Catheter Ablation and Healthcare Utilization and Cost Among Patients with Paroxysmal versus Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

ABSTRACT Background Ablation reduces atrial fibrillation (AF) burden and improves health-related quality of life. The relationship between ablation, healthcare utilization, and AF type (paroxysmal AF[PAF] vs. persistent AF[PsAF]) remains unclear. Objective To compare changes in AF-related healthcare utilization and costs from pre-to-post ablation among patients with PAF and PsAF. Methods Patients (2,794 PAF, 1,909 PsAF) undergoing ablation (2016-2018) were identified using the Optum database. Outcomes included inpatient admissions, emergency department (ED) visits, office visits, cardioversion, and anti-arrhythmic drug (AAD) use. Costs (2018 US$) and outcomes were compared for the year pre-/post-ablation using McNemar’s test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results Compared to PAF patients, PsAF patients were older(68.6±9.0 vs. 67.4±9.9years, p Conclusion Significant reductions in healthcare utilization and costs were observed among PAF and PsAF patients undergoing ablation. These data suggest a strategy of earlier ablation may reduce long term healthcare utilization and costs.