Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Exercise capacity and quality-of-life improvements after catheter ablation in patients with clinically asymptomatic persistent atrial fibrillation
Authors' conclusion
CA in asymptomatic PeAF was associated with sustained improvements in exercise capacity and QoL, suggesting that rhythm-control therapy may provide functional benefit even without overt symptoms.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with clinically asymptomatic persistent atrial fibrillation (PeAF) who underwent catheter ablation (CA) between August 2021 and July 202452 completed the 12-month evaluation
- Participants
- 68 patients
- Exposure
- Exercise capacity and quality of life (QoL) at baseline and 3 and 12 months after ablation
- Asymptomatic PeAFn = 68
- Outcome
- Cardiopulmonary exercise testing parameters
- Follow-up
- After ablation
Methodological detailsconsecutive patients
- Consecutive patients
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Anaerobic threshold (mL/kg/min)
12.8 → 14.0
Peak O2 uptake (mL/kg/min)
18.0 → 19.4
Metabolic equivalents
5.3 → 5.8
O2 pulse (mL/beat)
9.4 → 12.4
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Atrial Fibrillation Quality of Life Questionnaire and EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level
- Atrial Fibrillation Quality of Life Questionnaire scores improved early and remained stable
- EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level score significantly improved only at 12 months
Secondary comparison with symptomatic patients · baseline and 12 months
- Higher exercise capacity in asymptomatic patients at baseline and 12 months
- QoL scores became comparable after ablation
- Secondary descriptive comparison
Original publication
Exercise capacity and quality-of-life improvements after catheter ablation in patients with clinically asymptomatic persistent atrial fibrillation. Heart Rhythm. Published 31 March 2026. doi:10.
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