An interventional study of Study arm in Atrial Fibrillation, sponsored by Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Research Foundation. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 85 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-14.
Sponsored by Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Research Foundation · Not applicable, Interventional, and Other
Earlier studies have shown a dose-dependent relationship between alcohol intake and incident atrial fibrillation (AF) as well as a causal link with several risk factors for AF such as hypertension, obesity and sleep apnea. However, the effect of drinking (alcohol) on post-ablation outcome such as arrhythmia recurrence, quality of life (QoL) and cognitive function in AF patients is unclear. Therefore, we aim to find the answer for a very frequently asked question, "is it safe to continue drinking alcohol (at the pre-ablation level) following catheter ablation OR should the intake be reduced for better outcome?", in this randomized trial.
Study period will start from the day after the procedure and continue for 8 months (2-month blanking period+ 6 months follow-up).
Group 1: Complete abstinence or ≤2 drinks/week in group 1 during the study period Group 2: Allowed to continue their pre-ablation drinking habit
4,009 studies on the registry are indexed under Atrial Fibrillation; 961 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 184 is above the median of 150 across 2,476 interventional studies indexed under Atrial Fibrillation.
Browse Atrial Fibrillation studies →Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Research Foundation is the lead sponsor of 36 studies on the registry; 3 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
The share of blood the heart’s main pumping chamber (the left ventricle) pushes out with each beat, measured by an echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) or a MUGA scan. About 50–70% is normal.
Short tests of memory and thinking, each scored out of 30. Lower scores suggest more difficulty; criteria give a range, either to include people with memory problems or to leave them out.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
LVEF (left ventricular ejection fraction)
The share of blood the heart’s main pumping chamber (the left ventricle) pushes out with each beat, measured by an echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) or a MUGA scan. About 50–70% is normal.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
MMSE and MoCA
Short tests of memory and thinking, each scored out of 30. Lower scores suggest more difficulty; criteria give a range, either to include people with memory problems or to leave them out.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Complete abstinence or ≤2 drinks/week in group 1 during the study period
Behavioral: Study arm
Allowed to continue their pre-ablation drinking habit
Behavioral: Study arm
Participants will be asked to completely abstain from drinking or consume 2 or less drinks per week for 8 months following catheter ablation
Arrhythmia recurrence
Arrhythmia recurrence across all AF types at 8 months after the ablation procedure, off- or on-antiarrhythmic drug (AAD)
Time frame: 8 months after the ablation procedure for AF
Change in QoL
Change in QoL measured by AFEQT survey at baseline and 6 months
Time frame: 6 months after the blanking period of 2 months
Change in cognitive function
Change in cognitive function measured by MoCA survey
Time frame: 6 months after the blanking period of 2 months
Arrhythmia burden
Arrhythmia burden at follow-up
Time frame: 6-8 months following ablation
Plan to share: No
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Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Research Foundation