Heart Rhythm 2026: Study Indicates Catheter Ablation Reduces Ventricular Tachycardia Events

New results from the Catheter Ablation versus Anti-arrhythmic Drugs for Ventricular Tachycardia (CAAD-VT) trial show that catheter ablation may reduce ventricular tachycardia (VT) events in patients with ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. Researchers presented the findings over the weekend as a late-breaking clinical trial at Heart Rhythm 2026.  

VT is a life-threatening heart rhythm disorder that occurs more frequently in patients with underlying heart disease and is a major factor in sudden cardiac death (SCD), which accounts for approximately 350,000 U.S. deaths annually.ⁱ Historically, clinical trials evaluating VT treatments have focused predominantly on patients with coronary atherosclerosis, which results in ischemic heart disease. This is due in part to the higher prevalence of ischemic heart disease and its more uniform disease substrate, which has made it easier to study in controlled settings.

In contrast, patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy represent a more heterogeneous population and have been underrepresented in prior trials, leaving investigators uncertain about the ways in which otherwise well-established therapies perform in this group. The CAAD-VT study aims to address this gap by including patients with either ischemic or non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, extending randomized evidence to a broader and more representative patient population. 

CAAD-VT is a prospective, randomized, multicenter, open-label trial comparing two standard approaches for managing VT: antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) therapy and catheter ablation, a minimally invasive “keyhole” procedure. The study enrolled patients with spontaneous or inducible VT and randomized them to receive one of the two approaches. 

Clinicians followed 100 patients for a median 35.7 months. Researchers found the primary endpoint—a composite of recurrent VT, VT storm, or all-cause mortality—occurred in 51% of patients treated with catheter ablation, compared with 71% in those receiving AAD therapy. Catheter ablation was also associated with a significantly lower risk of VT recurrence and VT storm, while mortality rates were similar between groups.  

“While catheter ablation is widely used to treat ventricular tachycardia, continued evaluation across diverse patient populations is essential to ensure every patient receives the most effective therapy,” said Saurabh Kumar, Ph.D., a cardiac alectrophysiologist at Westmead Hospital in Sydney, Australia. “These findings add to growing evidence supporting catheter ablation as a viable option for treating patients with ventricular tachycardia, with both ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathies.” 

Future research will include larger, multicenter trials to confirm generalizability and better understand cost-effectiveness and quality-of-life impacts.  

The Heart Rhythm Society is the international leader in science, education, and advocacy for cardiac arrhythmia professionals and patients and is the primary information resource on heart rhythm disorders. Its mission is to improve patient care by promoting research, education, and optimal healthcare policies and standards. Incorporated in 1979 and based in Washington, D.C., its membership consists of more than 9,000 heart rhythm professionals from 94 countries.

The Heart Rhythm Society’s annual Heart Rhythm meeting convenes 10,000 of the world’s clinicians, scientists, researchers, and innovators in cardiac pacing and electrophysiology. More than 2,000 international experts in the field serve as faculty for the 200-plus educational sessions, forums, symposia, and ceremonies, while over 110 exhibitors showcase their products and services.

Reference
ⁱ American Heart Association. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2023 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2023;147:e93–e621. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001123