Patient population:
The mean age of the study population (n=71) was 62 ± 12 years old.
Thirty-four patients (47,9%) had hypertension and 5 (7%) were
diabetic. The mean ejection fraction (EF) was 58 ± 8%. There was no
baseline difference in population demographics between patients with
paroxysmal (n=31) and persistent (n=40) AF (age: 60 ± 12 vs. 62 ± 12
years old, p=ns, hypertension: 11/31 vs. 23/40, p=0,08, diabetes: 2/31
vs. 3/40, p=0,9, EF: 59 ± 6% vs. 57 ± 9, p=0,48) (Table 1).Comparing the LA parameters between patients with paroxysmal and
persistent AF before index procedure, there were no differences noted on
the LA volume (121,8 ± 25,8 ml vs. 133,5 ± 32 ml, p=0,1). The indexed LA
volume for body surface showed a tendency for a significantly increased
LA volume index (62 ± 11,5 ml/m2 vs. 68,4 ± 16,4
ml/m2, p=0,06) in patients with persistent AF.
Furthermore, no statistical significant differences were noted regarding
the LA surface (140,6 ± 20,7 cm2 vs. 148,8 ± 23
cm2 , p=0,12), LA surface index (71,8 ± 9
cm2/m2 vs. 76,3 ± 12,3
cm2/m2 p=0,078), LA antero-posterior
diameter (41,2 ± 5 mm vs. 42,1 ± 5,8 mm, p=0,5) and LA sphericity (82,3
± 2,2% vs. 82,4 ± 2,8, p=0,9) in both group of patients (Table
2).