Catheter ABlation of Atrial Fibrillation Versus Atrioventricular Nodal Ablation with CondUction System Pacing in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation and Heart Failure
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate two treatment strategies in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation and heart failure, who are eligible for atrial fibrillation ablation. Patients will be randomized to either atrial fibrillation ablation or to implantation of a pacemaker with conduction system pacing followed by atrioventricular node ablation. The effect of treatment allocation on total mortality, cardiovascular hospitalization and heart failure hospitalization will be compared.
• (i) Persistent AF with symptomatic HF despite medical therapy, considered to be suitable for AF ablation, with at most one previous PVI procedure.
• (ii) At least one prior hospital admission, or emergency room / HF clinic visit for HF in the past 2 years, with NT-pro-BNP \> 1000 pg/ml or BNP \> 250 pg/ml measured at any timepoint during this interval.
• (iii) Previous or current rate or rhythm control drug therapy. (iv) Age \> 60 years