Safety and efficacy of catheter ablation for ventricular tachycardia in elderly patients with structural heart disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose Data regarding the age-specific outcomes of VT ablation in patients with structural heart disease (SHD) are scarce. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the outcomes of VT ablation in elderly vs. younger patients with SHD. Methods MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar and references comparing VT ablation in elderly vs. younger patients were screened and studies included if matching inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results Five retrospective studies enrolling 2778 SHD patients (868 elderly vs. 1910 younger) were included. Compared to younger subjects, the elderly showed similar results in terms of acute ablation success (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.54-1.13, p = 0.189) and minor complications (OR 1.74, 95% CI 0.74-4.09, p = 0.205), a trend toward a higher risk of major complications (OR 2.30, 95% CI 0.83-6.40, p = 0.110) and significantly higher rates of all complications (OR 2.67, 95% CI 1.51-4.71, p = 0.001) and periprocedural mortality (OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.24-3.01, p = 0.004). At a mean follow-up of 18 months, elderly patients showed similar long-term VT recurrence rate (OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.85-1.22, p = 0.861) and higher all-cause mortality (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.40-2.86, p < 0.001). In elderly patients, urgent VT ablation is associated with higher risk of major complications (beta = 0.06, p < 0.001) and periprocedural mortality (beta = 0.03, p = 0.029), while advanced age is associated with higher risk of major complications (beta = 0.29 with p = 0.009) and all complications + periprocedural mortality (beta = 0.17 with p = 0.037). Conclusions Compared to younger patients, VT ablation in elderly showed similar results in terms of acute ablation success and long-term VT recurrence rate with a significantly higher risk of all complications, periprocedural mortality, and long-term mortality, especially when the procedure is performed urgently and in the most aged patients. Large prospective multicenter randomized trials are required to confirm these findings.

Automated summary

Compared to younger patients, elderly patients undergoing ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation show similar results in terms of acute ablation success and long-term VT recurrence rate. However, elderly patients have a significantly higher risk of all complications, periprocedural mortality, and long-term mortality, especially when the procedure is performed urgently and in the most aged patients.