BACKGROUND: Obesity increases the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after ablation. This study explored the relationship between various obesity indexes and risk of recurrence after cryoablation of paroxysmal AF (PAF).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our prospective study included 100 patients with PAF who underwent first cryoablation. Physical examination and fasting blood lipids levels were measured at baseline. Seven obesity indexes were determined: body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), waist-hip ratio (WHR), cardiometabolic index (CMI), lipid accumulation product (LAP), and body adiposity index (BAI). AF recurrence was confirmed by electrocardiograms and Holter monitor at follow-up visits after the initial 3-month blanking period. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to assess the abilities of obesity indicators in predicting AF recurrence. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to examine independent predictors of AF recurrence.

RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 13.4 months, 31 patients (31.0%) had recurrent AF. Patients with recurrence had higher BMI, WC, WHtR, LAP, and BAI compared with those without recurrence. ROC analysis indicated the potential predictive value of BAI with an AUC of 0.657 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.534–0.779), followed by WC, WHtR, LAP, and BMI (all P<0.05). Diagnosis-to-ablation time (HR 1.034, 95% CI: 1.002–1.068), left atrial diameter (HR 1.147, 95% CI: 1.026–1.281), and WC (HR 1.026, 95% CI: 1.000–1.053) were independent predictive factors for AF recurrence after multivariable adjustment.

CONCLUSIONS: In this study population, WC appears to be a potential indicator for the prediction of recurrence in patients with PAF after cryoablation.

Keywords: Atrial Fibrillation, Body Mass Index, Obesity, Recurrence, waist circumference, Adiposity, Cryosurgery, Prospective Studies, ROC Curve, Risk Factors, Waist-Height Ratio, Waist-Hip Ratio