Self-reported Sleep Quality Before and After Atrial Fibrillation Ablation.

Only 20 patients were analysed, and the authors said p-values were descriptive because the sample was small. Patients were recruited by convenience sampling from a clinic and an AF website, so they may not represent typical AF patients. There was no control group, so changes over time cannot be attributed to ablation alone. Sleep was measured only by self-report; no objective sleep test or polysomnography was done. Only three patients had obstructive sleep apnea, so the study cannot say how untreated or variable sleep apnea affects sleep after ablation. The sample was mostly married, well educated, and lacked diversity, so these findings may not apply broadly. No weight or BMI was measured, and obesity is a risk for AF recurrence and sleep apnea. Some patients had AF recurrences, were awaiting repeat ablation, or had cardioversions, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and medication changes, which could affect sleep and were not controlled.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The article is listed as supported by NIH extramural research funding.

Do not conclude that atrial fibrillation ablation reliably improves sleep. This was a small pilot without a control group, patients also received or changed medications, and the authors said p-values were descriptive only.