Complication Rates of Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients Aged ≥75 Years versus <75 Years-Results from the German Ablation Registry

Age-Related Complication Rates in AF AblationIntroduction Despite a rising demand for catheter ablation (CA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) in an elderly population, complication and success rates are not fully elucidated. We sought to compare complication rates of CA of AF in patients ≥75 versus <75 years of age. Methods and Results Patients with symptomatic, drug-refractory AF were prospectively enrolled from January 2007 to 2010 in this multicenter study. A total of 4,449 patients, group 1 ≥75 years and group 2 <75 years (n = 227, age 77.3 ± 2.2 vs. 59.7 ± 9.8 years, 52.0% vs. n = 4,222, 68.9% male, CHA2DS2-VASc-Score 3.7 ± 1.0 vs. 1.7 ± 1.2; P < 0.001, respectively), with paroxysmal AF (59…