Heart Failure and Arrhythmia

Arrhythmias confers a substantial risk of mortality and morbidity in patients with heart failure, resulting in a major healthcare burden worldwide. It has become evident that arrhythmia burden is an important determinant of prognosis in patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure. The CASTLE-HTx trial has shown that among patients with atrial fibrillation and end-stage heart failure, the combination of catheter ablation and guideline-directed medical therapy was associated with a lower likelihood of a composite of death from any cause, implantation of a left ventricular assist device, or urgent heart transplantation than medical therapy alone. Catheter ablation is also an adjunctive management of refractory life-threatening or symptomatic ventricular arrhythmias. Finally, pacemakers for symptomatic bradyarrhythmias have clear indications in heart failure patients, as in the absence of heart failure, but if pacing is indicated, consideration should be given at the time of implant as to whether the addition of an ICD and/or CRT is worthwhile based on the patient's individual characteristics.

This special issue will focus on the followings:
1. Management and outcomes of atrial arrhythmia among patients with heart failure, including early rhythm control with medication or catheter ablation.
2. Management and outcomes of ventricular arrhythmia among patients with heart failure, including the role of early or even pre-emptive catheter ablation for ischaemic or non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy.
3. Device therapy for arrhythmia and heart failure, including pacemaker, ICD and CRT.
4. Neuromodulation for arrhythmia and heart failure.
5. Arrhythmias after heart transplantation or ventricular assist device implantation.