Background: Cryoablation has emerged as a recognized interventional
strategy for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). Numerous trials have
investigated cryoablation as a first-line therapy for AF. This meta-analysis
aimed to evaluate the impact of cryoablation on quality of life (QoL) and safety
outcomes compared to antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) in patients with symptomatic AF.
Methods: A comprehensive search of the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane
Library databases was conducted for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing
cryoablation and AADs as first-line treatments for AF until May 2023. Continuous
outcome data were analyzed using mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence
intervals (CIs), and dichotomous outcome data were analyzed using relative risks
(RRs) with 95% CIs. The primary outcomes assessed were QoL and serious adverse
events. Results: Our analysis included four RCTs involving 928 patients.
Cryoablation was associated with a significant improvement in the AF Effect on
Quality of Life (AFEQT) score (3 trials; MD 7.46, 95% CI 2.50 to 12.42;
p = 0.003; I
Announcements
Open Access
Systematic Review
Quality of Life and Safety Outcomes after First-Line Treatment of Symptomatic AF with Cryoablation or Drug Therapy: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Show Less
1
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410008 Changsha, Hunan, China
*Correspondence: fanchengming@csu.edu.cn (Chengming Fan)
Rev. Cardiovasc. Med. 2024, 25(2), 71;
https://doi.org/10.31083/j.rcm2502071
Submitted: 14 July 2023 | Revised: 21 September 2023 | Accepted: 7 October 2023 | Published: 20 February 2024
Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.
This is an open access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Abstract
Keywords
atrial fibrillation
cryoablation
anti-arrhythmic drug
meta-analysis
quality of life
first-line treatment
Figures
Fig. 1.