Effects of Transcatheter Atrial Septal Defect Closure in Elderly Patients with Long-Standing Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

Purpose Although the safety and efficacy of transcatheter atrial septal defect (ASD) closure has been reported in elderly patients, postprocedural outcomes in elderly patients with long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) have not been fully assessed. The aim of this study was to elucidate the cardiac remodeling process and symptom improvement after transcatheter ASD closure in elderly patients with AF (AF-ASD) compared to those in sinus rhythm (SR-ASD). Methods We enrolled 52 patients aged > 70 years out of 253 consecutive patients who underwent transcatheter ASD closure. We retrospectively analyzed serial echocardiograms, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification, and plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels from baseline to 1 year after the procedure. Results With respect to the right-sided chambers, significant reverse remodeling began immediately after the procedure and continued in both groups up to 1 year after the procedure. Left ventricular augmentation was comparable in both groups. Left atrial volume increase was prominent in the AF-ASD group, with a statistically significant difference compared with the SR-ASD group from 2 days to 1 year after the procedure (all p < 0.05). NYHA functional classification improved in both groups. Plasma BNP levels decreased only in the AF-ASD group from baseline to 1 year (median value [interquartile range], 336.2 pg/mL [145.1–491.4] to 173.8 pg/mL [73.6–261.7], p = 0.032). Conclusion Transcatheter ASD closure is an effective treatment for heart failure in elderly patients with ASD and long-standing persistent AF.