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Catheter Ablation vs. Medical Therapy in Congested Hearts With AF

Catheter Ablation vs. Medical Therapy in Congested Hearts With AF (CATCH-AF in Patients With Impaired LV Function): An Early Ablation Strategy Study Impact on Health Care Utilization

Status
Terminated
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02686749
Acronym
CATCH-AF
Enrollment
4
Registered
2016-02-19
Start date
2016-06-30
Completion date
2018-10-01
Last updated
2025-06-05

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Atrial Fibrillation, Congestive Heart Failure, Left Ventricular Failure

Brief summary

This study is a multi-center, randomized, unblinded, clinical trial. The objective is to determine if catheter-based atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation is superior to medical treatment in patients with impaired left ventricular (LV) function who have been diagnosed with symptomatic AF within the past 12 months.

Detailed description

The purpose of the trial is to compare two different approved treatments for recently diagnosed AF: anti-arrhythmic medications and AF ablation. The study will be conducted to determine if one treatment is more effective than the other for patients with AF and heart failure. About 220 subjects with newly diagnosed AF from hospitals in the United States will take part in this study. Subjects will be randomized in a 1:1 fashion to either AF catheter ablation or anti-arrhythmic medication for treatment of AF. Both therapies are considered Standard of Care.

Interventions

DEVICECatheter Ablation

During ablation, a doctor inserts a catheter through blood vessels into the heart. The doctor looks at the electrical activity of the heart. The catheter is used to determine which areas of the heart are causing AF. After the area is identified, the doctor uses a special machine delivers energy through the catheter to tiny areas of the heart muscle that is causing AF. This energy causes a scar in the tissue which disconnects the pathway of the AF.

DRUGFDA approved anti arrhythmic drug

Anti arrhythmic drug medical treatment will be based on treating physicians discretion following standard clinical guidelines

Sponsors

Biosense Webster, Inc.
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
The Cleveland Clinic
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Study randomizes subjects to already FDA approved treatment modalities. Approved anti-arrhythmic medications or AF ablation. There are no investigational drug or devices used.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* must be 18 years of age or older * Provide signed written Informed Consent * symptomatic AF documented by EKG or heart rhythm monitoring within 12 months * patients should be on optimal medical therapy for heart failure for 3 months prior to randomization. Adjustments to medications within this 3 month period are permitted. * chronically impaired LV function defined as EF between 20%-45% within last 3 months * all patients should be on an optimal therapy for impaired LV function * ability to complete 6 minute walk test * eligible for catheter ablation and anti-arrhythmic drugs

Exclusion criteria

* women of childbearing potential unless post- menopausal or surgically sterile * patients hospitalized for heart failure within the 3 months prior to randomization * reversible causes of AF such as pericarditis, thyroid disorders, acute alcohol intoxication, recent major surgical procedures or trauma * recent reversible LV impairment that may be attributed to AF with rapid ventricular response and may improve with introduction of rate control * valvular heart disease requiring surgical intervention * Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) requiring surgical or percutaneous intervention * early post-operative AF (within 3 months of surgery) * previous MAZE or left atrial instrumentation (including ablation and left atrial appendage exclusion) * history of Atrioventricular Node (AVN) ablation * hypertrophic cardiomyopathy * prolonged QT interval * liver failure * renal failure requiring dialysis * social factors that would preclude follow up or make compliance difficult- history of drug, alcohol or substance abuse * contraindications to the use of AADs and/or anticoagulation therapy * Currently enrolled in, or discontinued within the last 30 days from a clinical trial involving an investigational product or non-approved use of a drug or device or concurrently enrolled in any other type of medical research judged not to be scientifically or medically compatible with this study. * severe pulmonary disease * documented intra-atrial thrombus, tumor, or structural abnormality which precludes catheter introduction * unwilling to comply with protocol requirements or deemed by the investigator to be unfit for the study.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
First Hospitalization for Heart Failure, Recurrence of AF or Direct Current Cardioversion12 monthsTime measured in days to first hospitalization for heart failure, recurrence of AF or Direct Current cardioversion after the treatment period (first 3 months post enrollment or post procedure during which repeat ablation can be performed and titration of AADs can be performed).

