Decreased anxiety after catheter ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is associated with augmented parasympathetic reactivity to stress

BACKGROUND: Psychological improvement after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) has been reported, but its mechanism is unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to clarify the relationship between cardiac autonomic modification and psychological changes after catheter ablation for paroxysmal AF (PAF). METHODS: Thirty-five consecutive patients (60.5 ± 11.9 years; male, n = 24) with PAF treated by catheter ablation were enrolled. Autonomic activity and reactivity to stress and psychological status were measured before (baseline) and at 1 and 3 months after ablation. We assessed autonomic activity and reactivity to stress by measuring heart rate variability (HRV) at rest (Rest), and during (Task) and after (After) the execution of a task and assessed relationships between HRV parameters and psychological changes using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). RESULTS: The STAI state and trait scores significantly decreased at 3 months compared with baseline, whereas SDS scores essentially remained unchanged. The high-frequency (HF) response index (Task/Rest) and HF recovery index (After/Rest) were significantly higher than baseline at 3 months (0.40 [0.29–0.90] vs 1.30 [0.64–2.18], P = .007 for HF response index; 1.13 [0.92–2.19] vs 1.87 [1.19–2.97], P = .049 for HF recovery index). Reductions in STAI scores positively correlated with increments in the HF recovery index in the entire cohort as well as in 5 patients with recurrent AF. CONCLUSIONS: Some augmentation of parasympathetic reactivity to stress correlated with reduced anxiety, implying that cardiac autonomic modification plays roles in psychological improvement after catheter ablation for AF.