Hurst exponent for the analysis of atrial fibrillation recurrence after ablation procedures

The aim of this work is to improve atrial fibrillation (AF) dynamics understanding through predicting the reversion to sinus rhythm (SR) in the procedures of ablation. Database includes intracardiac recordings from 42 paroxysmal and persistent AF patients submitted to an ablation procedure. Four electrodes were located at the right atrium (RA) and 4 more at the left atrium (LA). All patients were monitored after ablation. 26 of them remained in SR, where 42.3% were in AF persistent (n=11) and the other 16 turned back to AF, where 43.7% were in persistent AF (n=7). Generalized Hurst Exponent has been applied in order to extract self-similarity of atrial time series. Results showed regional differences in both groups. In patients with non-recurrences in AF mean Hurst Exponent in the LA was 0.65 ± 0.16 vs. 0.72 ± 0.08 in the RA (p=0.017). Nevertheless, non-differences between both atria were found in AF recurrent group (LA 0.66 ± 0.09 vs. RA 0.67 ± 0.10, p=0.691). Moreover, findings show atrial region similarities between paroxysmal AF and non-recurrence AF patients; nevertheless non-differences between both atria were found in persistent AF group. it highlights the potential of non-linear methods of analysis to study AF dynamic.