Arrhythmias & electrophysiologySecondary analysis
Association between comorbidity burden and outcomes of catheter ablation vs. medical therapy for atrial fibrillation: insights from the CABANA trial
- Post hoc analysis of the CABANA randomised trial
- subgroup analysis by comorbidity burden
Authors' conclusion
Catheter ablation was associated with more favourable clinical outcomes in AF patients with high comorbidity burden
Study context
- Population
- Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in the CABANA trial, stratified by comorbidity burden (high ≥4 of 15 pre-specified conditions: n=736; low: n=1468)736 high / 1468 low burden
- Participants
- 2,204 patients
- Comparison
- Catheter ablation vs antiarrhythmic drug therapy, by comorbidity burden
- Primary endpoint
- All-cause mortality, disabling stroke, serious bleeding or cardiac arrest
- Follow-up
- Median 3.9 years (IQR: 2.4-5.1)
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Primary composite, by comorbidity burden · median 3.9 years
Catheter ablation vs Drug therapyAdjusted hazard ratio (95% CI)
high comorbidity burden
0.62(0.42–0.93)
low burden
1.16(0.76–1.77)
Secondary outcomes
CV hospitalization; all-cause mortality or CV hospitalization
- Tended to favour ablation in the high comorbidity burden group
AF recurrence, by comorbidity burden
- Relative risk reduction with ablation, low burden
- 49%
- Relative risk reduction with ablation, high burden
- 40%
- significantly reduced
AF-related quality of life (sub-cohort)
- Improved with ablation in both groups; more sustained and pronounced benefit over time with high comorbidity burden
Original publication
Association between comorbidity burden and outcomes of catheter ablation vs. medical therapy for atrial fibrillation: insights from the CABANA trial. Europace. Published 10 November 2025. doi:10.1093/europace/euaf292
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it