RT-146
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Ablate and pace for paroxysmal
atrial fibrillation: epidemiology, short and long term results
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Michele Brignole, Carlo Menozzi,
Lorella Gianfranchi, Gino Lolli.
Arrhythmologic Center, Ospedali Riuniti, Lavagna, Department of Cardiology and
Arrhythmologic Center, Ospedale S. Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy
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The figure of the potential candidates
for ablate and pace treatment
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Atrial fibrillation is by far the most frequent
arrhythmia. It has been calculated that it accounts for 1.6% to 2% of the general
population. It is particularly frequent in the elderly, in males and in patients with
heart disease; the prevalence of atrial fibrillation is 9.1 in men and women with
cardiovascular disease over 65 years of age1,2. Given
this high incidence, even if catheter ablation therapy was prescribed for a minority of
drug refractory patients3, the total number of
potential candidates for this treatment would be very high. For example, we have
calculated that in Europe about 396 000 patients (216 000 over 65 years) are affected by
intolerable paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (Fig. 1).
 
Fig. 1
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