Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia and its prevalence increases with age. Elderly patients with AF require careful management to assure optimal outcomes and prevention of untoward consequences such as stroke. Although radiofrequency catheter ablation has evolved as a highly effective treatment modality to eliminate AF in younger patients, the data on the role of catheter ablation in elderly patients with AF have been rather limited. However, several studies suggest that outcomes of catheter ablation for AF in the elderly can be just as successful as in younger patients. On the other hand, the elderly may be at higher risk for periprocedural complications, specifically thromboembolic events. In this review, the role of catheter ablation for AF in the elderly is discussed in detail.
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Financial & competing interests disclosure
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.