Pulsed Field Ablation Proven Superior to Sham Procedure for Symptomatic AF

A sham-controlled randomized trial demonstrated that pulsed field ablation (PFA) markedly reduced atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence and burden while significantly improving quality of life and psychological distress compared with a sham procedure in highly symptomatic AF patients. In this single-blind study, 60 patients with severe AF-related quality-of-life impairment were randomized to either PFA or a sham procedure and followed with continuous rhythm monitoring using implantable cardiac monitors. After 6 months, AF recurrence occurred in only 6.7% of patients treated with PFA versus 83.3% in the sham group. Quality-of-life scores improved dramatically with PFA, increasing by nearly 44 points compared with 11 points in the sham group. AF burden was also substantially lower after PFA, and patients experienced significantly greater reductions in anxiety and depression symptoms. These findings provide strong evidence that the clinical and psychological benefits of AF ablation extend well beyond placebo effects, confirming PFA as an effective treatment for symptomatic AF. Source: https://www.ahajournals.org/