PLoS ONE (Jan 2015)

Risk and outcome after ablation of isthmus-dependent atrial flutter in elderly patients.

  • Béatrice Brembilla-Perrot,
  • Jean Marc Sellal,
  • Arnaud Olivier,
  • Vladimir Manenti,
  • Thibault Villemin,
  • Daniel Beurrier,
  • Christian De Chillou,
  • Zohra Lamiral,
  • Nicolas Girerd

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0127672
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 5
p. e0127672

Abstract

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Purpose of the researchTo study the influence of age on the clinical presentation and long-term outcome of patients referred for atrial flutter (AFL) ablation. Age-related differences have been reported regarding the prognosis of arrhythmias.MethodsA total of 1187 patients with a mean age 65±12 years consecutively referred for AFL ablation were retrospectively analyzed in the study.Results445 (37.5%) patients were aged ≥70 (range 70 to 93) among which 345 were aged 70 to 79 years (29.1%) and 100 were aged ≥80 (8.4%). In multivariable analysis, AFL-related rhythmic cardiomyopathy and presentation with 1/1 AFL were less frequent (respectively adjusted OR = 0.44, 0.27-0.74, p = 0.002 and adjusted OR = 0.29, 0.16-0.52, pConclusionsOlder patients represent 37.5% of patients referred for AFL ablation and displayed a <10% risk of ablation-related complications. Importantly, AFL recurrences were less frequent in patients ≥70 while AF occurrence was as frequent as in patients <70. Similar observations were made in patients ≥80 years. AFL ablation appears to be safe and efficient and should not be ruled out in elderly patients.