Role of CHA₂DS₂-VASc score in predicting atrial fibrillation recurrence in patients undergoing pulmonary vein isolation with cryoballoon ablation [Role of CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc score in predicting atrial fibrillation recurrence in patients undergoing pulmonary vein isolation with cryoballoon ablation]

Background Pulmonary vein isolation by cryoablation (PVI-C) is a standard therapy for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). The CHA(2)DS(2 )-VASc score is a well-established predictor of AF-related stroke. Whether the CHA(2)DS(2 ) -VASc score can also be useful in predicting the long-term clinical outcomes following PVI-C is still unsettled. The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the role of the CHA(2)DS(2 ) -VASc score in predicting AF recurrence after PVI-C.Methods Patients with symptomatic AF underwent an index PVI-C. Data were collected prospectively in the framework of the 1STOP ClinicalService project. Patients were categorized into two groups: low risk (LR) and high risk (HR) based on CHA(2)DS(2 ) -VASc score (0-1 and >= 2, respectively).Results Out of 3313 patients, 1910 (57.6%) had a CHA(2)DS(2 ) -VASc score between 0 and 1, while 1403 (42.3%) had CHA(2)DS(2 ) -VASc > = 2. Patient characteristics were significantly different between the two cohorts, including age, sex, BMI, paroxysmal AF, history of stroke, diabetes, and ischemic cardiomyopathy. On the contrary, procedural times and acute complications were comparable. The 36-month freedom from AF after a single procedure was 72.5% (95% CI: 69.8-75.0) in the LR group and 65.9% (95% CI: 62.3-69.2) in the HR score group (HR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.08-1.47, p = 0.001). After multivariate analysis, higher CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score was still a significant predictor of the risk of AF recurrence (HR: 1.33; 1.10-1.60, p =0.003).Conclusions PVI-C is highly effective in the treatment of AF over the long term. A CHA(2)DS(2 ) -VASc score >= 2 is an independent predictor of AF recurrence during the follow-up and should be considered during the clinical management after the index procedure.