Real-world data meta-analysis: procedural success and clinical outcomes after radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation in South America.

Objective: To profile patients' characteristics, in-hospital results, and recurrence rates after radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation (RAAF) in South America.

Methods: We comprehensively searched for single-center studies from South America with ≥10 patients receiving RAAF, published or presented from January 1, 2010, through June 29, 2020, excluding those reports aimed to specific populations such as permanent atrial fibrillation, structural cardiopathies, or re-do procedures.

Results: Main pooled estimates from a random-effects meta-analysis that included 3909 patients from 27 cohorts (from 5 countries): a) Patients characteristics: age 57.6 years (95% CI 55.7-59.5), male gender 71.5% (95% CI 67.0-75.6%), hypertension 54.2% (95% CI 45.4-62.8%), paroxysmal atrial fibrillation 79.8% (95% CI 71.3-94.5%), CHADS score 1.2 (95% CI 0.5-1.9), b) Acute procedural success 91.1% (95% CI 82.2-95.8%), c) In-hospital complications: stroke 0.6% (95% CI 0.3-1.2%), cardiac tamponade 2.3% (95% CI 1.4-3.7), hematoma 3.5% (95% CI 2.0-6.1), pseudoaneurysm 1.2% (95% CI 0.6-2.3), arteriovenous fistula 2.5% (95% CI 1.6-4.1). There were no cases of esophageal-atrial fistula nor death. Pooled estimate for arrhythmia recurrence (excluded 3-months blanking period) at 12 months was 19.9% (95% CI 17.0-23.1).

Conclusion: In-hospital results of RAAF reported for South American centers were worse than published international registries, even when included populations profile was of lower risk, as reflected in younger age and less prevalence of non-paroxysmal AF. Late recurrence rates seemed appropriate. This study provides a real-life framework for the analysis of the performance of this technology in the region.