Heart procedure may beat drugs for AFib patients with heart failure
NCT ID NCT01420393
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether catheter ablation (a procedure to fix irregular heart rhythm) is better than standard rate-control medication for people with both atrial fibrillation and heart failure. Over 400 participants were randomly assigned to either ablation or medication. The main goal was to see which approach reduces deaths and heart failure-related hospital visits. The results could change how doctors treat these two common heart conditions together.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- catheter ablation (a procedure to destroy small areas of heart tissue causing irregular rhythm)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show that catheter ablation is better than standard medication at reducing deaths and hospital stays for people with both atrial fibrillation and heart failure.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed study, but results may not apply to all patients. Catheter ablation carries risks like bleeding, infection, or heart damage, and it may not work for everyone.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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CHUM Centre hospitalier universitaire de Montréal
Montreal, Quebec, H2L 4M1, Canada
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CHUS Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke
Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1H 5N4, Canada
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Hamilton Health Sciences Centre
Hamilton, Ontario, L8L 2X2, Canada
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Insitut universitaire de cardiologie and pneumologie de Quebec
Québec, Quebec, G1V 4G5, Canada
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Institute de Cardiologie de Montréal
Montreal, Quebec, H1T 1C8, Canada
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Instituto de Cardiologia-FUC RS
Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90620-001, Brazil
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Karolinska University Hospital
Stockholm, S-171 76, Sweden
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Kingston General Hospital
Kingston, Ontario, K7L 2V7, Canada
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Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, Calgary
Calgary, Alberta, T2N 2T9, Canada
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London Health Sciences Centre
London, Ontario, N6A 5A5, Canada
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McGill University Health Centre
Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1A1, Canada
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National Taiwan University Hospital
Taipei, 100, Taiwan
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Queen Elizabeth II Health Science
Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 3A7, Canada
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Royal Alexandra Hospital
Edmonton, Alberta, T5H 3V9, Canada
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Royal Jubilee Hospital
Victoria, British Columbia, V8R 4R2, Canada
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Southlake Regional Health Care
Newmarket, Ontario, L3Y 8C3, Canada
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St. Mary's General Hospital
Kitchener, Ontario, N2M 1B2, Canada
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Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Toronto, Ontario, M4N 3M5, Canada
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Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network
Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2M9, Canada
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University of Ottawa Heart Institute
Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y 4W7, Canada
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Vancouver General
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 1Y6, Canada
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