Medication still better than procedure for some irregular heartbeat conditions

American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2025, Late-Breaking Science Abstract 4392776

2025-11-10

(Press-News.org) Research Highlights:

Standard care, which included medication for those eligible, was better than a promising minimally invasive procedure for people with irregular heart rhythms who had high stroke and bleeding risk. The procedure seals off a small pouch of heart tissue, where most blood clots form in people with irregular heartbeat. However, in older people, standard care, including the use of blood thinners when indicated, did a better job at prevention of stroke, blood clots, cardiovascular or unexplained death or major bleeding than the procedure, according to the study conducted in Germany. Note: The study featured in this news release is a research abstract. Abstracts presented at American Heart Association’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, and the findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. Embargoed until 2 p.m. C.T./3 p.m. ET, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025

NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 8, 2025 — For older people with irregular heart rhythms who are at high risk of stroke and bleeding, standard care (including the use of blood thinners when indicated) was found to be the better choice compared to a promising, catheter-based procedure, according to a preliminary late-breaking science presentation today at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2025. The meeting, Nov. 7-10, in New Orleans, is a premier global exchange of the latest scientific advancements, research and evidence-based clinical practice updates in cardiovascular science.

The trial, Left Atrial Appendage CLOSURE in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation at High Risk of Stroke and Bleeding Compared to Medical Therapy (CLOSURE-AF), compared a catheter-based procedure to medical therapy among patients with an irregular heart rhythm known as atrial fibrillation or AFib.

An estimated five million people in the U.S. live with AFib, and it is predicted that more than 12 million people will have it by 2030, per the Association’s 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics report.

While blood thinners can be highly effective at reducing the risk of stroke among people with AFib, the medication may cause severe bleeding in some people. Due to this risk, researchers are exploring alternative treatments including this catheter-based procedure. The procedure, called a left atrial appendage closure, seals a small pouch in the heart called the left atrial appendage, or LAA, where blood clots can form. If these blood clots enter the bloodstream, it increases the risk of stroke. Closing this pouch reduces the risk of stroke. It also can allow people to stop taking blood thinners for clot prevention.

The CLOSURE AF study compared catheter-based left atrial appendage closure with physician-directed standard medical care (including timely anticoagulant blood thinning when eligible) in patients with atrial fibrillation at high risk for stroke and bleeding. The aim of the study was to demonstrate non-inferiority for catheter-based LAA closure regarding risk of stroke, systemic embolism, cardiovascular/unexplained death or major bleeding. However, this was not reached.

“We expected that catheter-based LAA closure would be comparable to physician-directed standard medical care often using blood thinning anticoagulant medications,” said study lead researcher Ulf Landmesser, M.D., chairman of the department of cardiology, angiology and intensive care medicine at Deutsche Herzzentrum Charité and professor of cardiology at Charité University Medicine in Berlin. “However, this was not the case in this trial of older patients at very high risk of bleeding and stroke.

“Our findings indicate that standard physician-directed medical care, including blood thinners for eligible patients, remains a valid management option for those older patients with irregular heartbeat who are at very high risk for stroke and bleeding.”

Landmesser said that the results of the procedure are different for lower-risk patients, and studies investigating this are currently underway. Moreover, ongoing studies are comparing LAA closure in addition to blood thinning in very high-risk patients.

Because medical treatments and LAA closure for AFib remain in development the results of this study may not apply to future research, other techniques or procedures.

Study details, background and design:

More than 900 adults with AFib who were at high risk of stroke and major bleeding participated in this study. Participants’ average age was 78 years, and 39% were women. They were enrolled at 42 health care sites in Germany from March 2018 to April 2024, and they were followed for a median of 3 years. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: standard medical care (including anticoagulant blood thinners, if eligible); or LAA closure. Researchers compared the frequency of stroke, life-threatening blood clots, cardiovascular/unexplained death and major bleeding between the two treatment groups. Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the abstract.

Statements and conclusions of studies that are presented at the American Heart Association’s scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association’s policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. Abstracts presented at the Association’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, rather, they are curated by independent review panels and are considered based on the potential to add to the diversity of scientific issues and views discussed at the meeting. The findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

The Association receives more than 85% of its revenue from sources other than corporations. These sources include contributions from individuals, foundations and estates, as well as investment earnings and revenue from the sale of our educational materials. Corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations to the Association. The Association has strict policies to prevent any donations from influencing its science content and policy positions. Overall financial information is available here.

Additional Resources:

Multimedia is available on the right column of the release link. Link to abstract; and the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2025 Online Program Planner American Heart Association news release: New research finds 62% of AFib patients were unaware of the condition before diagnosis (Sept. 2025) American Heart Association news release: Regular dental flossing may lower risk of stroke from blood clots, irregular heartbeats | American Heart Association (Jan. 2025) American Heart Association news release: Early Rhythm Control, Lifestyle Modification and More Tailored Stroke Risk Assessment Are Top Goals in Managing Atrial Fibrillation (Nov. 2023) American Heart Association Guideline: 2023 ACC/AHA/ACCP/HRS Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Atrial Fibrillation: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines American Heart Association health information: FAQ About AFib American Heart Association health information: Join an online peer group and community for people living with atrial fibrillation About Scientific Sessions 2025 For more news at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2025, follow us on X @HeartNews,#AHA25 ###

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

END

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Understanding how bacteria use “sunscreen” to adapt to climate

2025-11-10

Cyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae, are found almost everywhere in the world—from hot springs to arctic ice to antioxidant smoothies. Part of their extreme adaptability lies within a unique light-harvesting structure called the phycobilisome. These modular antennae both collect energy from sunlight, and adapt to changing light levels in order to provide a sort of sunscreen for the bacteria. One important way that phycobilisomes adapt involves an accessory protein to both sense and protect against too much light. ...

