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.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

atrial fibrillation heart failure

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • CHUM Centre hospitalier universitaire de Montréal

    Montreal, Quebec, H2L 4M1, Canada

  • CHUS Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke

    Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1H 5N4, Canada

  • Hamilton Health Sciences Centre

    Hamilton, Ontario, L8L 2X2, Canada

  • Insitut universitaire de cardiologie and pneumologie de Quebec

    Québec, Quebec, G1V 4G5, Canada

  • Institute de Cardiologie de Montréal

    Montreal, Quebec, H1T 1C8, Canada

  • Instituto de Cardiologia-FUC RS

    Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90620-001, Brazil

  • Karolinska University Hospital

    Stockholm, S-171 76, Sweden

  • Kingston General Hospital

    Kingston, Ontario, K7L 2V7, Canada

  • Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, Calgary

    Calgary, Alberta, T2N 2T9, Canada

  • London Health Sciences Centre

    London, Ontario, N6A 5A5, Canada

  • McGill University Health Centre

    Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1A1, Canada

  • National Taiwan University Hospital

    Taipei, 100, Taiwan

  • Queen Elizabeth II Health Science

    Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 3A7, Canada

  • Royal Alexandra Hospital

    Edmonton, Alberta, T5H 3V9, Canada

  • Royal Jubilee Hospital

    Victoria, British Columbia, V8R 4R2, Canada

  • Southlake Regional Health Care

    Newmarket, Ontario, L3Y 8C3, Canada

  • St. Mary's General Hospital

    Kitchener, Ontario, N2M 1B2, Canada

  • Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

    Toronto, Ontario, M4N 3M5, Canada

  • Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network

    Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2M9, Canada

  • University of Ottawa Heart Institute

    Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y 4W7, Canada

  • Vancouver General

    Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 1Y6, Canada