The relevance of focal triggers in persistent atrial fibrillation (PerAF) and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (LSPAF) has not been previously investigated.

We prospectively evaluated the prevalence and distribution of AF triggers in patients referred for catheter ablation of PerAF and LSPAF.

We analyzed consecutive patients undergoing first time AF ablation who underwent a standardized trigger protocol including cardioversion of induced or spontaneous AF and infusion of up to 20 μg of isoproterenol for 15–20 minutes either before or after pulmonary vein (PV) isolation accomplished. Triggers were defined as AF/sustained atrial tachyarrhythmia or repetitive atrial premature depolarizations.

A total of 2168 patients were included (mean age 57 ± 11 years; 1636 [75%] men), with 1531 patients having paroxysmal AF (PAF) (71%), 496 having PerAF (23%), and 141 having LSPAF (7%). PV triggers were found in 1398 patients with PAF (91%), 449 patients with PerAF (91%), and 129 patients with LSPAF (91%) (P = .856 for comparison across groups). Non-PV triggers were elicited in a total of 234 patients (11%), and the prevalence was similar across the different types of AF (PAF, 165 [11%]; PerAF, 54 [11%]; LSPAF, 15 [11%]; P = .996 for comparison across groups).

PVs are the main AF trigger site in patients with PerAF and LSPAF, with an overall prevalence similar to that found in patients with PAF. These results support the current recommendations for PV isolation as the cornerstone of catheter ablation to eliminate AF triggers in PerAF and LSPAF.