Cardiac resynchronisation therapy response predicts occurrence of atrial fibrillation in non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine whether or not cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has a favourable effect on the incidence of new‐onset atrial fibrillation (AF) in a homogeneous population of patients with non‐ischaemic idiopathic‐dilated cardiomyopathy and severe heart failure. Methods: We designed a single‐centre prospective study and enrolled 58 patients AF naïve when received CRT. After 1 year of follow‐up our population was subdivided into responders (72.4%) and non‐responders (27.6%), so as to compare the incidence of AF after 1, 2 and 3 years of follow‐up in these two groups. Results: Already after 1 year, there was a significant (p < 0.05) difference in new‐onset AF in non‐responder patients with respect to responders (18.2% vs. 3.3%). These data were confirmed at 2 years (33.3% vs. 12.2%) and 3 years (50.0% vs. 15.0%) follow‐up. In particular, 3 years after device implantation non‐responders had an increased risk to develop new‐onset AF (OR = 5.67). Conclusions: This is the first study analysing long‐term effects of CRT in a homogeneous population of patients with non‐ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy, indicating the favourable role of this non‐pharmacological therapy on the prevention of AF.