There are a number of different roles for pacemaker therapy in the management of Atrial Fibrillation (AF). The most common indication for pacing in AF is to prevent bradycardia in patients with rapid ventricular rates and sinus node dysfunction. Atrioventricular (AV) junction ablation can be an effective alternative therapy for elderly patients or patients with significant medical comorbidities who have highly symptomatic, drug-refractory AF. Ventricular rate regularization is another pacemaker strategy that can decrease the symptoms of AF by pacing near the mean intrinsic ventricular rate during AF. Other pacing algorithms attempt to decrease the incidence of AF by promoting or maintaining sinus rhythm, but the magnitude of this overall effect is modest. Finally, pacemakers can also serve as a diagnostic tool for monitoring frequency of AF and providing information on AF burden, including asymptomatic episodes.

Keywords: Permanent Pacing; Atrial Fibrillation; Pacing Algorithms

There are a number of applications for pacemaker therapy in the management of Atrial Fibrillation (AF). The most frequent indication for pacing in AF is to prevent bradycardia in patients with rapid ventricular response and sinus node dysfunction. For elderly patients or patients with significant medical comorbidities who have highly symptomatic, drug-refractory AF, pacemaker implantation and atrioventricular (AV) junction ablation can be an effective alternative therapy. Pacing may also decrease symptoms during atrial fibrillation by regularizing the ventricular rate. Other pacing strategies attempt to decrease AF recurrence, but these algorithms have demonstrated only limited success. Although pacing is generally not considered primary therapy for AF, it may play an important adjunctive role in the management of patients with AF.

AV junction ablation with permanent pacing may be an effective alternative therapy for elderly patients or patients with multiple comorbidities who have drug-refractory AF and poorly tolerated symptoms due to rapid ventricular response. There have been a number of non-randomized studies examining the effect of AV junction ablation and pacing on outcomes such as Quality of Life (QOL), symptom reduction, cardiac performance, exercise duration, and health care utilization [1- 5]. One meta-analysis looked at 21 mostly non-randomized trials with a total of 1181 patients, all with highly symptomatic, medically refractory atrial tachyarrhythmias (97% AF). The analysis demonstrated significant improvement after ablation in cardiac symptom scores (e.g., palpitations, rest and effort dyspnea, exercise intolerance), QOL measures, health care utilization, ejection fraction, and exercise duration. The only outcome that did not reach statistical significance was fractional shortening, although there was a trend toward improvement[ 1].

There are a limited number of randomized trials comparing AV junction ablation with ventricular pacing to either medical therapy alone or pacemaker therapy without ablation [6- 9]. One short-term study randomized 23 patients with chronic AF or flutter to either AV junction ablation with pacemaker implantation or pacemaker implantation alone. At 15 day follow-up, there was a significant reduction in palpitations, effort dyspnea, exercise intolerance, and asthenia, or loss of strength, in the ablation group. Brignole, et al [6] published two randomized trials with longer follow-up periods [7,8]. The first looked at patients with paroxysmal AF and the second with chronic AF and heart failure. They were randomized to AV junction ablation with ventricular pacing versus medical therapy alone. In the first trial with paroxysmal AF, the patients received DDDR mode-switch pacing, while the chronic AF patients received VVIR pacing. Follow-up was 6 and 12 months respectively. There was a significant improvement in palpitations, effort dyspnea, exercise intolerance, and easy fatigue in both studies. In the first trial with paroxysmal AF, there was also significant improvement in a heart failure questionnaire. However, more patients in the ablation arm had recurrences of AF due to discontinuation of antiarrhythmic therapy [8]. In chronic AF, there was no improvement in the heart failure questionnaire or in other measures of cardiac performance, including NYHA functional class, ejection fraction, and activity scale. This is in direct contrast to data from the non-randomized trials described above, which showed significant improvement in ejection fraction and other measures of cardiac performance [1-5]. One proposed explanation is that the improvement in cardiac function observed in the nonrandomized studies was due to rate control alone, regardless of the mode of therapy [7].

Although there can be benefits with AV junction ablation and ventricular pacing, there are also some drawbacks to this mode of therapy. First, the procedure is irreversible and leaves the patient pacer-dependent for life. Second, it does not obviate the need for anticoagulation [3-5]. Third, right ventricular (RV) pacing has been shown to induce ventricular dyssynchrony and may worsen Left Ventricular (LV) function and mitral regurgitation in patients with LV systolic dysfunction[10].

