The impact of age on the electroanatomical characteristics and outcome of catheter ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Previous studies have indicated that atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients over the age of 60 at diagnosis is a risk factor for a substantial increase in cardiovascular events. However, information about the impact of age on the atrial substrate and clinical outcome after catheter ablation of AF is limited.

Methods: This study included 350 patients (53 ± 12 years, 254 males) who underwent circumferential pulmonary vein isolation (CPVI) of AF, guided by a NavX mapping system.

Gender differences of electrophysiological characteristics in focal atrial tachycardia.

Gender differences of supraventricular tachycardias such as atrioventricular nodal re-entry, atrioventricular re-entry, and atrial fibrillation have been reported. There is little evidence of the effect of gender on focal atrial tachycardia (FAT). The study consisted of 298 patients who were referred to this institution for radiofrequency catheter ablation of FAT from October 1992 to April 2008 and included 156 men (52%) and 142 women (48%).

Electrophysiologic characteristics and catheter ablation of focal atrial tachycardia with more than one focus.

Background: Information about the electrophysiologic characteristics and long-term outcome of catheter ablation in patients with multiple focal atrial tachycardia (AT) is limited.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the electrophysiologic characteristics and long-term outcome of catheter ablation in patients with multiple focal AT.

Methods: Two hundred fifty-one patients who were referred for radiofrequency catheter ablation of focal AT were included for analysis.