OasisLMS

Welcome to the first episode in this week's triple-header of late-breaking clinical trial coverage from Heart Rhythm 2026 in Chicago. In this episode Melissa E. Middeldorp, MPH, PhD from the Digital Education Committee sits down with David H. Birnie, MD and T. Jared Bunch, MD, FHRS to talk through this exciting late breaker. This late-breaking substudy of the ALONE-AF trial presented at Heart Rhythm 2026 evaluated whether discontinuing oral anticoagulation (OAC) after successful atrial fibrillation ablation impacts cognitive function in patients without long-term recurrence. The findings suggest that stopping OAC approximately one year post-ablation does not adversely affect cognitive outcomes, with cognitive scores improving similarly in both discontinuation and continuation groups among patients who remained arrhythmia-free. These results support the potential safety of OAC discontinuation in selected patients, while addressing an important gap in post-ablation management.

Understand the clinical rationale and current uncertainty surrounding continuation versus discontinuation of oral anticoagulation after successful AF ablation.

Evaluate the impact of anticoagulation discontinuation on cognitive function in patients without recurrent atrial fibrillation. 

Apply emerging evidence from ALONE-AF and related studies to inform individualized decision-making on long-term anticoagulation management post-ablation. 

Podcast Contributors

Melissa E. Middeldorp, MPH, PhD
David H. Birnie, MD
T. Jared Bunch, MD, FHRS

All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.

Host and Contributor Disclosure(s):

M. Middeldorp

T.J. Bunch

Staff Disclosure(s) (note: HRS staff are NOT in control of educational content. Disclosures are provided solely for full transparency to the learner):

S. Sailor: No relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.