Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation ablation with a novel temperature‐controlled CF‐sensing catheter: Q‐FFICIENCY clinical and healthcare utilization benefits

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Abstract
Introduction: The prospective, nonrandomized, multicenter Q‐FFICIENCY study demonstrated the safety and 12‐month efficacy of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation with the novel QDOT MICRO temperature‐controlled, contact force‐sensing, radiofrequency (RF) catheter. Participants underwent pulmonary vein isolation with very high‐power short‐duration (vHPSD) mode (90 W, ≤4 s) alone or combined with conventional‐power temperature‐controlled (CPTC) mode (25–50 W). This study aimed to assess quality‐of‐life (QOL) and healthcare utilization (HCU) benefits experienced by Q‐FFICIENCY study participants.Methods: Besides evaluating procedural efficiency, QOL and HCU were assessed through 12 months postablation via Atrial Fibrillation Effect on Quality‐of‐Life Tool (AFEQT) score, antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) use, and incidence of cardioversion and cardiovascular hospitalization.Results: Of 191 participants enrolled, 166 were ablated with the new catheter. Compared to baseline, statistically significant, clinically meaningful improvements in composite and subcategories of AFEQT scores were observed at 3 months and sustained through 12 months (12‐month increase, 29.3–44.2 points). Class I/III AAD use decreased from 97.6% (162/166) at baseline to 19.6% (31/158) during Months 6–12, representing a significant 79.9% reduction. The cardioversion rate significantly declined by 93.9% from 31.3% (12 months preablation) to 1.9% (evaluation period). One‐year Kaplan–Meier estimates of freedom from all‐cause and cardiovascular hospitalization were 80.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 74.8%–86.9%) and 88.8% (95% CI, 84.0%–93.7%), respectively.Conclusions: Paroxysmal AF ablation with the novel temperature‐controlled RF catheter in vHPSD mode, alone or with CPTC mode, led to clinically meaningful improvement in QOL and significant reduction in AAD use, cardioversion, and cardiovascular hospitalization.

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