There is a growing body of literature supporting the use of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) in patients with LV dysfunction receiving AV junction ablation. Doshi et al. [11] randomized 184 patients undergoing AV junction ablation to either RV pacing versus CRT. The primary outcomes were 6-minute walk test, QOL measures, and ejection fraction. Both groups showed improvement over baseline, but there was a significantly greater improvement in 6-minute walk test and ejection fraction with CRT versus RV pacing, particularly in the subgroup of patients with LV dysfunction or NYHA Class II or III heart failure. AVERT-AF is an ongoing prospective, multi-center, double-blind, randomized controlled trial that will investigate the use of CRT after AV junction ablation in patients with chronic AF and LV dysfunction, regardless of QRS duration. Inclusion criteria include permanent AF for >90 days and at least one attempt at cardioversion, Class I or II indication for ICD, LVEF =35%, NYHA II or III heart failure, and maximally tolerated heart failure and rate control therapy. Patients will be randomized to either pharmacologic rate control with single-chamber ICD versus AV junction ablation and biventricular ICD. The primary endpoint will be change in exercise capacity, with secondary endpoints including QOL score, NYHA status, and LVEF [12].

BLOCK-HF is a recently published prospective, multi-center, double-blind, randomized controlled trial comparing RV pacing versus CRT in patients with AV block and a pacing indication, NYHA I, II, or III heart failure, and LVEF =50%. All patients received a CRT device (either pacemaker or defibrillator if ICD criteria were met) and were randomized to standard RV or biventricular pacing. The CRT group had a significant reduction in the composite endpoint of time to death from any cause, heart failure urgent care visit requiring intravenous therapy, or a =15% increase in LV end-systolic volume index [13].

PABA-CHF randomized 81 patients with symptomatic AF and low EF (< 40%) to pulmonary vein isolation versus AV node ablation with biventricular pacing. Patients in the pulmonary vein isolation group had a significantly better composite primary endpoint, which included performance on a heart failure questionnaire, 6-minute walk test, and change in ejection fraction [14].

Lastly, there is a rare incidence of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and sudden death following AV junction ablation [3-5,10,15]. After AV junction ablation, there is thought to be an increased risk of bradycardia-dependent arrhythmias, particularly torsades de pointes. This risk can be minimized by programming the lower rate of the pacemaker at 70-90 bpm for the first month after ablation [3,5,10]. By six years post therapy, however, the mortality rate is similar between AV junction ablation versus medical therapy [15].

In summary, clinical trials of AV junction ablation with ventricular pacing have demonstrated efficacy in improving symptoms and quality of life, but are equivocal with regards to improving cardiac function. In general, the use of AV junction ablation with ventricular pacing is reserved for predominantly elderly patients or those with significant comorbidities who are not candidates for antiarrhythmic medication, have failed rhythm control with antiarrhythmic agents, and are not candidates for ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Because of the aforementioned drawbacks of AV junction ablation with ventricular pacing, other approaches have been investigated to utilize ventricular pacing alone without AV junction ablation. These strategies primarily target ways to minimize the irregularity of ventricular response during AF. AF can have a number of deleterious effects on cardiac hemodynamics, including loss of atrial contraction, valvular regurgitation, rapid ventricular rate, and irregular ventricular response [16,17]. Daoud et al. [18] measured cardiac output in eleven patients after AV junction ablation during regular and irregular ventricular pacing at the same mean cycle lengths. They found a 12% decrease in cardiac output during irregular versus regular ventricular pacing at the same mean cycle lengths. Clark et al. [17] studied sixteen patients with AF after AV junction ablation and paced them in three modes in random sequence: 1) VVI at 60 beats/minute; 2) VVI at the same average rate as intrinsically conducted AF (102 beats/minute); 3) VVT with pacing triggered by playback of a frequency modulated tape recording of the RV apex electrogram previously recorded during intrinsically conducted AF (102 beats/minute). VVT irregular pacing resulted in decreased cardiac output, increased pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, and increased right atrial pressure compared with VVI pacing at the same average rate.

