Cryoballoon ablation has comparable efficacy with catheter ablation in atrial fibrillation (AF) treatment. However, there has been no systematic review or meta‑analysis on this subject despite some studies on cryoballoon ablation in elderly patients with AF. The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases were comprehensively searched up to February 2023. The present study selected trials that compared the efficacy and safety of cryoballoon ablation in the elderly with the young that lasted for ≥12 months. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‑Analyses guidelines were used to conduct the present review. For quality assessment of included studies, the Newcastle‑Ottawa scale was used. Two reviewers screened all articles independently according to the inclusion criteria. The main outcomes were procedural time, fluoroscopy time, success rate and transient phrenic nerve palsy (tPNP). A total of six articles were ultimately included. Data regarding procedural time, fluoroscopy time and success rate were available for five trials. The tPNP complication rate was reported in all trials. The differences in procedural time (mean difference, 0.29; 95% CI, ‑4.93 to 5.50; P=0.91), fluoroscopy time (mean difference, ‑0.59; 95% CI, ‑2.07 to 0.89; P=0.43), success rate (odds ratio, 0.981; 95% CI, 0.72 to 1.34; P=0.903) and tPNP rate (mean difference, 0.955; 95% CI, 0.452 to 2.020; P=0.904) between the elderly and young groups were all not significant. It was concluded that cryoballoon ablation was as safe and effective in elderly patients with AF as in young patients.

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