Abstract
Predictive value of pre-procedural N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide level for atrial fibrillation recurrence after radiofrequency catheter ablation
- Graduate School, Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the Sixth Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- College of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
- Department of Geriatric Cardiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
Introduction:
N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) has been demonstrated as a valuable risk marker for mortality and morbidity of cardiovascular disease. Recurrence after atrial fibrillation (AF) radiofrequency catheter ablation remains common.
Aim:
We investigated the predictive value of the pre-procedural level of NT-proBNP to differentiate high-risk patients for post-ablation AF recurrence.
Material and methods:
326 individuals with nonvalvular AF and preserved systolic function after enduring an initial radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) between March 2018 and December 2019 were categorized into a recurrent group and a non-AF recurrent group. The serum NT-proBNP levels were examined before the ablation procedure. The researchers used multivariate logistic regression to find the determinants of AF recurrence.
Results:
During a 14-month (interquartile range (IQR): 12–16) median follow-up, AF recurred in 84 (25.8%) patients. Patients in the recurrence group had considerably greater pre-ablation NT-proBNP levels (389.4 vs. 141.7 pg/ml, p < 0.001 in non-paroxysmal AF and 348.0 vs. 99.4 pg/ml, p < 0.001 in paroxysmal AF) as well as a greater left atrium (40 vs. 36 mm, p = 0.01 in non-paroxysmal AF and 38 vs. 36 mm, p = 0.01 in paroxysmal AF) than the non-AF recurrence group. A cut-off value of NT-proBNP ≥ 168.05 pg/ml identified AF recurrence with a sensitivity of 78.6% and specificity of 53.7% (area under ROC curve 0.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.62–0.74, p < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier examination revealed that the elevated NT-proBNP (≥ 168.05 pg/ml) group presented a considerably shorter period without an occurrence compared to the low-NT-proBNP group (18.4 vs. 22.2 months, log-rank p = 0.001). Multivariate cox regression investigation showed that a level of NT-proBNP ≥ 168.05 pg/ml (hazard ratio (HR): 2.89, 95% CI: 1.71-4.903, p < 0.001) was a reliable predictor of AF recurrence after RFCA.
Conclusions:
A high pre-ablation NT-proBNP level was associated with AF recurrence, and it was also discovered to be a prognostic factor of recurrence of AF following RFCA.
Keywords
atrial fibrillation, radiofrequency catheter ablation, recurrence, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide
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