Predictive value of clinical risk scores for determination of left atrial low voltage area and arrhythmia recurrences in patients undergoing atrial fibrillation ablation

FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Type of funding sources: None. BACKGROUND: Presence of left atrial low voltage area (LVA) is an independent predictor of atrial tachyarhythmia (ATa) recurrences after atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. Thus identifying patients with LVA by using non-invasive methods is an important endeavour. PURPOSE: In this study; we investigated the predictors of LVA and postablation recurrences especially focusing on clinical risk scores. METHODS: We enrolled 328 consecutive patients who underwent initial AF ablation procedure using high density mapping. LVAs were assessed and segmental distribution was noted in each patient. CHA2DS2-VASc, HATCH, APPLE and SPEED scores were calculated. Predictive value and arrhythmia recurrences were evaluated. RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty one patients (67.37%) were paroxysmal AF and 107 (32.62%) patients were non-paroxysmal AF at the time of ablation. Mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was 1.88±1.66, mean APPLE score was 1.20±1.20, HATCH score was 0.93±1.00 and SPEED score was 1.54±1.27 in the whole study group. LVA was detected in 131 patients (39.93%). Female gender [OR:2.94, CI: 1.34-6.43, p=0.007), non-paroxsymal AF (OR: 2.49 CI:1.13-5.46, p=0.023), APPLE score ≥1 (OR:1.69 CI:1.12-2.55, p=0.012) and SPEED score ≥ 1 (OR: 1.47 CI:1.00-2.14, p=0.045] were independent predictors for the presence of LVA in multivariate analysis. Presence of LVA (OR:1.98; CI:1.13-4.15; p=0.017) and HT (OR:2.00; CI:1.19-3.38; p=0.009) were the independent predictors of recurrences. CONCLUSION: Higher clinical scores are associated with more LVA which is associated with ATa recurrence. However the predictive value of these risk scores is limited. Better risk scoring systems are needed to precisely identify the underlying atrial substrate in this patient group. [Figure: see text] [Figure: see text]