Abstract 4145634: Clinical Outcomes of Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation in Younger Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Catheter ablation has been increasingly used for managing atrial fibrillation (AF), to restore and maintain normal sinus rhythm. Despite its widespread use, it is unclear if there are differences in clinical outcomes, particularly in maintaining rhythm control and safety outcomes, between younger and older adults undergoing catheter ablation. The objective of this meta-analysis was to compare the outcomes following catheter ablation in younger and older adults. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using the PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar databases. Using random effect models, mantel-Haenszel odds ratios and associated 95% confidence intervals were calculated to report the overall effect size. The primary endpoints were AF/atrial tachycardia (AT) recurrence and re-ablation requirement. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital complications such as stroke/TIA, cardiac tamponade/pericardial effusion, and vascular complications such as bleeding, hematoma, AV fistula, and femoral pseudoaneurysm. The young adult group varied between studies, ranging from under 30 years to under 45 years. Results: Data from 10 articles, with a sample size of about 126,141 AF patients, were considered. Our analysis indicated that catheter ablation for AF in the younger age group was linked to reduced odds of AF/AT reoccurrence (OR: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.44 to 0.83; p=0.002) and a decreased need for re-ablation after the index procedure (OR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.53 to 0.97; p=0.03). Furthermore, catheter ablation in younger adults was found to be associated with a lower risk of in-hospital procedural complications like stroke/TIA (OR: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.43 to 0.80; p=0.0008) and cardiac tamponade/pericardial effusion (OR: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.42 to 0.68; p<0.0001). There was no difference between the two groups concerning vascular complications during the procedure (OR: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.28 to 1.27; p=0.18). Conclusion: This meta-analysis demonstrates that younger adults undergoing catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation reported significantly better clinical outcomes than older adults.