Catheter Ablation News and Research

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Catheter ablation reduces AF recurrence but not quality of life

Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) did not significantly improve AF-related quality of life compared with a sham procedure, despite reducing AF recurrence.

30 Aug 2026

Eight startups selected to advance heart and brain health technologies

Eight companies have been selected to participate in the American Heart Association Heart and Brain Health Accelerator, a specialty track within the 2026 MedTech Innovator (MTI) Accelerator.

4 Jun 2026

Millions live with undiagnosed heart rhythm disorders – World Heart Rhythm Week 2026 calls for urgent action

Millions of people worldwide are living with undiagnosed heart rhythm disorders that can lead to stroke, heart failure or sudden cardiac death – often with little or no warning.

1 Jun 2026

Weight loss helps older AF patients slim down, but does not ease symptoms

An 8-month low-calorie diet plus behavioral support helped older adults with overweight or obesity and persistent atrial fibrillation lose weight safely, with no intervention-related serious adverse events. However, the LOSE-AF trial found no meaningful improvement in AF symptoms, rhythm control, AF burden, cardiac remodeling, or further AF procedure rates compared with usual care.

22 May 2026

Ablation can lead to better outcomes for patients with advanced atrial fibrillation

A minimally invasive heart procedure may be a better first-line treatment than medication for people living with advanced forms of atrial fibrillation, according to a major international clinical trial led by researchers at the University of British Columbia.

27 Apr 2026

Study links atrial fibrillation to poorer brain clearance and cognitive decline

Researchers found that people with atrial fibrillation had lower MRI-based glymphatic activity and poorer cognitive performance than healthy controls, with the greatest impairment seen in non-paroxysmal AF. In patients who underwent catheter ablation, glymphatic activity improved after sinus rhythm was restored, suggesting a possible link between heart rhythm, brain waste clearance, and cognition.

30 Mar 2026

Moderate exercise lowers atrial fibrillation recurrence after ablation

New research from CU Anschutz scientists suggests that staying physically active after heart rhythm treatment may significantly reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) returning, offering patients a simple, low-cost way to support long-term heart health.

7 Feb 2026

New evidence supports ablation for high-risk patients with AFib and sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation are two conditions that share a potentially deadly link. Having one increases the odds of developing the other, and together, the breathing difficulties of sleep apnea combined with the irregular heartbeat of atrial fibrillation (AFib) can result in life-threatening cardiovascular risks.

1 Dec 2025

Metformin shows promise in treating AFib recurrence after ablation

People with atrial fibrillation (AFib) and obesity may have fewer episodes of AFib after ablation if they take the diabetes medication metformin in addition to standard care, according to a preliminary, late-breaking science presentation today at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025.

11 Nov 2025

Anticoagulants increase bleeding post-ablation with no added stroke benefit

A minimally invasive heart procedure to correct irregular heart rhythms called catheter ablation may reduce the risk of stroke enough that some patients can discontinue blood thinners, according to a preliminary late-breaking science presentation today at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025.

11 Nov 2025

Radiation therapy shows promise as safer alternative for severe heart rhythm disorder

Radiation therapy may offer a comparable and potentially safer alternative to repeat catheter ablation for patients with severe abnormal heart rhythms that can no longer be controlled with medication.

29 Sep 2025

Novel ablation approach improves outcomes in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation

Adding digital twin-guided ablation to a standard ablation technique improved outcomes in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF), according to late-breaking research presented in a Hot Line session today at ESC Congress 2025.

3 Sep 2025

Ablation methods equally effective for drug-resistant paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

Pulsed field ablation did not have superior efficacy to radiofrequency ablation in patients with drug-resistant paroxysmal (intermittent) atrial fibrillation, according to results from a late-breaking trial presented in a Hot Line session today at ESC Congress 2025.

3 Sep 2025

Digital twins and ECGI enhance accuracy in arrhythmia treatment

Millions of people around the world live with cardiac arrhythmias. Only in Spain, it is estimated that more than one million citizens suffer from them.

1 Apr 2025

A comprehensive review of atrial fibrillation

In the U.S., atrial fibrillation (AF), a heart condition that causes an irregular heartbeat in the upper chambers of the heart, affects up to one in three people in their lifetime.

17 Dec 2024

Cryoablation for PFO closure in AF patients undergoing PVI

New research shows that cryoablation is a safe and effective approach to close congenital patent foramen ovale (PFO, a small hole in the heart) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in a single procedure.

27 Nov 2024

Ablation may offer better outcomes than medication for ventricular tachycardia

Ablation, a procedure to treat abnormal electrical short circuits caused by a heart attack and is usually reserved for patients who do not improve with medication, may be a better first-line treatment for heart attack survivors experiencing dangerous rapid heartbeat episodes, according to late-breaking science presented today at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2024.

18 Nov 2024

Three common cardiovascular diseases linked to cognitive impairment and dementia risk

Three common cardiovascular diseases in adults - heart failure, atrial fibrillation and coronary heart disease - are linked to cognitive impairment and increased risk of dementia, according to "Cardiac Contributions to Brain Health," a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association published today in the Association's journal, Stroke.

10 Oct 2024

Cryoballoon ablation as effective as radiofrequency for atrial fibrillation in heart failure patients

Cryoballoon (CB) ablation is as effective at reducing recurrences of atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial tachycardia (AT) at 1-year, when compared to the current most widely used technique, radiofrequency (RF) ablation, in heart failure patients with a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), according to late breaking research presented in a Hot Line Session at this year's ESC Congress 2024 in London, UK (30 Aug - 2 Sept).

2 Sep 2024

Catheter ablation proven effective for atrial fibrillation in new study

A catheter ablation procedure widely used to treat the most common heart rhythm disorder significantly reduces the burden of atrial fibrillation (AF) and results in clinically important improvements in symptoms and quality of life compared with a sham (placebo) procedure, according to late breaking research presented in a Hot Line Session at this year's ESC Congress 2024 in London, UK (30 Aug - 2 Sept).