BACKGROUNDPermanent atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common form of dysrhythmia associated with atrial septal defects (ASDs) in patients older than 40 years. However, little is known about cardiac remodeling after transcatheter closure in patients with permanent AF. This study was designed to compare cardiac events and remodeling effects after transcatheter closure in such patients.

METHODSClinical data of 289 adult patients older than 40 years who underwent ASD closure at our center were analyzed retrospectively. Of them, 63 patients with permanent AF were assigned to the case group, and the other 226 patients without permanent AF were assigned to the control group. Cardiac events and changes in left and right cardiac cavity dimensions before the procedure and 6 months after the procedure were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSPatients in the case group were significantly older than those in the control group. The right ventricular (RV) volume and right atrial (RA) volume were decreased significantly in both the groups during a median follow-up period of 6 months after closure (P < 0.001). The left atrial dimensions, left ventricular end-systolic dimensions, left ventricular end-diastolic dimensions and left ventricular ejection fraction showed no significant change before and after the procedure in both the groups. Changes of the RV volume and RA volume in the case group were significantly smaller than those in the control group (P = 0.005 and P < 0.001). The New York Heart Association cardiac function was improved in both the groups during the 6 months follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONSThe transcatheter closure of ASD can improve the cardiac remodeling and cardiac function in patients with or without AF.