TABLE 1.
Characteristics of included studies
| Study | Design | Experimental arm | Control arm | Endpoints | Follow‐up duration | Type of atrial fibrillation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cha et al., 2011 | Prospective cohort study | Radiofrequency ablation on LV diastolic dysfunction group (abnormal diastolic function and LVEF ≥50%) and LV systolic dysfunction group (abnormal diastolic function and LVEF≤40%) | Radiofrequency ablation on normal LV function group (normal diastolic function, LVEF ≥50%) |
Primary: AAD free AF elimination 1 year after ablation Secondary: ablation times and complications |
5 years | Paroxysmal, persistent, or permanent |
| Black‐Maier et al., 2018 | Retrospective cohort study | Radiofrequency ablation on HFpEF (LVEF ≥50%) | Radiofrequency ablation on HFrEF (LVEF <50%) | Primary: freedom from recurrent atrial arrhythmia at 1 year, in‐hospital adverse events | 1 year | Paroxysmal, persistent |
| Ichijo et al., 2018 | Retrospective cohort study | Radiofrequency ablation on HFpEF (LVEF >45%) | Radiofrequency ablation on HFrEF (LVEF ≤45%) |
Primary: freedom from AF Secondary: all‐cause mortality, stroke, HF‐related unplanned hospitalizations |
4 years | Paroxysmal, persistent |
| Eitel et al., 2019 | Prospective cohort study |
Ablation (radiofrequency, cryoballoon, or AV‐node ablation) on HFpEF (LVEF ≥50%) Ablation (radiofrequency, cryoballoon, or AV‐node ablation) on HFmrEF (LVEF 40–49%) |
Ablation (radiofrequency, cryoballoon, or AV‐node ablation) on HFrEF (LVEF <40%) | Primary: AF recurrence, all‐cause mortality, peri‐procedural complications | 1 year | Paroxysmal, persistent, or permanent |
| Aldaas et al., 2020 | Retrospective cohort study |
Radiofrequency ablation on HFpEF (LVEF ≥50%) Radiofrequency ablation on HFrEF (LVEF <50%) |
Radiofrequency ablation on patients without HF | Primary: in‐hospital adverse events, recurrence of atrial arrhythmia, all‐cause hospitalization and mortality | 5 years | Paroxysmal, persistent |
| Arora et al., 2020 | Retrospective cohort study | Radiofrequency ablation on HFpEF (no mention of EF cutoff) | Radiofrequency ablation on HFrEF (no mention of EF cutoff) |
Primary: composite of HF readmission and mortality Secondary: HF readmission, mortality, AF readmission |
1 year | Paroxysmal, persistent |
| Vecchio et al., 2019 | Prospective cohort study | Radiofrequency ablation on HFpEF (LVEF ≥50%) | Radiofrequency ablation on HFrEF (LVEF <45%) |
Primary: freedom from AF Secondary: peri‐procedural |
1 year | Paroxysmal, persistent |
Abbreviations: AAD, anti‐arrhythmic drug; AF, atrial fibrillation; AV, atrioventricular; HF, heart failure; HFpEF, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction; HFrEF, heart failure with reduced ejection fraction; LV, left ventricular; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction.