3.1 Patient characteristics, echocardiographic variables, and LA pressure
Of the 102 patients with AF, 29 (28%) had LVZs >1.0 cm2 on the anterior LA wall at LA-ascending aorta contact areas (LVZ Group), and the other 73 patients had no such LVZs (No LVZ Group). Clinical characteristics of the patients, their echocardiographic variables, and LA pressures are shown per study group in Table 1. Male sex was significantly less prevalent and BW was significantly lower in the LVZ Group than in the No LVZ Group. Maximum LA pressure was significantly greater in the LVZ Group than in the No LVZ Group, and average LA pressure tended to be greater in the LVZ Group. There was no significant between-group difference in comorbidities, prevalence of paroxysmal AF, CHADS2 scores, AF-associated biomarkers, use of antiarrhythmic drugs before the procedure, or echocardiographic variables.