Background
Sleep fragmentation and sleep apnea are common in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We investigated the impact of radio‐frequency catheter ablation (RFCA) on sleep quality in patients with paroxysmal AF and the effect of a change in sleep quality on recurrence of AF.
Methods and Results
Of 445 patients who underwent RFCA for paroxysmal AF between October 2007 and January 2017, we analyzed 225 patients who had a 24‐hour Holter test within 6 months before RFCA. Sleep quality was assessed by cardiopulmonary coupling analysis using 24‐hour Holter data. We compared cardiopulmonary coupling parameters (high‐frequency coupling, low‐frequency coupling, very‐low‐frequency coupling) before and after RFCA. Six months after RFCA, the high‐frequency coupling (marker of stable sleep) and very‐low‐frequency coupling (rapid eye movement/wake marker) was significantly increased (29.84%–36.15%;
P
<0.001; and 26.20%–28.76%;
P
=0.002, respectively) while low‐frequency coupling (unstable sleep marker) was decreased (41.25%–32.13%;
P
<0.001). We divided patients into 3 tertiles according to sleep quality before RFCA, and the risk of AF recurrence in each group was compared. The second tertile was used as a reference; patients with unstable sleep (Tertile 3) had a significantly lower risk of AF recurrence (hazard ratio [HR], 0.32; 95% CI, 0.12–0.83 for high‐frequency coupling; and HR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.09–0.58 for low‐frequency coupling).
Conclusions
Sleep quality improved after RFCA in patients with paroxysmal AF. The recurrence rate was significantly lower in patients who had unstable sleep before RFCA. These results suggest that RFCA can influence sleep quality, and sleep quality assessment before RFCA may provide a risk marker for recurrence after RFCA in patients with paroxysmal AF.
While AF most often occurs in the setting of atrial disease, current assessment and treatment of patients with AF does not focus on the extent of the atrial myopathy that serves as the substrate for this arrhythmia. Atrial myopathy, in particular atrial fibrosis, may initiate a vicious cycle in which atrial myopathy leads to AF, which in turn leads to a worsening myopathy. Various techniques, including ECG, plasma biomarkers, electroanatomical voltage mapping, echocardiography, and cardiac MRI, can help to identify and quantify aspects of the atrial myopathy. Current therapies, such as catheter ablation, do not directly address the underlying atrial myopathy. There is emerging research showing that by targeting this myopathy we can help decrease the occurrence and burden of AF.
Impact of Catheter Ablation on Sleep Quality and Relationship Between Sleep Stability and Recurrence of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation After Successful Ablation: 24‐Hour Holter‐Based Cardiopulmonary Coupling Analysis
