There is a high prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with heart failure presented for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). It remains unclear whether an atrial lead should be implanted in these patients. We, therefore, analyzed outcomes and course of rhythm in AF patients undergoing CRT implantation during long-term follow-up.
Between 2004 and 2018, 328 consecutive patients with a history of AF receiving CRT implantation were included into this study. 132 patients had preoperatively paroxysmal AF (px-AF), while 70 and 126 patients had persistent- (ps-AF) and long-standing persistent AF (lp-AF), respectively. The outcome data were collected in our institutional database and analyzed retrospectively. 277 patients received an atrial lead at time of implantation, 9 during follow-up. No major lead implantation-associated complications were observed. In patients with px-AF, sinus rhythm (SR) was present in 78.8% at admission, 95.5% (p < 0.001) at discharge and 85.7% (p = 0.965) after 5 years. In ps-AF patients SR was present in 28.6%, 91.4% (p < 0.001) and 69.7% (p < 0.001), while all lp-AF patients showed AF at admission and had SR rate of 50.8% (p < 0.001) at discharge and 44.1% after 5 years (p < 0.001).
We observed a high rate of conversion and long-term persistence of SR in AF patients undergoing CRT implantation. Due to the low rate of lead implantation-associated complications and the high successful SR conversion rates, we recommend the implantation of an atrial lead in CRT patients with AF. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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