Association between left atrial slow conduction velocity and recurrence of atrial fibrillation: a prospective study based on high-density mapping.

BACKGROUND

The level of atrial remodeling is closely related to the recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF). Although structural remodeling has been extensively evaluated, methods for assessing atrial electrical remodeling have not been established. The purpose of our study is to investigate the relationship between atrial conduction velocity and the recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) following radiofrequency ablation with pulmonary vein isolation.

METHODS AND

RESULTS

We prospectively enrolled 155 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who underwent their first AF ablation at our center. High-density bipolar voltage mapping was conducted during sinus rhythm in all patients. A coherent mapping was constructed to accurately evaluate the total conduction time, distance, and left atrial conduction velocity (LACV) on the anterior, posterior, and septal routes between the earliest and latest activation sites during sinus rhythm. Out of the patients, 24 experienced a recurrence of AF. The LACV was significantly lower in the patients with AF recurrence compared to those without (anterior, 0.81 ± 0.03 vs. 1.07 ± 0.02 m/s, p < 0.01; posterior, 1.06 ± 0.05 vs. 1.32 ± 0.03 m/s, p < 0.01; septal, 0.91 ± 0.05 vs. 1.13 ± 0.02 m/s, p < 0.01). A multivariate logistic analysis, which included age, left atrial diameter (LAD), LA low-voltage area, P-wave duration, and LA conduction velocity, demonstrated that a slow anterior left atrial conduction velocity (LACV) was an independent predictor of AF recurrence with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.64 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24-3.78, p < 0.01). ROC curve analysis confirmed that the anterior LACV was the most accurate predictor of AF recurrence after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) with a cut-off value of 0.83 m/s, a sensitivity of 93.9%, and a specificity of 70.8%. Anterior LACV was lower in patients with low-voltage areas than in those without low-voltage areas (0.81 ± 0.03 vs. 1.09 ± 0.02 cm/s, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

An anterior LACV < 0.83 m/s was identified as a strong independent predictor of AF recurrence after PVI in patients with paroxysmal AF.