Pre-ablation prehabilitation to improve recovery after atrial fibrillation ablation
Impact of Pre-Ablation Prehabilitation on Clinical Outcomes and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Randomized Controlled Trial
A 4-week supervised program of exercise and psychological education will be tested in people with atrial fibrillation scheduled for their first catheter ablation to see if it improves post-procedure fitness and clinical outcomes compared with usual care.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 70 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Nanjing Medical University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Nanjing, Please Select) |
| Trial ID | NCT07270757 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Patients scheduled for first-time catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation will be offered a physician-supervised 4-week prehabilitation program combining exercise training and psychological education or usual care prior to their procedure. Cardiorespiratory fitness will be measured with cardiopulmonary exercise testing and clinical outcomes will be tracked after ablation to compare recovery between groups. The trial targets improvements in objective functional capacity and patient-reported recovery during the early post-procedural period. The protocol addresses perioperative fear of movement and the early blanking-period arrhythmia burden as barriers to rehabilitation.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults 18–70 years old scheduled for their first AF ablation with NYHA class I–II and LVEF ≥50% are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with significant structural heart disease, contraindications to exercise or CPET, cognitive impairment, prior AF ablation, or LVEF below 50% are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help patients recover better cardiorespiratory fitness and quality of life after AF ablation and shorten functional recovery time.
How similar studies have performed: Cardiac rehabilitation and prehabilitation have improved outcomes after other cardiac procedures, but pre-ablation prehabilitation for AF is relatively novel with limited direct evidence.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Aged 18-70 years 2. Scheduled for first AF ablation 3. NYHA class I-II 4. LVEF ≥ 50% Exclusion Criteria: 1. Significant structural heart disease (e.g., severe valvular disease) 2. Contraindications to CPET or exercise training 3. Cognitive impairment preventing cooperation
Where this trial is running
Nanjing, Please Select
- The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University — Nanjing, Please Select, China (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Kexin Wang
- Email: 840507356@qq.com
- Phone: +8618018223427
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.