Given these results, it would follow that patients with AF might benefit from improved regularity, as well as improved rate control. It has been demonstrated that ventricular pacing near the mean heart rate of intrinsically conducted AF can significantly reduce cycle length variability. Intrinsic cycle lengths that are longer than the pacemaker lower rate limit are overdriven by demand pacing, while shorter cycle lengths are minimized due to concealed conduction of the paced beat into the AV node[19].

Utilizing this concept, there have been several Ventricular Rate-Smoothing (VRS) algorithms developed with the goal of reducing cycle length variability. Some examples of VRS algorithms include Dynamic Overdrive Pacing (DOP-VRS), flywheel-VRS, Mean Absolute Difference (MADIFF-VRS), and the adaptive-VRS [20]. Most of these algorithms function by slightly increasing the pacing rate in response to ventricular sensed events, and reducing the pacing rate in response to ventricular paced events [16,20]. Ultimately, these algorithms attempt to pace just fast enough to suppress intrinsic conduction, and have been shown to effectively decrease ventricular cycle length variability in AF with either no change or a slight increase in overall mean ventricular rate [21-25]. An upper rate limit is necessary to prevent the algorithm from escalating to excessive rates (Figure 1).

Clinical outcomes using various VRS algorithms have unfortunately shown equivocal benefit at best. Simpson et al. randomized fourteen AF patients to VRS algorithm on or off and found that there was no improvement in exercise time, oxygen uptake, quality of life scores, or ejection fraction. In fact, three patients had worsening of ejection fraction with the algorithm on, most likely secondary to poorly controlled ventricular rates prior to activation of the algorithm, with subsequent rapidly paced heart rates [21].

The AF SYMPTOMS Study enrolled a total of ninety patients with either paroxysmal or persistent AF across eleven centers. After pacemaker implantation, the subjects were randomized to VRS algorithm on or off. There was a significant reduction in ventricular rate variability without an increase in the mean ventricular rate with VRS-on. However, there was no significant difference in quality of life scores or 6-minute walk distances between VRS-on and VRS-off for both paroxysmal and persistent AF. In patients with persistent AF, there was a significant reduction in frequency of reported symptoms in the VRS-on group, although there was no difference in severity or number of symptoms. This did not hold true for the paroxysmal AF group [22].

Verma et al. [23] studied eleven patients with chronic AF who received VVIR pacemakers prior to AV junction ablation. Before undergoing AV junction ablation, a VRS algorithm was activated which resulted in a significant reduction in cycle length variability without any change in mean heart rate. During VRS pacing, there was a modest improvement in ejection fraction from 31 to 36 percent compared to VRS off. After AV junction ablation, patients had a further improvement in ejection fraction to 44% while paced at approximately 70 beats/ minute. When the pacing rate was increased to pre-ablation rates (110 beats/minute), however, the ejection fraction decreased to the pre-ablation level of 31%. Some hypothesize that the deleterious effects of RV pacing may offset the benefits of VRS algorithms. To this end, Tse et al. [26,27] conducted two small randomized trials to investigate whether differential site pacing at the RV apex (RVA) versus RV septum (RVS) has any impact on the clinical outcomes of VRS algorithms. The first study randomized 24 patients with permanent AF and symptomatic bradycardia to RVA or RVS pacing. The QRS was significantly narrower with RVS pacing. A VRS algorithm was turned on after 6 months, and the patients assessed at 6, 12, and 24 months. 6-minute walk test and ejection fraction were comparable at 6 months, however after VRS was turned on, the RVS group had significantly improved 6-minute walk tests at 24 months [26]. RVA pacing was associated with a significant decrease in ejection fraction while the RVS group had relatively preserved ejection fractions at 24 months [26].

The second study by Tse et al. [26] randomized 30 patients with permanent AF and symptomatic bradycardia to RVA versus RVS pacing. All patients underwent cardiopulmonary exercise stress testing with VRS-off and VRS-on. Overall, VRS-on decreased Ventricular Rate (VR) variability and increased peak exercise VR, exercise time, Metabolic Equivalents (METs), and peak oxygen consumption (VO2 max). On further analysis, only patients with RVS pacing had significant increases in exercise time, METs, and VO2 max with VRS-on, despite similar changes in peak exercise VR and VR variability compared to RVA pacing [27].

