Characterisation of patients who develop atrial fibrillation-induced cardiomyopathy

IntroductionAtrial fibrillation (AF)-induced cardiomyopathy (AIC) is retrospectively defined after normalisation of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in sinus rhythm. It is unclear why some patients develop AIC.HypothesisPatients with AIC have a subtle cardiomyopathic process that precedes their AF-mediated LVEF reduction. Detailed assessment of cardiac function after successful catheter ablation will reveal this.ObjectiveTo evaluate the utility of measures to identify cardiomyopathic features that persist after LVEF normalisation in AIC.MethodsPatients with rate-controlled persistent AF and LVEF