BACKGROUND: Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) is an emerging technique to achieve cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), but its feasibility and safety in elderly patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and left bundle branch block is hardly investigated. METHODS: We enrolled consecutive patients with an indication for CRT comparing pacing parameters and complication rates of LBBAP-CRT in elderly patients (≥ 75 years) versus younger patients (< 75 years) over a 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: LBBAP was successful in 55/60 enrolled patients (92%), among which 25(45%) were elderly. In both groups, LBBAP significantly reduced the QRS duration (elderly group: 168 ± 15 ms to 136 ± 12 ms, p < 0.0001; younger group: 166 ± 14 ms to 134 ± 11 ms, p < 0.0001) and improved LVEF (elderly group: 28 ± 5% to 40 ± 7%, p < 0.0001; younger group: 29 ± 5% to 41 ± 8%, p < 0.0001). The pacing threshold was 0.9 ± 0.8 V in the elderly group vs. 0.7 ± 0.5 V in the younger group (p = 0.350). The R wave was 9.5 ± 3.9 mV in elderly patients vs. 10.7 ± 2.7 mV in younger patients (p = 0.341). The fluoroscopic (elderly: 13 ± 7 min vs. younger: 11 ± 7 min, p = 0.153) and procedural time (elderly: 80 ± 20 min vs. younger: 78 ± 16 min, p = 0.749) were comparable between groups. Lead dislodgement occurred in 2(4%) patients, 1 in each group (p = 1.000). Intraprocedural septal perforation occurred in three patients (5%), 2(8%) in the elderly group (p = 0.585). One patient (2%) in the elderly group had a pocket infection. CONCLUSIONS: LBBAP is a feasible and safe technique for delivering physiological pacing in elderly patients who are candidates for CRT with suitable pacing parameters and low complication rates.

1st Department of Internal Medicine Cardiology and Angiology Faculty of Medicine University Hospital and Charles University Hradec Králové Czech Republic

Department of Cardiology Cardiocenter 3rd Faculty of Medicine Charles University University Hospital Kralovske Vinohrady Prague Czech Republic

Department of Cardiology Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht Maastricht University Medical Center Maastricht The Netherlands

Department of Cardiovascular Sciences Policlinico Casilino of Rome Via Casilina 1049 00169 Rome Italy

Pauley Heart Center Division of Cardiology Department of Internal Medicine Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond VA USA

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