D'Souza S, Elshazly MB, Dargham SR, et al. - Since obesity and diabetes are risk factors for atrial fibrillation (AF) incidence and recurrence after catheter ablation, but their impact on post-ablation complications in real-world practice is unknown, researchers sought to explore annual trends in AF ablations and procedural outcomes in obese and diabetic patients in the US, as well as whether obesity and diabetes are independently associated with adverse outcomes. Obese and diabetic patients admitted for AF ablation were identified using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2005–2013). Using ICD-9-CM codes, common complications were identified. From 2005 to 2013, an estimated 106,462 AF ablations were performed in the US. Obesity was independently linked to increased complications (adjusted OR, 95% CI:1.39, 1.20–1.62), longer length-of-stay [LOS] (1.36, 1.23–1.49), and higher charges (1.16, 1.12–1.19). Diabetes was only related to longer LOS (1.27, 1.16–1.38). Obesity, but not diabetes, is an independent risk factor for immediate post-ablation complications and higher costs in patients undergoing AF ablation.