Pediatric Atrial Fibrillation, Although Rare, Has Risk of Serious Complications and High Recurrence Rates

Philadelphia, PA, October 8, 2013 /3Bl Media/ – Atrial fibrillation (AF), characterized by a rapid and irregular heartbeat, is the most common chronic arrhythmia in adults, but is rare in children. In one of the first studies of pediatric “lone AF” (AF without associated heart disease), researchers found a nearly 40% recurrence rate and that AF in the young is accompanied by substantial symptoms. Three patients had significant complications: one with a stroke and two with substantially impaired heart function. The researchers’ findings are published in the October issue of the Canadian Journal of Cardiology.

“Large population studies of adult patients with lone AF have found that the cumulative rate of progression to permanent AF is 19% at ten years and 29% at 30 years, but there are no similar data published for younger patients. Longer term follow-up studies of pediatric patients with lone AF are required to better understand the natural history specific to this population,” says lead investigator Shubhayan Sanatani, MD, Associate Professor, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver.

Lone AF is defined as occurring in patients with AF who are less than 60 years of age and do not suffer from other forms of cardiovascular disease or hypertension. Lone AF in younger patients is rare and constitutes less than 5% of all types of AF.

Four centers from the Canadian Pediatric Electrophysiology Working Group (Vancouver, Toronto, Edmonton, and Ottawa) identified patients eligible for the current study, which resulted in the largest cohort of pediatric lone AF to date. Investigators reviewed records from 1996 to 2011 and identified 42 patients with a first episode of lone AF. Four patients were later categorized as having persistent AF. Patients with AF in the setting of thyroid disease, ventricular pre-excitation, coexisting congenital heart disease, or a history of cardiac surgery were excluded. Thirty-one of the patients were male, and the median age at first presentation was 15 years.

The investigators sought to describe the clinical characteristics, management strategies, and recurrence rates and to identify factors that might predict AF recurrence. They found that AF recurred in 15 of 38 patients (39%) and the time to estimated recurrence was 19 months. Factors predictive of recurrence included longer duration of the initial episode and the reporting of frequent palpitations (daily or weekly) after the initial episode. Three patients had AF-related complications.

There was a wide variation in management strategies used in both the acute treatment and outpatient management of AF, particularly in the treatment of the initial presenting episode.

Sex, age, family history, size of the left atrium, and a history of cardioversion (a procedure that can “shock” certain abnormal rhythms back to a normal rhythm) were not associated with recurrence. Excluding patients with persistent AF, recurrence with another supraventricular tachyarrhythmia (SVT) was observed in 6 of 38 (16%) patients, which is possibly a predisposing factor for AF. Twelve patients underwent electrophysiology (EP) study, with six patients receiving ablation.

“In conclusion, although it appears to be a rare disease in pediatric patients, lone AF does carry a substantial burden of symptoms and has a high recurrence rate,” comments Dr. Sanatani. “Our reported rate of recurrence of 39% is important when counseling pediatric patients and their families on the expected course and treatment goals. The specific management strategies in pediatric patients have still not been well defined, but there is a need for an organized and consistent approach. Pediatric practice should be in alignment with published adult guidelines. Long-term follow-up studies and larger series of pediatric patients with lone AF are required to better understand the natural history,” he concludes.

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Notes for editors
“Lone Atrial Fibrillation in the Pediatric Population,” by Lindsay C. Mills, MD, Robert M. Gow, MBBS, Kim Myers, MD, Michal J. Kantoch, MD, Gil J. Gross, MD, Anne Fournier, MD, and Shubhayan Sanatani, MD, Canadian Journal of Cardiology, Volume 29/Issue 10 (October 2013), DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cjca.2013.06.014, published by Elsevier.

Full text of the article is available to credentialed journalists upon request. Contact Eileen Leahy at +1 732 238 3628 or e.leahy@elsevier.com to obtain copies.

Journalists wishing to set up interviews with the authors should contact Dr. Shubhayan Sanatani at ssanatani@cw.bc.ca.

About the Canadian Journal Of Cardiology
The Canadian Journal of Cardiology (www.onlinecjc.ca) is the official journal of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society (www.ccs.ca). It is a vehicle for the international dissemination of new knowledge in cardiology and cardiovascular science, particularly serving as a major venue for the results of Canadian cardiovascular research and Society guidelines. The journal publishes original reports of clinical and basic research relevant to cardiovascular medicine as well as editorials, review articles, case reports, and papers on health outcomes, policy research, ethics, medical history, and political issues affecting practice.

About the editor-in-chief
Editor-in-Chief Stanley Nattel, MD, is Paul-David Chair in Cardiovascular Electrophysiology and Professor of Medicine at the University of Montreal and Director of the Electrophysiology Research Program at the Montreal Heart Institute Research Center.

About the Canadian Cardiovascular Society
The Canadian Cardiovascular Society is the professional association for Canadian cardiovascular physicians and scientists working to promote cardiovascular health and care through knowledge translation, professional development, and leadership in health policy. The CCS provides programs and services to its 1900+ members and others in the cardiovascular community, including guidelines for cardiovascular care, the annual Canadian Cardiovascular Congress, and, with the Canadian Cardiovascular Academy, programs for trainees. More information about the CCS and its activities can be found at www.ccs.ca.

About Elsevier
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Media contact
Eileen Leahy
Elsevier
+1 732 238 3628
cjcmedia@elsevier.com