Acupuncture for persistent atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation: study protocol for a pilot randomized...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Integrative Medicine
• Clinical Trials

Background:

• Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent arrhythmia linked to significant cardiovascular risks.
• Current evidence on acupuncture for AF treatment is limited.
• Persistent AF after catheter ablation (CA) warrants further investigation for novel therapeutic approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility, preliminary efficacy, and safety of acupuncture in reducing AF burden in patients with persistent AF post-CA.
• To gather data for sample size calculation in future large-scale randomized controlled trials.

Main Methods:

• A multi-center, 3-arm pilot randomized controlled trial involving 60 patients in China.
• Participants were randomized to specific acupoints, non-specific acupoints, or no acupoints groups (1:1:1 ratio).
• A 6-month study period with a 3-month treatment phase (18 acupuncture sessions over 12 weeks) and a 3-month follow-up, alongside standard post-ablation care.

Main Results:

• Primary outcome: AF burden at 6 months post-CA, measured by 7-day continuous ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring.
• Secondary outcomes: AF burden at 3 months, AF recurrence rates, and quality of life.
• Adverse events were systematically recorded throughout the study.

Conclusions:

• This pilot study provides crucial data on the feasibility, preliminary efficacy, and safety of acupuncture for persistent AF after CA.
• Findings will guide the design and sample size determination for subsequent large-scale clinical trials on acupuncture's role in managing AF.