A randomized controlled trial of catheter ablation versus medical treatment of atrial fibrillation in heart failure (the CAMTAF trial).

Background: Restoring sinus rhythm in patients with heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) may improve left ventricular (LV) function and HF symptoms. We sought to compare the effect of a catheter ablation strategy with that of a medical rate control strategy in patients with persistent AF and HF.

Methods And Results: Patients with persistent AF, symptomatic HF, and LV ejection fraction <50% were randomized to catheter ablation or medical rate control.