Catheter Ablation Versus Medical Rate Control for Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Heart Failure

Currently available evidence suggests that occurrence of AF in patients with heart failure (HF) leads to a decline in exercise tolerance, worsened quality of life, increased hospitalisation, and in many studies an increase in mortality. These may be explained by the haemodynamic effects of AF i.e. reduction in functional cardiac output due to inappropriate heart rates, irregularity, and loss of atrial contraction, plus the risk of thromboembolism.

Evidence from large clinical studies has shown that patients with heart failure fare better if sinus rhythm can be restored, but on the contrary a 'rhythm control' strategy (as intention to treat) of cardioversion or antiarrhythmic drugs to achieve sinus rhythm has not been shown to be superior to the strategy of rate control. These apparently contradictory findings might be explained by the poor efficacy and side effects associated with current rhythm control strategies, or could reflect that AF is merely a passive marker of underlying disease severity. However, many studies would point to the former, and it might be hypothesised that the theoretical benefits of sinus rhythm could be seen for real in clinical practice if a superior rhythm-control strategy was used.

Catheter ablation, a relatively new treatment for atrial fibrillation, has been shown to be feasible in a non-randomised heart failure patient cohort, with markers suggesting improvement of cardiac function.

This prospective clinical trial will enrol HF patients on optimal therapy, with documented persistent AF, and compare the strategies of catheter-ablation and medical rate control in a 1:1 randomised fashion.

Inclusion criteria

• Age ≥ 18 years, < 80years
• NYHA II-IV symptoms
• Impairment of left ventricular systolic function (left ventricular ejection fraction estimated as ≤ 35% by radionuclide ventriculography)
• Documented AF lasting for at least 7 days (persistent or permanent AF)

Exclusion criteria

• CRT or ICD device implanted in the previous 6 months
• AV nodal ablation within previous 3 months
• Prior AV nodal ablation or complete heart block with a single chamber pacemaker
• Contraindication to anticoagulation
• Persistent thrombus in the left atrium despite anticoagulation
• Active malignancy
• Cerebrovascular accident within the previous 6 months
• Reversible causes of AF including thyroid disorders, alcohol, recent surgery
• Reversible causes of heart failure including acute myocarditis or alcohol
• Cardiac events including myocardial infarction (MI), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), valve or coronary bypass surgery within the previous 3 months
• Prior AF ablation procedure
• Previous heart transplant, or on urgent heart transplant waiting list
• Severe neuro-muscular disease
• Creatinine clearance <30 ml/min
• Serum bilirubin >50 micromol/L
• Active participation in another research study
• Unable to understand and comply with protocol or give written informed consent
• Body mass index >35 (kg/m2)