Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Pulsed field, cryoballoon or radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Authors' conclusion
PFA for catheter ablation of AF in HCM was associated with reduced 24-month atrial arrhythmia recurrence, with exploratory signals of fewer cardiovascular hospitalizations and improved NYHA class compared with RF, while CB showed no significant difference.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) undergoing de novo atrial fibrillation (AF) ablationpatients with HCM undergoing AF ablation
- Participants
- 364 patients
- Exposure
- Pulsed field ablation (PFA), cryoballoon (CB) and radiofrequency (RF) ablation for AF in HCM
- PFAn = 84
- CBn = 50
- RFn = 230reference
- Outcome
- Atrial arrhythmia recurrence (AF/atrial tachycardia)
- Follow-up
- 24 months
Methodological detailsmulticenter (11 centers)
- Multicenter (11 centers)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Each group vs RFAdjusted hazard ratio (95% CI)P value
PFA
0.57(0.36–0.91)
P = 0.018CB
0.71(0.42–1.21)
P = 0.212- Cumulative 24-month freedom from atrial arrhythmia recurrence (overall)
- 48.6%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Adjusted HR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiovascular hospitalizationPFAvs RFExploratory secondary analysis | 0.43 (0.23–0.80) | P = 0.008 | |
| 0.20.5125Adjusted hazard ratio (log scale) |
Cardiovascular hospitalization
- CB showed no significant difference
Improvement in NYHA class
- Greater improvement with PFA compared with RF
- P = 0.032
- CB showed no significant difference
- Exploratory secondary analysis
Heart failure hospitalization, repeat ablation, ventricular arrhythmias, stroke/transient ischemic attack and mortality
- Did not differ significantly between ablation modalities
Safety
Procedure-related complications
- Procedure-related complications: p=0.344
Original publication
Pulsed field, cryoballoon or radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Heart Rhythm. Published 28 October 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →