Ablation plus home exercise for diastolic heart failure and atrial fibrillation

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

In this randomized feasibility study 40 patients with symptomatic short‑persistent AF and HFpEF will all undergo baseline labs, lung testing, echocardiography, pulse wave velocity, sleep apnea screening, simultaneous CPET and exercise right‑heart catheterization, followed by catheter ablation. After ablation participants are randomized 1:1 to a 12‑week home-based, video‑supervised combined endurance, resistance and respiratory training program (5x/week) or to standard physical activity advice. All participants receive a smartwatch for heart‑rate monitoring and ECG triggers and have repeat outpatient CPET early after ablation and again after the intervention period to compare VO2peak changes. The study is conducted at the Technical University of Munich and is designed as a small feasibility trial to test whether the combined central (ablation) and peripheral (exercise) approach improves exercise capacity.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosed heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
* Symptomatic short-persistent atrial fibrillation (diagnosis within 1 year of study inclusion)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Paroxysmal, long-persistent or permanent atrial fibrillation
* Clinically unstable coronary artery disease or acute coronary syndrome
* Physical and/or mental inability to perform exercise testing
* Prior ablation therapy
* Precapillary pulmonary hypertension at rest
* Intracardiac shunts
* Left ventricular ejection fraction \<50%
* High-degree valve insufficiency or stenosis (greater than grade 1 at rest)

Where it's running

• Department of Medicine, Division of Prevention and Sports Medicine TU Munich
  Munich, Germany Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Simon Wernhart, MD — Technical University of Munich
• Study coordinator: Martin Halle, Professor
• Email: martin.halle@mri.tum.de
• Phone: +49 8928924441

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.