Cryoballoon Pulmonary Vein Isolation for Atrial Fibrillation With Heart Failure

Cryoballoon Pulmonary Vein Isolation for Atrial Fibrillation With Heart Failure

The combination of atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) is common and implies a poor prognosis. Pulmonary vein isolation is an established method for the treatment of symptomatic AF in patients with normal heart function and has been shown to be more effective than drug therapy. Recently, radiofrequency ablation has shown a positive effect in patients with AF and HF. POLAR-HF has been designed to investigate efficacy and safety of cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation in patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF and severe HF (LVEF ≤ 40%).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Symptomatic paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation
• Patients with severe heart failure (LVEF ≤40%, assigned to heart failure group)
• Patients with normal cardiac function (assigned to control group)
• Age > 18 years
• Consent capacity

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age under 18 years
• Pregnancy
• Lack of consent capacity