Clinical outcomes
The follow-up periods after CA in the short-term and long-term continuation groups were 27 ± 15 months and 29 ± 15 months, respectively, while the follow-up periods after bepridil discontinuation in the same groups were 24 ± 14 months and 17 ± 15 months, respectively. A Kaplan-Meier analysis of recurrent AF with the date of ablation procedure (A) and the date of bepridil discontinuation (B) as the starting points is shown in Figure 1. The frequency of recurrent AF was similar between the 2 groups. In the long-term continuation group, 13 patients had recurrence, with 8 (62%) cases occurring within 4 months after bepridil discontinuation (Figure 1B).