (Flinders University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
ResMed
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Atrial Fibrillation Management and Outcomes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiac Arrhythmias and Treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiac Health and Mental Health
Keywords
atrial fibrillation, catheter ablation, cardiovascular risk management, obesity, weight loss, blood pressure reduction, glycemic control, lipid profile, arrhythmia-free survival, atrial fibrillation substrate, antiarrhythmic drugs, atrial fibrillation recurrence
MeSH terms
Alcohol Drinking, Atrial Fibrillation, Blood Glucose, Blood Pressure, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Glycated Hemoglobin, Humans, Life Style, Lipids, Male, Middle Aged, Recurrence, Risk Factors, Severity of Illness Index, Cohort Studies, Body Mass Index, Case-Control Studies, Smoking Cessation, Catheter Ablation, Sleep Apnea, Obstructive, Dyslipidemias, Weight Reduction Programs

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