Impact of catheter ablation therapy on Quality of Life in Patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction

Abstract

Background: Atrial fibrillation and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction frequently coexist, and rate control alone often leaves patients with persistent symptoms and impaired quality of life despite medical therapy [3,4].

Objective: This review synthesizes evidence on the impact of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation on quality of life and functional status in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Methods: We synthesized randomized trials, meta-analyses, and cohort studies addressing catheter ablation versus medical therapy, focusing on quality-of-life instruments, functional capacity, ejection fraction, and rehospitalization/mortality.

Findings: Ablation produces consistent improvements in Minnesota Living with Heart Failure and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire scores versus medical therapy alone, tracks with reverse remodeling, and in landmark trials lowered composite death/heart failure hospitalization [11,15].

Conclusions: Catheter ablation is an important rhythm-control strategy for eligible patients, offering quality-of-life gains that complement or exceed medical therapy alone, though selection and durability remain active questions [17,12].