Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyMeta-analysis
Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure: a trial-level meta-analysis
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials
- un-blinded randomised controlled trials (RCTs)
Authors' conclusion
For a selected group of patients with chronic HF and AF enrolled in un-blinded RCTs, catheter ablation improved cardiac function, wellbeing and outcomes, including all-cause mortality.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF)
- Participants
- 2,490 patients · 13 RCTs
- Comparison
- Catheter ablation vs guideline-recommended pharmacological therapy (GRPT) alone
Pooled result
All-cause mortality
Hazard ratio
0.58
95% CI 0.44–0.76
Catheter ablation vs GRPT
HR 0.58 (95% CI 0.44–0.76)
As reported in the abstract
Further pooled results
| Outcome | MD (points) (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| MLWHFQ score | −12 (−18 points to −6 points) | |
| −20−10010Difference, points (linear scale) |
| Outcome | Estimate |
|---|---|
| LVEF | MD +6 % (95% CI +4% to +9%) |
| 6-MWD · trend | MD +18 meters (95% CI −1 meter to +38 meters) |
Original publication
Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure: a trial-level meta-analysis. Eur J Heart Fail. Published 16 July 2026. doi:10.1093/ejhf/xuag232
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it