Exercise Capacity in Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction Before and After Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation

Patients ≥ 18 years of age who are scheduled for an AF ablation at the University of Vermont Medical Center will be screened for the following inclusion criteria: H2FpEF score of ≥ 6 (corresponding to ≥90% probability of HFpEF (19)) AND echocardiogram within the past 2 years that reported a LV ejection fraction ≥ 50% AND at least one symptom of HF (dyspnea on exertion, orthopnea or paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea). Exclusion criteria: (1) Life expectancy <12 months, (2) moderate or more valvular disease, (3) inability to walk on a treadmill. Patients with early recurrent AF (defined as AF after a 12-week post-procedural blanking period accounting for post-ablation inflammation) will be withdrawn from the study and not proceed to the 4 month follow up visit.