Frailty may be a new predictive factor of recurrence after radiofrequency catheter ablation in elderly atrial fibrillation patients

Background: Frailty and atrial fibrillation (AF) outcomes require in-depth, multidimensional investigation. We aim to explore the association between frailty and factors such as hospital stay, quality of life, and recurrence after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) in elderly patients.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study involving 195 hospitalized elderly AF patients. The FRAIL scale was used to assess frailty, while the EQ-5D-5L scale evaluated the quality of life. Recurrence status was tracked over a 6-month follow-up period. Survival analysis, linear regression, and logistic regression were employed for data analysis.

Results: The prevalence of frailty among participants was 24.1%. Our findings indicate that frailty is associated with higher recurrence rates after RFCA (p=0.028, OR=2.43), longer hospitalization stay(p=0.034, OR=2.21), and poorer quality of life (p=0.001, β'=-0.287).

Conclusion: Early screening and intervention for frail elderly AF patients should be prioritized to enhance their prognosis and quality of life.