After Ablation: Preventing Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence with Insights from Over 120 Research Papers (Book + Course Video)

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a progressive and often debilitating disease. AF increases the probability of stroke by up to 5X and death by roughly 2X. Around 35% of those with AF suffer from severe anxiety and distress, and 20% have reported suicidal thoughts. While cardiac catheter ablation offers the possibility of long-term freedom from AF, a high percentage of those receiving an ablation experience AF recurrence within a few years. Few studies have investigated the prevention of AF recurrence after ablation. Yet, those who recently received an ablation are among the most motivated to make the lifestyle changes necessary to reduce AF risk. Much of the research in this area explores 1) how various factors might impact the development of AF in populations with no history of arrhythmia or 2) how specific interventions might reduce the frequency and duration of AF episodes in patients with an active AF diagnosis. In the absence of more targeted research, we can reasonably borrow what has been gleaned from this less targeted research and employ it to prevent AF recurrences after ablation. Though imperfect, the merit of attempting to prevent arrhythmia recurrences outweighs the alternative, which is to do nothing.