Main findings
The main findings of this multicenter cohort study are as follows: (1)
The incidence of the primary composite event of major adverse cardiac
and cerebrovascular events after the first catheter ablation for AF was
2.1 per 100 person-years. (2) The primary composite endpoint occurred
less frequently in the patients without late AF recurrence than in those
with AF recurrence (incidence rates of 1.7 vs. 3.2 per 100 person-years,
respectively). (3) In the multivariate analysis, older age (HR 1.05),
hypertension (HR 1.58), heart failure (HR 1.87), old myocardial
infarction (HR 4.25), nonischemic cardiomyopathy (HR 2.68), and larger
LAD (HR 1.18) were independent factors associated with the primary
composite endpoint, and freedom from AF recurrence was independently
associated with a lower risk of the primary composite endpoint (HR
0.57).