Association of beat-to-beat P-wave analysis index to the extent of left atrial low-voltage areas in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

Background Left atrial (LA) fibrosis has been shown to be associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence. Beat-to-beat (B2B) index is a non-invasive classifier, based on B2B P-wave morphological and wavelet analysis, shown to be associated with AF incidence and recurrence. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the B2B index is associated with the extent of LA low-voltage areas (LVAs) on electroanatomical mapping. Methods Patients with paroxysmal AF scheduled for pulmonary vein isolation, without evident structural remodeling, were included. Pre-ablation electroanatomical voltage maps were used to calculate the surface of LVAs (<0.5 mV). B2B index was compared between patients with small versus large LVAs. Results 35 patients were included (87% male, median age 62). The median surface area of LVAs was 7.7 (4.4-15.8) cm2 corresponding to 5.6 (3.3-12.1) % of LA endocardial surface. B2B index was 0.57 (0.52-0.59) in patients with small LVAs (below the median) compared to 0.65 (0.56-0.77) in those with large LVAs (above the median) (p=0.009). In the receiver operator characteristic curve analysis for predicting large LVAs, the c-statistic was 0.75 (p=0.006) for B2B index and 0.81 for the multivariable model including B2B index (multivariable p=0.04) and P-wave duration. Conclusion In patients with paroxysmal AF without overt atrial myopathy, B2B P-wave analysis appears to be a useful non-invasive correlate of low-voltage areas—and thus fibrosis—in the LA. This finding establishes a pathophysiological basis for B2B index and its potential usefulness in the selection process of patients who are likely to benefit most from further invasive treatment.