This study examines whether measuring blood pressure inside the left upper chamber of the heart during a procedure to treat an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation can help identify patients who would benefit from heart failure medications. During atrial fibrillation ablation, a catheter crosses into the left atrium, allowing direct measurement of left atrial pressure. When the pressure is elevated (15 mmHg or higher), it may indicate that the heart is under strain from unrecognized or undertreated heart failure. Patients with elevated left atrial pressure during ablation are referred for heart failure evaluation and medication optimization within 24 hours of the procedure. The study compares outcomes in these patients to a group of patients who had the same elevated pressures but received standard care without a structured heart failure evaluation. The study measures whether the heart failure treatment pathway leads to greater use of recommended heart failure medications, improvements in heart pumping function and heart chamber size, and reduction in irregular heartbeat episodes over the following year
Single-center prospective pathway study with historical standard-care controls at the Medical College of Wisconsin/Froedtert Hospital. Consecutive patients undergoing catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation with intraprocedural mean left atrial pressure of 15 mmHg or greater measured at transseptal puncture are enrolled. Prospective Pathway patients (2024-2025) receive heart failure consultation within 24 hours and structured guideline-directed medical therapy optimization. Historical controls (2022-2023) met identical procedural and hemodynamic criteria but received standard post-ablation care. Guideline-directed medical therapy implementation is quantified serially through 180 days using a guideline adherence index. Echocardiographic remodeling is assessed at 3 to 18 months. Atrial fibrillation burden is assessed by clinically directed rhythm monitoring beyond a 90-day blanking period.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
300
Structured heart failure consultation within 24 hours of atrial fibrillation ablation triggered by intraprocedural mean left atrial pressure of 15 mmHg or greater. Consultation includes review of cardiac history, volume status assessment, echocardiographic review, and individualized guideline-directed medical therapy recommendations based on left ventricular ejection fraction phenotype. Final prescribing decisions rest with the treating clinical team
Heart and Vascular Center - Center for Advanced Care - Froedtert Hospital
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Hierarchical Composite Clinical-Remodeling Outcome Assessed by Win Ratio
Three-tier hierarchical composite analyzed by unmatched win ratio. Tier 1: cardiovascular death within 3 years of ablation. Tier 2: heart failure hospitalization within 3 years of ablation. Tier 3: echocardiographic response defined as absolute increase in left ventricular ejection fraction of 10 percentage points or more from baseline to protocol-window follow-up echocardiogram at 3 to 18 months.
Time frame: Up to 36 months.
Guideline Adherence Index
Number of heart failure medication classes prescribed divided by the number of classes for which the patient has a guideline-supported indication and no documented contraindication. Ranges from 0 to 1 with higher values indicating greater adherence.
Time frame: Up to 36 months.
Guideline Adherence Index Area Under the Curve
Time-weighted cumulative guideline adherence calculated from serial medication assessments at baseline, discharge, and scheduled follow-up intervals. Higher values indicate greater sustained guideline-directed medical therapy implementation over time.
Time frame: Up to 36 months.
Change in Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction From Baseline
Left ventricular ejection fraction measured by biplane Simpson method on transthoracic echocardiography per American Society of Echocardiography recommendations. Reported as absolute change in percentage points from baseline.
Time frame: Up to 36 months.
Change in Left Atrial Volume Index From Baseline
Left atrial volume indexed to body surface area measured by biplane area-length method on transthoracic echocardiography per American Society of Echocardiography recommendations. Reported as absolute change in mL/m2 from baseline.
Time frame: Up to 36 months.
Right Ventricular Function and Right Ventricular-Pulmonary Artery Coupling.
Composite right ventricular assessment including tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion in centimeters, tricuspid annular systolic velocity in centimeters per second, tricuspid regurgitation peak velocity in meters per second, and the ratio of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion to tricuspid regurgitation peak pressure gradient. Each parameter reported as change from baseline.
Time frame: Up to 36 months.
Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence and Burden After Blanking Period
Atrial fibrillation recurrence defined as any episode of atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, or atrial tachycardia lasting more than 30 seconds documented beyond a 90-day blanking period. Atrial fibrillation burden defined as percentage of time spent in atrial fibrillation ascertained from cardiac implantable electronic device, implantable loop recorder, or ambulatory monitoring. Both reported as post-blanking outcomes.
Time frame: Up to 12 month.
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