The Lead Episode 139: A Discussion of Improving Outcomes of Atrial Fibrillation Ablation by Integrated Personalized Lifestyle Interventions: A Randomized Control Trial

About this episode

This episode discusses the impact of integrated personalized lifestyle interventions on outcomes of atrial fibrillation ablation based on the POP-AF trial.

Join Digital Education Committee member and podcast host Melissa E. Middeldorp, MPH, PhD, along with this week's guest contributors, Nino Isakadze, MD, MHS, and Geraldine A. Lee, PhD, FESC for this week's episode. The POP-AF trial was a prospective, randomized controlled study evaluating whether a nurse-led, integrated lifestyle intervention before AF ablation improves outcomes. A total of 145 patients with symptomatic paroxysmal or persistent AF and at least one modifiable risk factor were randomized to either standard pre-ablation care or a structured, multidisciplinary lifestyle program targeting weight loss, physical activity, alcohol reduction, smoking cessation, blood pressure, lipid and glycemic control, and obstructive sleep apnea treatment. After pulsed-field pulmonary vein isolation, patients were followed for 12 months. The primary endpoint, a composite of repeat ablations and cardioversions was reduced by 51% in the intervention group (IRR 0.49, 95% CI 0.30–0.78). Successful index ablation without antiarrhythmic drugs was also significantly higher (76% vs 53%). Notably, these benefits were achieved with an average weight loss (~5.5%), suggesting that comprehensive…

People in this episode

Host: Melissa E. Middeldorp, MPH, PhD

Guests: Nino Isakadze, MD, MHS, Geraldine A. Lee, PhD, FESC

Topics covered

• Atrial Fibrillation
• Lifestyle Interventions
• Clinical Trials
• Patient Outcomes
• Cardiology

Keywords

• Atrial Fibrillation
• ablation
• lifestyle intervention
• randomized controlled trial
• patient outcomes
• weight loss
• cardiology

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Heart Rhythm Society

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