These studies suggest that ventricular rate regularization in AF may lead to modest improvements in symptoms and ejection fraction. However greater benefit may be achieved by improving both ventricular rate and regularity (e.g., AV junction ablation with ventricular pacing). It has been shown that the deleterious effect of cycle length irregularity on LV performance is enhanced at faster heart rates [28]. To date, however, there has not been a randomized study directly comparing VRS algorithms to AV junction ablation with pacing.

In general, the use of VRS algorithms is reserved for patients who continue to have symptoms of AF despite optimal rate control and who already have a pacemaker implanted. Most often these are patients with persistent AF in whom rhythm control with medications or ablation may not be an attractive option. Once activated, a 24-hour monitor or the pacemaker histogram may be useful to monitor the average heart rate.

For patients with paroxysmal AF, there are a number of device-based algorithms to prevent the recurrence of AF. Initiation of AF has been related to Premature Atrial Complexes (PACs), bradycardia, sudden onset, and tachycardia. The idea behind these pacing algorithms is to suppress PACs and reduce the dispersion of atrial refractoriness induced by bradycardia [3,28]. There are two categories of prevention algorithms, continuous and triggered. Continuous algorithms pace the atrium faster than the intrinsic atrial rate. Programmable settings can vary the pacing rate, upper therapy rate, and decay rate.

Triggered algorithms will be activated in response to a specific event. There are several different triggered algorithms. PAC suppression attempts to decrease PAC frequency by overdrive suppression. When a PAC is detected, overdrive pacing is initiated at a programmable rate, and then decays to the intrinsic sinus rate. Short-long prevention attempts to reduce short- long sequences as potential triggers of AF. The algorithm is triggered after a PAC, at which time an atrial paced beat is delivered to prevent a pause. Post-exercise response attempts to prevent the rapid drop in heart rate that may occur after exercise, which has been associated with initiation of AF. During exercise, the pacing rate increases to 90% of the physiologic rate. After exercise, the algorithm continues to pace at this rate and slowly decreases to the underlying sinus rate. Lastly, the Early Re-Initiation of Atrial Fibrillation (ERAF) suppression algorithms begin overdrive pacing after termination of the tachyarrhythmia, and gradually return to the underlying sinus rate[29].

There is some evidence for the efficacy of single algorithms in reducing symptomatic AF, however there have been a greater number of trials looking at the efficacy of multiple concurrent AF prevention algorithms. Both of these can be grouped into trials that looked at AF patients with or without pre-existing bradycardia (Table 1 and Table 2). Among patients with AF and bradycardia, the largest study to date is the SAFARI trial, which randomized patients with PAF and a standard indication for pacing to all algorithms on versus off. The primary endpoint was change in AF burden, defined as the average number of hours per day spent in atrial tachyarrhythmia. The algorithms in the on group included continuous pacing, PAC suppression, short-long prevention, post-exercise response, ERAF suppression, and ventricular rate stabilization. There was a significant decrease in AF burden in the algorithms on group, but no difference in AF frequency, average sinus rhythm duration, hospital admission, or rate of cardioversions [30,31]. Trials that include patients without a bradycardia indication have not shown the same reduction in AF burden (Table 2). Thus, AF prevention algorithms may have some use in decreasing AF burden for patients with prior bradycardia, but to date there is no evidence for benefit in patients without bradycardia.

There has been significant interest in the potential benefits of alternative atrial site pacing to reduce the onset and burden of AF. There is some evidence that alternative pacing strategies may reduce dispersion of atrial refractoriness, increase cardiac output, and improve left atrial filling [32]. Proposed configurations consist of multi-site pacing and alternative single-site pacing. Multi-site pacing includes dual-site pacing in the right atrium and bi-atrial pacing. Dual-site right atrial pacing places one lead in the High Right Atrium (HRA) and one close to the Coronary Sinus ostium (CS os). Bi-atrial pacing uses one HRA lead and one CS lead for left atrial pacing. Alternative single-site pacing involves placement of a septal right atrial lead [29].

