Blunted atrial reverse remodeling a year after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation and their long-term rhythm outcome

Background Although active rhythm control by atrial fibrillation (AF) catheter ablation (AFCA) reduces left atrial (LA) dimension, blunted atrial reverse remodeling can be observed in patients with significant atrial myopathy. We explored the characteristics and long-term outcomes of AF patients who showed blunted atrial reverse remodeling despite no AF recurrence within a year after AFCA. Methods Among a total of 2,756 patients with AFCA, we included 1,685 patients (74.8% male, 60.2±10.1 years old, 54.5% paroxysmal AF) who underwent both baseline and 1-year follow-up echocardiogram, baseline LA>40mm, and did not recur within a year. We divided them into tertile groups (T1–T3) based on one-year percent change of LA dimension after propensity matching for age, sex, AF type, and baseline LA dimension. We also investigated the patients' genetic characteristics with blunted LA reverse remodeling (T1) using a genome-wide association study (GWAS). Results Patients with blunted LA reverse remodeling (T1, n=424) were independently associated with body mass index (OR 1.082 [1.010–1.160], p=0.025), LA peak pressure (OR 1.010 [1.002–1.019], p=0.019), LA wall thickness (OR 0.448 [0.252–0.789], p=0.006), LA voltage (OR 0.651 [0.463–0.907], p=0.012), and pericardial fat volume (OR 1.004 [1.001–1.008], p=0.014). Throughout 65.9±37.4 months of follow-up, the incidence of AF recurrence a year after the procedure was significantly higher in the T1 group than in T2 or T3 groups (Log-rank p Conclusions Patients with blunted LA reverse remodeling after AFCA were independently associated with low LA voltage, thin wall thickness, high LA pressure, and fat volume, and have a genetic background. Long-term clinical recurrence a year after AFCA was higher in this patient group with suspicious atrial myopathy. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Ministry of Health and WelfareNational Research Foundation of Korea