A new analysis of a clinical trial suggests that adding extra ablation to standard pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) may not reduce atrial fibrillation recurrence in patients who also have diabetes. The study looked at 493 people undergoing their first catheter ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation. About half received PVI alone, and half received PVI plus additional ablation of other heart tissue.
After 12 months, the extra ablation helped people without diabetes: 80% were free from AF recurrence compared to 71% with PVI alone. But for people with diabetes, the rates were similar: 75% with extra ablation versus 73% with PVI alone. This difference was not statistically significant, meaning it could be due to chance.
Importantly, this was a subgroup analysis, meaning the study was not originally designed to compare these groups. The researchers caution that the findings are not definitive. No safety issues were reported in this analysis.
What does this mean for you? If you have diabetes and atrial fibrillation, this study suggests that the benefit of additional ablation may be less clear. Talk to your doctor about the best treatment approach for your specific situation.
