COOL-PER
The COOL-PER (CryOablatiOn for PuLmonary vein isolation alone in patients with early PERsistent AF assessed by continuous monitoring) trial is an investigator-initiated, multicenter, single-arm, and prospective study to evaluate the efficacy of cryoballoon ablation (CBA) in AF burden reduction among Korean patietns with early persistent atrial fibrillation (AF).
This study conprehensively analyzed the AF burden reduction after CBA using implantable loop recorder (ILR). Interestingly, based on pre-CBA ILR results, we found that 25% of patients clinically classified as persistent AF were actually high-burden paroxysmal AF with a median pre-ablation burden of 24%.
We also found that
Greater symptom improvement was associated with lower post-CBA AF burden, and
AF burden is significantly reduced in both regressed and stationary cases, with corresponding QoL and symptom improvements.
The substantial heterogeneity within clinically diagnosed persistent AF is restated, and the results of post-ablation AF burden and related outcomes were also substantially different. Individualized approaches according to post-ablation AF burden and persistent AF type to estimate the actual benefit of AF ablation will be crucial in the future.
Study manuscript about baseline results and further sub-studies will be published soon.
The abstract for baseline data can be found online at Heart Rhythm Society. (doi: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2023.07.018)
