Persistent atrial fibrillation is associated with a poor prognosis in patients with atrioventricular block and dual-chamber pacemaker

Background : The prognostic significance of development of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with atrioventricular (AV) block and dual chamber (DDD) pacemakers has not been separately investigated. We sought to determine whether persistent AF influences clinical outcome in these patients. Methods: Three hundred‐eight consecutive patients with second‐ or third‐degree AV block and implanted a DDD pacemaker were followed for 36 ± 20 months and retrospectively divided into two groups. Thirty‐four patients who developed persistent AF formed persistent AF group, and 278 patients who remained free of this arrhythmia control group. Clinical and outcome data of the two groups were compared. The primary outcome was cardiovascular death. Results: The primary outcome occurred more often among the patients in the persistent AF group (6.8% per year) than among those in the control group (2.9% per year; P = 0.028). This difference was primarily because of higher rate of heart failure‐related deaths in the persistent AF group (P = 0.009). Secondary outcomes, hospitalization for heart failure and paroxysmal AF episode ≥5 minutes, occurred also more often among the patients in the persistent AF group (P = 0.008 and P < 0.001, respectively), although the risk of nonfatal stroke was similar in both groups (P = 0.628). Conclusion: In patients with second‐ or third‐degree AV block and DDD pacemaker, the development of persistent AF is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular death and heart failure. (PACE 2012; 35:695–702)