Medical News Today only recommends brands and products that meet safety and efficacy standards. Researchers have found that radiofrequency-based ablation, the most common treatment for atrial fibrillation (AFib), is more effective than expected. This procedure involves using heat to destroy sections of heart tissue that cause the irregular heartbeat associated with AFib. The study found that one year after the procedure, 81.6% of patients were free from AFib, and 89.7% no longer needed medication for the condition. These results are higher than those achieved in clinical trials, indicating that refinements to the procedure have improved its safety and performance.
AFib is a common form of arrhythmia affecting 1–4% of people in Australia, the United States, and Europe, particularly older adults. Along with interfering with blood flow, it also increases the risk of other health issues. Paul Drury, MD, a board-certified cardiologist, emphasizes the importance of monitoring and treating AFib to reduce the risk of stroke and heart failure. RF-based ablation has been used for many years to treat AFib, with initial trials demonstrating good safety and efficacy. However, newer techniques have been developed and refined over time, leading to questions about their real-world effectiveness.
A recent study published in the journal Heart Rhythm examined the success rates of RF-based ablation across multiple high-volume sites in the United States. The research found that modifications to the procedure have improved outcomes, with a high percentage of patients remaining free from AFib after one year. The study authors utilized data from the REAL-AF registry, a multi-center database created to evaluate the long-term outcomes of AFib patients treated with RF-based ablation. They focused on best practice techniques, such as targeting specific regions of the heart and reducing procedure time.
The REAL-AF registry showed that RF-based ablation procedures were more efficient, effective, and safer than previous randomized clinical trials had suggested. This finding highlights the power of using real-world data to improve procedural outcomes. The study authors plan to continue collecting and analyzing data to further enhance the treatment of AFib. They also aim to investigate other forms of AFib and evaluate new techniques, such as pulsed-field ablation, which uses electrical fields instead of heat to destroy heart tissue. By disseminating best practices and continually improving the procedure, researchers hope to enhance outcomes for all patients undergoing RF-based ablation for AFib.
