Association of left pulmonary vein trunk and subclinical atrial fibrillation in patients with cardiac implantable electronic device.

ABSTRACT

The relationship between subclinical atrial fibrillation (SCAF) and left pulmonary vein anatomy is unknown. This study sought to investigate whether left pulmonary vein trunk predict the development of SCAF in patients with cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED). We also examined the relationship between the duration of SCAF and left pulmonary vein trunk. We retrospectively enrolled 162 patients who underwent implantation of dual-chamber CIEDs and follow-up by remote monitoring system. Computed tomography was used to measure the length of the left pulmonary vein. During median follow up of 2.7 years, the episodes of > 6 min and > 24 h SCAF were observed in 61 (37.7%) and 24 (14.8%) patients, respectively. The diagnosis of sinus node disease (HR 3.66 [2.06-6.52], P < 0.01 and HR 2.68 [1.09-6.62], P = 0.04) and left atrial diameter (HR 1.04 [1.00-1.07], P = 0.04 and HR 1.05 [1.00-1.10], P = 0.04) were independent predictors for > 6 min and > 24 h SCAF, respectively. Length of the left pulmonary vein trunk was an independent predictor for > 6 min SCAF (HR 1.06 [1.02-1.10], P < 0.01), but not for > 24 h SCAF (P = 0.06). Sinus node disease, size of the left atrium and length of the left pulmonary vein trunk were related to SCAF. The left pulmonary vein trunk might especially contribute as a trigger rather than as a driver of development of atrial fibrillation.