The study entitled ‘CABA-HFPEF-DZHK27’ is aimed at patients in Germany and Austria with heart failure and preserved or slightly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF and HFpEF) who also suffer from atrial fibrillation. It is not yet clear which therapy achieves better long-term results in terms of symptom control, well-being, mortality, strokes and hospitalisation. By participating, patients can actively support research to improve their treatment.
Study leader PD Dr Abdul Shokor Parwani says: ‘Almost half of our heart failure patients also suffer from atrial fibrillation. This combination often leads to hospitalisation and significantly worsens the condition. We are investigating whether catheter ablation provides better results than the usual drug treatment.’
In the case of catheter ablation, doctors use a cardiac catheter to obliterate a specific area of heart tissue in order to treat cardiac arrhythmia. As catheter ablation only requires a small incision in the groin, this procedure is considered minimally invasive.
Procedure of the study
In the study funded by the German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups: One group receives catheter ablation, while the other is treated with medication. Both methods are in accordance with current guidelines, and all patients receive drug therapy for heart failure as standard.
The study participants receive comprehensive support from dedicated contact persons. An initial check-up after 3 months is followed by a more detailed examination after 12 months with an ECG, 24-hour ECG, blood sample, ultrasound and physical examination. Additional appointments without waiting time are possible if required. Follow-up telephone checks take place after 6 months, after 18 months and then every 6 months until the end of the study after four years.
Further information and conditions of participation can be found on the study website: https://caba-hfpef.dzhk.de/
Study title:
CABA-HFPEF-DZHK27 (CAtheter-Based Ablation of atrial fibrillation vs. conventional treatment in patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction)
Study Director:
PD Dr. med. Abdul Shokor Parwani, Deutsches Herzzentrum der Charité (DHZC), Klinik für Kardiologie, Angiologie und Intensivmedizin Campus Virchow-Klinikum, abdul.parwani(at)dhzc-charite.de
Study centre:
030 450 565383, caba_hfpef(at)charite.de
Are you interested in the study? Contact us here.
