Mortality analysis in patients with atrial fibrillation and implantable permanent pacemaker after ablation of the atrioventricular node.

OBJECT Atrial fibrillation is associated with excess mortality. This analysis was performed to determine the magnitude of the excess mortality risk. METHODS Life table analysis of a published study of 350 patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation of the atrioventricular node and permanent pacemaker implantation for symptomatic paroxysmal or chronic atrial fibrillation. A substantial proportion of subjects had evidence of left ventricular dysfunction. RESULTS In this cohort, compared to expected population mortality, the relative mortality ratio was 234% and the annual excess death rate was 46 deaths/1000.