Mortality analysis in patients with atrial fibrillation and implantable permanent pacemaker after ablation of the atrioventricular node.

Object: Atrial fibrillation is associated with excess mortality. This analysis was performed to determine the magnitude of the excess mortality risk.

Methods: Life table analysis of a published study of 350 patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation of the atrioventricular node and permanent pacemaker implantation for symptomatic paroxysmal or chronic atrial fibrillation. A substantial proportion of subjects had evidence of left ventricular dysfunction.

Results: In this cohort, compared to expected population mortality, the relative mortality ratio was 234% and the annual excess death rate was 46 deaths/1000.