ABSTRACT
This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine the clinical relevance of echocardiographically measured left atrial (LA) size to predict the recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after direct current cardioversion (DCCV). A search was performed on Medline (Ovid), Embase (Elsevier), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in Cochrane Library, Wiley and Web of Science (Clarivate) to identify relevant studies. Amongst the initial 4066 citations identified, 31 fulfilled the criteria for inclusion in the data analysis incorporating 2725 patients with a mean follow-up period of 6.5 months. The weighted mean left atrial volume index (LAVI) was 40.56 ml/m2 (95 %CI:37.24-43.88) in the sinus rhythm (SR) maintenance group versus 48.69 ml/m2 (95 % CI: 44.42-52.97) in the AF recurrence group with P value of < 0.001, left atrial diameter (LAD) was 42.06 mm (95 %CI: 41.08-43.05) in the SR maintenance group versus 45.13 mm (95 %CI: 44.09-46.16) in the AF recurrence group, P value < 0.001. Effect size analysis of LAVI showed that each unit increase in LAVI resulted in an increase in the risk of AF recurrence by 6 % (95 % CI: 3 %-10 %). Age and AF duration were also statistically significant between the two groups however comorbidities, use of beta blockers or amiodarone were not significantly different. This meta-analysis shows that AF duration, LAVI, LAD and age predict the risk of recurrence of atrial fibrillation post electrical cardioversion with LAVI being the most clinically relevant echocardiographic feature.
