NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Catheter ablation plus standard heart failure care in HFpEF with atrial fibrillation

Official title: (1/2) Catheter Ablation Versus Antiarrhythmic and Heart Failure Drug Therapy in Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure (CABANA-HF)

Funded at Ihc Health Services, INC. · NIH-11281754 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A large multi-center study will test whether adding catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation to guideline-based heart failure treatment improves outcomes for people with HFpEF and AF.

More Heart Failure research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionIhc Health Services, INC.
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Salt Lake City, UNITED STATES)
Project startJuly 10, 2026
Project endJune 30, 2027
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$1,293,639
NIH project number1UG3HL182948-01
Project IDNIH-11281754 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Adults with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and atrial fibrillation who are eligible for ablation and GDMT.

Less likely to help

Patients who have contraindications to ablation or cannot receive GDMT may not benefit.

What this research studies

This trial will compare a one-time catheter ablation procedure plus standard heart failure therapy against standard therapy alone in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and atrial fibrillation. It aims to enroll about 1,552 participants across multiple centers over five years, with three years of recruitment and two years of follow-up. A blinded Clinical Events Committee will review major outcomes to ensure objective results. By examining outcomes like heart failure hospitalizations and mortality, the study seeks to understand if ablation offers added benefit across different patient subtypes and levels of atrial myopathy. If successful, findings could refine treatment guidelines for HFpEF patients with AF.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the study could clarify whether adding AF ablation improves survival and reduces heart failure worsening for HFpEF patients with AF.

How similar studies have gone: Previous data suggest potential benefits of rhythm-control strategies, but definitive results in HFpEF/AF populations are still needed, making this trial important and somewhat exploratory.

Where this research is happening

  • Ihc Health Services, INC.
    Salt Lake City, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Packer, Douglas L — Ihc Health Services, INC.
  • Study coordinator: Packer, Douglas L

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.