Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with atrial electrical and structural changes: Insights from high-density left atrial electroanatomic mapping

Abstract

Background: Regular alcohol intake is an important modifiable risk factor associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) and left atrial (LA) dilation. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of different degrees of alcohol consumption on atrial remodeling using high-density electroanatomic mapping. Methods: We enrolled 75 patients before AF ablation to undergo high-density LA mapping (CARTO, Biosense Webster) using a multipolar catheter. The Confidense algorithm was used to create maps during distal coronary sinus pacing at 600 ms. Bipolar voltage and complex atrial activity were assessed, and isochronal activation maps were created to determine global conduction velocity..