NAFLD linked to Increased Arrhythmia recurrence after AF Ablation

Written By : Dr.Niharika Harsha B |Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli Published On 2020-08-18T21:35:13+05:30 | Updated On 18 Aug 2020 9:35 PM IST

A recent study from Cleveland Clinic found that following Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation there is significantly increased recurrence of Arrhythmia in Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). The study was published in Journal ' JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology, 2020.

The association is concerning given that one in four adults in the United States has NAFLD, and up to 6.1 million Americans are estimated to have AF.

NAFLD is a pathologic condition occurring with increased prevalence in patients with Type 2 Diabetes. The incidence and recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF), are associated with metabolic derangements like obesity and diabetes. Apart from AF they can also lead to the development of NAFLD. Researchers from Cleveland clinic and University of Chicago conducted a study to investigate the association between NAFLD and arrhythmia recurrence following atrial fibrillation ablation. They also examined the impact of NAFLD stage on outcomes.

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The recent study was a retrospective study conducted on 267 consecutive patients undergoing AF ablation. Out of these 267 patients 89 were diagnosed with NAFLD prior to ablation and matched in a 2:1 manner based on age, sex, body mass index, ejection fraction, and AF type with 178 patients without NAFLD. Patients were monitored for arrhythmia recurrence during a mean follow-up of 29 months.

The key findings of the study were:

• Recurrent arrhythmia was observed in 50 (56%) patients with NAFLD compared with 37 (21%) without NAFLD.

• Epicardial fat volume was measured on computed tomography and was significantly higher among those with NAFLD (p = 0.01).

• On multi-variable models adjusting for sleep apnea, body mass index, heart failure, AF type, and left atrial size, NAFLD was independently associated with increased rates of arrhythmia recurrence (p < 0.0001).

Thus, the authors concluded that NAFLD is associated with significantly increased arrhythmia recurrence rates following AF ablation. They further added that Identification and reversal, where possible, may result in improved arrhythmia-free survival.

For further reading, click the following link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacep.2020.05.023

Arrythmiasnon-alcoholic fatty liver diseaseatrial fibrillationFatty liver diseaseAF ablation

Source : JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology, 2020

Dr.Niharika Harsha B

BDS, MDS

Dr.Niharika Harsha B (BDS,MDS) completed her BDS from Govt Dental College, Hyderabad and MDS from Dr.NTR University of health sciences(Now Kaloji Rao University). She has 4 years of private dental practice and worked for 2 years as Consultant Oral Radiologist at a Dental Imaging Centre in Hyderabad. She worked as Research Assistant and scientific writer in the development of Oral Anti cancer screening device with her seniors. She has a deep intriguing wish in writing highly engaging, captivating and informative medical content for a wider audience. She can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in.

Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751