Inaugural Margot and Tom Pritzker Prize for AI in Science Research Excellence announces winners at conference

2025-11-10

The University of Chicago and Caltech announce the recipients of the inaugural Margot and Tom Pritzker Prize for AI in Science Research Excellence, presented during the AI+Science Conference hosted at Caltech on November 10 and 11. This new award recognizes outstanding contributions that jointly advance artificial intelligence and the natural sciences or engineering. “We see AI as a catalyst for human ingenuity—accelerating the scale and pace of discovery in ways that can meaningfully benefit humanity. We hope that this initiative will help scientists to reach farther to explore frontiers once thought unreachable,” said Margot Pritzker and Tom ...

COP webpages emit seven times more carbon than average sites

2025-11-10

Websites produced for COP conferences emit up to seven times more carbon than average internet pages, new research suggests. Ahead of this year’s United Nations climate summit, COP30, researchers have revealed a sharp increase in the carbon emissions generated by the conference’s websites over time. Analysis indicates that between 1995 – when the first Conference of the Parties (COP) was held – and 2024, average emissions from COP conference websites have risen by more than 13,000%. While ...

Successful visualization of the odor discrimination process in an AI-assisted olfactory sensor

2025-11-10

NIMS has been developing chemical sensors as a key component of the artificial olfaction technology (olfactory sensors), with the aim of putting this technology into practical use. In this study, explainable AI (XAI) was used to reveal how chemical sensors discriminate among various odorant molecules. The findings may help guide the selection of receptor materials for developing high-performance chemical sensors capable of detecting odorant molecules. The achievement is expected not only to improve the performance of artificial olfaction but also to advance understanding of human olfactory mechanisms. This ...

Patients with peripheral arterial disease who also have atrial fibrillation face significantly higher risk for cardiac events including death

2025-11-10

New research from Intermountain Health in Salt Lake City finds that patients diagnosed with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) who also have atrial fibrillation (AFib) face a significantly higher risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). The Intermountain study analyzed long-term data of Intermountain Health patients with PAD and found that AFib was present in approximately one in four PAD patients, making this combination far more common than previously recognized. More importantly, Intermountain researchers found the presence of AFib nearly doubles the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients compared to PAD alone. Irregular heart rhythms are called arrhythmias. ...

Factoring in frailty and age to improve pancreatic cancer treatment

2025-11-10

While some risk factors for cancer can be mitigated through lifestyle choices such as diet or exercise, aging is not one of them. In the case of pancreatic cancer, it also can limit treatment options if a patient is too frail to be safely treated with surgery or other alternatives. Scientists at the NCI-Designated Cancer Center at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute would like to expand options for these patients with personalized treatments. Many stand to benefit from a therapeutic strategy that factors in age. The average age of a patient diagnosed with pancreatic cancer is 70, and nearly two-thirds of cases are in people over the age of ...

Preclinical support for using psychedelics to treat alcohol use disorders

2025-11-10

A psychedelic found in mushrooms is emerging as a potential treatment for alcohol use disorders. This possibility is due to a compound the body converts the psychedelic into called psilocin, but psilocin’s mechanisms remain unclear. Researchers, led by Sarah Magee and Melissa Herman at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, explored whether psilocin targets neurons in the central amygdala involved in emotional processing and stress to alter alcohol use in their JNeurosci paper. Herman emphasizes that ...

Exploring how the maternal bond affects social processing in babies

2025-11-10

In a new JNeurosci paper, Sarah Jessen and colleagues, from the University of Lübeck, explored how infants track their mothers’ voices compared to unfamiliar voices. The researchers also explored whether this vocal processing affects how babies process new faces. Brain recordings of babies around 7 months old showed that they were far more attuned to the voices of their mothers than strangers. Additionally, neural tracking of unfamiliar faces was stronger when babies heard a stranger’s voice compared to their mother’s voice at the same time. Whether a face ...

How do people learn new movement patterns and alternate between them?

2025-11-10

In a new JNeurosci paper, Kahori Kita and colleagues at Johns Hopkins University explored how people switch between intuitive motor skills they know and newly learned movement patterns. Study volunteers frequently made errors switching between more innate movements and new ones. These errors were largely because people persistently stuck to the movement patterns they used before the switch. Notes Kita, “People made similar errors when switching from the intuitive to the new skill, as when switching from the new skill to the intuitive one.” A second group of people learned two new movement-based skills. It was initially even more difficult for these ...

Devilishly distinctive new bee species discovered in WA Goldfields

2025-11-10

A new native bee species with tiny devil-like “horns” named Megachile (Hackeriapis) lucifer has been discovered in Western Australia’s Goldfields, highlighting how much remains unknown about Australia’s native pollinators. The striking new bee was found during surveys of a critically endangered wildflower Marianthus aquilonarius that grows only in the Bremer Range region, which is between the towns of Norseman and Hyden. Lead author Curtin Adjunct Research Fellow Dr Kit Prendergast, from the Curtin School of Molecular and Life Sciences, said the female bee’s unusual ...

Medication still better than procedure for some irregular heartbeat conditions

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: