Citations

ABSTRACT Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is prevalent in cardiac amyloidosis (CA) and is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Catheter ablation is increasingly used for rhythm control in this population, yet its clinical outcomes remain uncertain. We performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis to evaluate arrhythmia recurrence and clinical outcomes following catheter ablation compared with medical therapy in patients with CA. Methods We systematically searched MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus from inception through December 2025 for studies evaluating catheter ablation of atrial arrhythmias in CA. Cohort studies reporting arrhythmia recurrence and/or clinical outcomes were included. The primary outcome was freedom from atrial arrhythmia (AA) following ablation. Secondary outcomes included all‐cause mortality, heart failure hospitalization, and stroke. Random‐effects models were used to pool event rates and odds ratios (ORs). Results Thirteen observational studies comprising 797 patients with CA and AF were included. The pooled rate of freedom from AA following catheter ablation was approximately 50% (95% CI 37%–63%; I 2 = 71.7%). The all‐cause mortality analysis included 4 observational studies comprising 616 patients. Catheter ablation was associated with lower odds of all‐cause mortality (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.11–0.60; I 2 = 18.4%); however, this association should be interpreted with caution given the retrospective design and risk of bias. No statistically significant differences were observed for heart failure hospitalization or stroke. Conclusions In patients with CA, catheter ablation was associated with modest arrhythmia‐free survival and lower odds of all‐cause mortality. However, all contributing studies were observational cohorts. Randomized studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Abstract Introduction Catheter ablation is a cornerstone treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, AF recurrence after initial ablation remains a challenge, often requiring repeat ablation procedures. Purpose This meta-analysis evaluates the effectiveness of repeat catheter ablation for the management of recurrent atrial arrhythmia following an initial ablation, focusing on ablation techniques, anatomical targets, and pulmonary vein (PV) reconnection. Materials and Methods A systematic literature search of MEDLINE, Scopus, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) was conducted on studies reporting outcomes of repeat and initial ablation procedures. Data on atrial arrhythmia recurrence, ablation technique, ablation target, and PV reconnection were extracted. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed using the ‘metaprop’ function to estimate the atrial arrhythmia recurrence rate after repeat ablation. Results A total of 53 studies (8,117 patients) were included. The pooled atrial arrhythmia recurrence rate after repeat ablation was 30% (95% CI: 27%–34%), with PV reconnection observed in 90% of cases following initial ablation. The lowest recurrence rate was observed with cryoballoon ablation (CBA) followed by radiofrequency ablation (RFA) at 23% (95% CI: 15%–33%, I² = 83%). Recurrence rates varied based on the ablation strategy, with RFA followed by CBA resulting in a 29% recurrence rate (95% CI: 19%–42%, I² = 83.7%), CBA used in both initial and repeat procedures at 30% (95% CI: 23%–37%, I² = 44.1%), and RFA performed for both ablations at 32% (95% CI: 26%–37%, I² = 80.2%). Patients who underwent repeat ablation with pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) alone had a recurrence rate of 25% (95% CI: 18%–35%, I² = 88.5%). In contrast, those who received PVI with additional ablation lines, excluding complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAE), had a higher recurrence rate of 31% (95% CI: 27%–34%, I² = 84.3%). The recurrence rate increased further to 38% (95% CI: 32%–46%, I² = 87.3%) when PVI was combined with CFAE and additional lines. PV reconnection rates varied by vein, with the left inferior pulmonary vein (LIPV) exhibiting the lowest rate at 23% (95% CI: 22%–24%, I² = 20.3%). The left superior pulmonary vein (LSPV) and right inferior pulmonary vein (RIPV) showed similar reconnection rates (26%), while the right superior pulmonary vein (RSPV) had a rate of 25% (I² = 0.0%). Conclusion Repeat ablation for atrial fibrillation carries a risk of atrial arrhythmia recurrence, largely driven by PV reconnection. Strategies involving CBA followed by RFA and PVI-based ablations demonstrated favourable outcomes. Lower reconnection rates in left-sided PVs, particularly the LIPV, highlight the need for optimised ablation techniques.

Brugada Syndrome (BrS) is a rare but clinically significant inherited arrhythmia disorder characterized by a type 1 ECG pattern and an increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Since its first description in 1992, BrS has been the subject of intensive investigation, yet risk stratification remains one of its greatest challenges. While survivors of cardiac arrest and patients with documented ventricular fibrillation (VF) are clear candidates for implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), predicting risk in asymptomatic or intermediate-risk individuals is less straightforward. Over the past two decades, multiple risk scores have been developed—including the Sieira, Shanghai, BRUGADA-RISK, and PAT—each integrating combinations of clinical, ECG, electrophysiological study (EPS), and genetic data. Performance metrics vary, with C-statistics ranging from 0.70 to 0.82 in derivation cohorts, but external validation has often been limited. Importantly, current ESC and AHA/ACC guidelines only endorse syncope and EPS inducibility as validated predictors, reflecting the cautious stance of expert panels in the face of heterogeneous data. Nonetheless, the emergence of structured risk models has improved our ability to stratify intermediate-risk patients and stimulated further innovation. Looking ahead, opportunities lie in integrating artificial intelligence applied to raw ECG waveforms, wearable technology for dynamic monitoring, advanced cardiac imaging biomarkers, and polygenic risk scores. Multinational collaboration and federated learning will be essential to overcome statistical fragility and ensure global applicability. Ultimately, BrS risk scores should be considered decision-support tools that enrich but do not replace clinical judgment. Shared decision-making remains central, particularly in asymptomatic patients where ICD implantation is not a clear-cut choice.

Spontaneous type-1 Brugada patterns are associated with an elevated risk of major arrhythmic events, yet the relationship between varying degrees of pattern burden and the occurrence of a first major arrhythmic event remains unclear. This retrospective cohort study included 64 adult patients with a spontaneous type-1 Brugada pattern, who were identified at Mayo Clinic sites and followed for ≥12 months after the initial diagnosis. All patients underwent at least three 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) within the first year. Individuals with prior major arrhythmic events were excluded. The percentage of ECGs showing a type-1 pattern was calculated and categorized as paroxysmal (<50%), persistent (50–99%), or permanent (100%). During a median follow-up of 92 months, seven patients (11%) experienced their first major arrhythmic event. Of these, one had paroxysmal, four had persistent, and two had permanent spontaneous type-1 Brugada patterns. Although statistical significance was not reached, the hazard ratios suggested a trend toward increased risk with persistent and permanent patterns compared to paroxysmal patterns. No sudden cardiac deaths occurred during follow-up. These findings suggest that a higher burden of spontaneous type-1 Brugada patterns may be associated with increased arrhythmic risk.

Background: The optimal timing of pacemaker reimplantation following transvenous lead removal (TLR) of infected cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) remains unclear. Objective: Our study aimed to assess the impact of timing to pacemaker reimplantation after TLR of infected CIED on hospital outcomes. Method: Using the Nationwide Readmissions Database, patients aged ≥18 years who underwent new pacemaker implantation with percutaneous approach following TLR of infected CIED from 2017 to 2020 were identified. The study population was stratified based on the timing of pacemaker reimplantation following TLR of infected CIED: early (<5 days) vs delayed (≥5 days). Weighted-propensity-score matched conditional multivariable logistic regressions were performed to determine the impact of the timing on various outcomes. Results: In our study, 469 (66.9%) patients received early device reimplantation, and 232 (33.1%) patients received delayed device reimplantation (≥5 days). Post-procedurally, patients in the delayed group had a higher risk of prolonged hospital stay (95% CI OR: 42.37 (6.36 – 282.11); p<0.01) and non-home discharge (95% CI OR: 2.00 (1.35 – 2.95), p<0.01). There was no significant difference between both groups in the early mortality, 30-day readmission, and procedural complications. Conclusion: Our study suggests that time-to-device reimplantation from TLR of infected CIED did not affect the overall short-term in-hospital outcomes. However, delayed device reimplantation was associated with a higher rate of prolonged hospital stay and non-home discharge.

Background: Conduction abnormality post-transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) remains clinically significant and usually requires chronic pacing. The effect of right ventricular (RV) pacing post-TAVI on clinical outcomes warrants further studies. Methods: We identified 147 consecutive patients who required chronic RV pacing after a successful TAVI procedure and propensity-matched these patients according to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) risk score to a control group of patients that did not require RV pacing post-TAVI. We evaluated routine echocardiographic measurements and performed offline speckle-tracking strain analysis for the purpose of this study on transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) images performed at 9 to 18 months post-TAVI. Results: The final study population comprised 294 patients (pacing group n = 147 and non-pacing group n = 147), with a mean age of 81 ± 7 years, 59% male; median follow-up was 354 days. There were more baseline conduction abnormalities in the pacing group compared to the non-pacing group (56.5% vs. 41.5%. p = 0.01). Eighty-eight patients (61.6%) in the pacing group required RV pacing due to atrioventricular (AV) conduction block post-TAVI. The mean RV pacing burden was 44% in the pacing group. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was similar at follow-up in the pacing vs. non-pacing groups (57 ± 13.0%, 59 ± 11% p = 0.31); however, LV global longitudinal strain (−12.7 ± 3.5% vs. −18.8 ± 2.7%, p < 0.0001), LV apical strain (−12.9 ± 5.5% vs. 23.2 ± 9.2%, p < 0.0001), and mid-LV strain (−12.7 ± 4.6% vs. −18.7 ± 3.4%, p < 0.0001) were significantly worse in the pacing vs. non-pacing groups. Conclusions: Chronic RV pacing after the TAVI procedure is associated with subclinical LV systolic dysfunction within 1.5 years of follow-up.

