Outcomes of the secondary endpoint
To evaluate the impact of catheter ablation to the patients’ functional
outcomes, we compared the NYHA class, NT-ProBNP level and TTE parameters
between baseline and the end of follow-up. Both groups showed an
improved NYHA class [medical treatment group: 2 (2, 3) vs 2 (2, 3),
paired p = 0.001; catheter ablation group: 2 (1, 2) vs 2 (2, 2), paired
p < 0.001], and a reduced NT-ProBNP level [medical
treatment group: 1002.0 (547.6, 1604.0) vs 1337.0 (719.3, 1860.8),
paired p = 0.002; catheter ablation group: 334.3 (187.1, 821.8) vs 859.2
(308.4, 1903.0), paired p < 0.001]. In TTE examination, only
LAD significantly reduced (39.4 + 6.4 vs 41.1 + 6.2,
paired p = 0.001) in the catheter ablation group, whereas the remaining
TTE parameters were comparable between baseline and the end of follow-up
in both groups (Figure 4). Sensitive analysis for the secondary endpoint
with PSM further confirmed these results, which are shown in Figure S3 -
S5.