This is a retrospective cohort study of radiofrequency ablation for the treatment atrial fibrillation(AF). Based on the electrophysiological phenomena found in these cases, the investigators propose a hypothesis regarding the underlying electrophysiological mechanism of AF, as well as a novel approach for catheter ablation of AF.

The investigators propose a new electrophysiological mechanism for AF: the superposition hypothesis. The investigators tested this hypothesis by conducting the retrospective cohort study to determine if superposition potentials (SP) can identify the critical regions where AF is sustained and if ablating SPs can improves the long-term efficacy.

The study consecutively collected patients with underwent the first catheter ablation for symptomatic AF in a university hospital from March 2021 to June 2022, including paroxysmal AF (lasting <7 days), persistent AF (lasting >7 days and <1 year without electrical cardioversion) and long-term persistent AF (lasting >1 year), aged between 18 and 80 years old. AF recurrence was evaluated at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months using 72-hour Holter monitoring at each clinic visit. The eligible patients were divided into two groups: the pulmonary vein isolation(PVI) alone group (n=56) and the PVI + SPs ablation group(n=60).Comprehensive clinical history and procedural data of patients were collected from electronic medical records.

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients with underwent the first catheter ablation for symptomatic AF

Exclusion Criteria:

• patients with more than one missing follow-up would be excluded

These cases are from a university hospital