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Total Number of Cardiovascular Hospitalization15 monthstotal number of cardiovascular hospitalization measured by hospitalization admissions
Time to Recurrence if AF Lasting Longer Than 30 Seconds15 monthstime measured in days to recurrence of AF lasting longer than 30 seconds
Distance Walked in a 6-mile Walk Test3 months through 15 monthschange in distance walked in 6 mile walk test
Change in the Rand 36-Item Health Survey3 months through 15 monthschange in the Rand 36-Item Health Survey reflective of change in patient's quality of life
Change in Ejection Fraction (EF)baseline through15 monthsChange in Ejection Fraction heart failure measurement (percentage)

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
AF Catheter Ablation
Pulmonary Vein Isolation catheter ablation for treatment of AF. AF catheter ablation is an FDA approved treatment for AF Catheter Ablation: During ablation, a doctor inserts a catheter through blood vessels into the heart. The doctor looks at the electrical activity of the heart. The catheter is used to determine which areas of the heart are causing AF. After the area is identified, the doctor uses a special machine delivers energy through the catheter to tiny areas of the heart muscle that is causing AF. This energy causes a scar in the tissue which disconnects the pathway of the AF.
2
FDA Approved Anti Arrhythmic Drug
FDA approved anti arrhythmic drug for the treatment of AF will be based on treating physicians' preference in accordance to guidelines. FDA approved anti arrhythmic drug: Anti arrhythmic drug medical treatment will be based on treating physicians discretion following standard clinical guidelines
2
Total4

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001
Overall Studyterminated for poor enrollment22

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicAF Catheter AblationFDA Approved Anti Arrhythmic DrugTotal
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants2 Participants2 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
2 Participants0 Participants2 Participants
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected0 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
— participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 20 / 2
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 20 / 2
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 20 / 2

Outcome results

Primary

First Hospitalization for Heart Failure, Recurrence of AF or Direct Current Cardioversion

Time measured in days to first hospitalization for heart failure, recurrence of AF or Direct Current cardioversion after the treatment period (first 3 months post enrollment or post procedure during which repeat ablation can be performed and titration of AADs can be performed).

Time frame: 12 months

Population: Trial terminated due to poor enrollment. No subjects completed study. Did not reach the target number of subjects needed to achieve target power and was insufficient to produce statistically reliable results.

Secondary

Change in Ejection Fraction (EF)

Change in Ejection Fraction heart failure measurement (percentage)

Time frame: baseline through15 months

Population: Trial terminated due to poor enrollment. No subjects completed study. Did not reach the target number of subjects needed to achieve target power and was insufficient to produce statistically reliable results.

Secondary

Change in the Rand 36-Item Health Survey

change in the Rand 36-Item Health Survey reflective of change in patient's quality of life

Time frame: 3 months through 15 months

Population: Trial terminated due to poor enrollment. No subjects completed study. Did not reach the target number of subjects needed to achieve target power and was insufficient to produce statistically reliable results.

Secondary

Distance Walked in a 6-mile Walk Test

change in distance walked in 6 mile walk test

Time frame: 3 months through 15 months

Population: Trial terminated due to poor enrollment. No subjects completed study. Did not reach the target number of subjects needed to achieve target power and was insufficient to produce statistically reliable results.

Secondary

Time to Recurrence if AF Lasting Longer Than 30 Seconds

time measured in days to recurrence of AF lasting longer than 30 seconds

Time frame: 15 months

Population: Trial terminated due to poor enrollment. No subjects completed study. Did not reach the target number of subjects needed to achieve target power and was insufficient to produce statistically reliable results.

Secondary

Total Number of Cardiovascular Hospitalization

total number of cardiovascular hospitalization measured by hospitalization admissions

Time frame: 15 months

Population: Trial terminated due to poor enrollment. No subjects completed study. Did not reach the target number of subjects needed to achieve target power and was insufficient to produce statistically reliable results.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026