Background: Catheter ablation for ventricular tachycardia (VT) has been increasingly performed. While it is estimated that 42% of adults in the United States are obese, the impact of obesity on VT ablation procedures remains unclear. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the procedural outcomes and 30-day readmission among non-obese and obese patients who underwent catheter ablation of VT. Method: Using the Nationwide Readmissions Database, our study included patients aged 18 years or older who underwent catheter ablation for VT between 2017 and 2020. The study cohort was stratified into non-obese (BMI < 30kg/m 2 ) and obese (BMI ≥ 30kg/m 2 ). The in-hospital procedural outcome and 30-day readmission were analyzed between these groups. Results: Our study included a total of 835 obese patients (19.7%) and 3393 non-obese patients (80.3%). Obese group had a higher rate of prolonged length of stay (>7 days) (37.6% vs 31.2%, p<0.01) and a higher cost of hospitalization ($39 983 vs $37 015, p<0.01). Overall, there were no significant differences in early mortality (4.5% vs 3.8%, p=0.45). Apart from increased vascular complications in the obese group (1.8% vs 0.9%, p=0.03), there were no significant differences in other procedural complications between both groups. There were no significant differences in 30-day readmission rates between obese and non-obese groups (15.5% vs 14.1%, p=0.38). Additional analysis performed in the obese group revealed a non-significant decreasing trend in early mortality rate post-procedurally (5.4% to 4.8%, P trend = 0.66). On multivariable analysis, heart failure was associated with a higher risk of 30-day readmission in obese patients (OR: 2.00; 95% CI: 1.01-3.99; p=0.05). Conclusion: Our study suggests that catheter ablation for VT can be performed relatively safely in obese patients without significant differences in 30-day mortality and readmission outcomes. Patients should not be excluded from VT ablation on the basis of obesity.

AbstractBackgroundEvidence on the impact of obesity on catheter ablation for ventricular tachycardia (VT) is scarce.Method and ResultsWe queried the Nationwide Readmissions Database to determine the hospital outcomes and procedural complications of VT ablation among the obese and nonobese populations. Obesity was associated with a more prolonged length of stay (p < .01), higher cost of hospitalization (p < .01), and higher rates of pericardial effusion or hemopericardium (p = .05) and vascular complications (p = .05). There was no significant difference in early mortality, 30‐day readmissions, and other procedural complications.ConclusionVT ablation could be performed relatively safely among patients with obesity.

Background: Iron deficiency in patients with systolic heart failure (HF) was found to be associated with poorer exercise capacity and quality of life. We conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to assess whether iron supplementation in patients with systolic HF can improve exercise capacity and quality of life. Methods: We searched MEDLINE, and Embase databases from inception to May 2022 to identify the studies that reported the impact of iron therapy including oral and intravenous (IV) iron forms in systolic HF patients with iron deficiency. Outcomes of interest included 1) six minute walk test (6MWT) and 2) Quality of life (QoL) assessed by Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ). Data from each study were combined using the random-effects model to calculate weight mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) Results: Five studies (4 randomized controlled trials and 1 nonrandomized open-label study) with a total of 1,075 patients (610 in the intervention group and 465 in the control group) were included. In the intervention group, 474 patients received IV iron and 136 patients received oral iron therapy. Iron therapy was associated with significant improvement of 6MWT (WMD =22.81, 95% CI 0.47-45.14, p < 0.001) and KCCQ (WMD =4.68, 95%CI 0.43-8.93, p< 0.001). Interestingly, subgroup analysis showed that the main results were driven by IV iron therapy in both 6MWT (WMD =34.68, 95%CI 25.13-44.24, p< 0.001) and KCCQ (WMD =6.78, 95%CI 3.81-9.75, p< 0.001) as there was no significant improvement after oral iron therapy in 6MWT (WMD =0.15, 95% CI -23.86-24.16, p =0.99) and KCCQ (WMD =2.71, 95% CI-1.35-6.78, p =0.19). As shown in Figure 1. Conclusions: Intravenous iron therapy, but not oral iron therapy is associated with improved exercise capacity and QoL in patients with systolic HF.