Thus far, none of the larger randomized trials have shown significant benefit for either multi-site or septal right atrial pacing in decreasing AF burden. For dual-site pacing, the DAPPAF trial randomized 118 patients with symptomatic PAF and bradycardia to control, HRA, or dual site pacing (HRA and CS os). There was no significant improvement in AF-free survival time, and while time to AF recurrence was significantly improved in dual-site versus control, the difference was not significant compared to HRA pacing [33]. The smaller NIPPAF trial showed a significant improvement in time to first AF recurrence with dual-site pacing and an overdrive algorithm versus standard single-site HRA pacing. However, it is unclear whether dual-site pacing or atrial overdrive was responsible for this benefit [34]. For bi-atrial pacing, the SYNBIAPACE study randomized patients with drug-resistant AF to biatrial, right atrial appendage (RAA), and standard DDD pacing. There was a non-significant trend towards improved time to first recurrence of AF in the biatrial pacing group [35]. For alternative single-site pacing, the OASES and ASPECT trials investigated the effect of septal versus non-septal pacing, and various atrial pacing algorithms on or off, on AF burden. In both trials, there was no significant reduction in AF burden with pacing algorithms on in either septal or RAA groups [36,37].

In summary, AF prevention algorithms may have some benefit in improving AF burden, but this has mainly been demonstrated with multiple algorithms on and only in patients with pre-existing bradycardia. Alternative atrial site pacing may show some efficacy in improving time to first AF recurrence, but this has only been demonstrated in the setting of concurrent AF prevention algorithms. Currently, atrial pacing strategies do not exhibit sufficient clinical efficacy to employ them routinely in the treatment of AF.

Pacemaker diagnostics can provide information on the amount of AF, including the incidence of asymptomatic episodes (Figure 2). Atrial arrhythmias can be detected by mode switch or atrial high rate (AHR) episodes. Mode switch from dual chamber pacing (DDD) to a non-tracking mode (DDI or VVI) prevents rapid ventricular pacing during atrial tachyarrhythmias, and is triggered when an atrial arrhythmia meets a preset duration and rate. AHR counters with concurrent intracardiac electrograms provide even more information, often times allowing the clinician to distinguish among atrial tachyarrhythmias[29]. However, artifact or far field R wave oversensing can lead to inappropriate mode switch episodes (Figure 3). Some devices have a discrimination algorithm to distinguish far field R waves from true atrial arrhythmias, which allows devices to be programmed with a higher atrial sensitivity [38]. Intermittent undersensing still remains common, however, which significantly affects the accuracy of atrial arrhythmia detection (frequency and duration of episodes) (Figure 4).

Pacemaker diagnostics have shown that many atrial tachyarrhythmias are asymptomatic. Various studies have demonstrated that 93% of episodes 5 seconds or longer, 58% of episodes 1 minute or longer, and 38% of episodes 2 days or longer are asymptomatic [29]. Detection of AHR episodes is also correlated with a significantly greater risk of developing persistent AF, non-fatal stroke, and all-cause mortality [39].

The ASSERT trial looked at patients =65 years with hypertension and an implanted device, but no history of AF, to see if detection of asymptomatic AHR episodes were associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke or systemic embolism. They found that subclinical atrial arrhythmias were detected in 10.1% of patients and were associated with a significant increase in the primary outcomes during a 2.5 year follow-up period [40]. The ASSERT investigators also looked at whether Continuous Atrial Overdrive Pacing (CAOP) would prevent occurrence of symptomatic AF. Patients =65 years without atrial fibrillation or stroke who were getting a new implanted device were randomized to CAOP on or off. They concluded that CAOP does not prevent new-onset AF, is poorly tolerated, and hastens battery depletion [41].

In general, pacemaker diagnostic information can be valuable but interpretation should be cautious, particularly when a change in therapy, such as the initiation of an anti-arrhythmic medication or anticoagulation, is contemplated. Undersensing of AF and oversensing of far field electrograms should also be considered when utilizing the device data. Often, confirmation of the rhythm using ambulatory monitoring may be useful.

While the pacemaker does not have a primary role in AF therapy, pacing as an adjunct therapy in patients with AF is an important one. Back-up pacing for patients with sinus node dysfunction or pacing after AV node ablation are valuable tools for the clinician in select patients. In addition, some patients may benefit from AF suppression algorithms and alternative atrial site pacing. Use of the pacemaker to "monitor" AF after medication changes or procedures may also be useful. The use of the pacemaker for heart rate support, algorithms, or diagnostics should be tailored to the patient based on clinical history and selected therapy for AF.