In Rhythm: Dr. Jeffrey Goldberger on the Heart Rhythm Society Annual Meeting
The director of the Miller School of Medicine’s Center for Atrial Fibrillation spoke about this year’s meeting and cardiac arrhythmia research and care.
The Heart Rhythm Society’s annual meeting in April convened leading cardiac arrhythmia experts to share insights, research and innovations.
“The meeting provides opportunities to learn about state-of-the-art treatments and to hear about cutting-edge science that will be the backbone for future innovations and treatments,” said Jeffrey Goldberger, M.D., M.B.A., director of the Center for Atrial Fibrillation and professor in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
Dr. Goldberger used his meeting presentation to discuss long-term ablation outcomes in the Liraglutide Effect on Atrial Fibrillation (LEAF) study. We spoke with him about this year’s conference and how researchers at the Miller School play a pivotal role in advancing the field.
How was this year’s meeting?
I always enjoy the meeting for a variety of reasons. First, it is a great opportunity to get together with old friends, colleagues and former trainees. It is particularly rewarding to see how our former trainees have blossomed into cardiac arrhythmia specialists.
The Miller School has one of the top atrial fibrillation research programs in the world. Our portfolio of research spans from diagnostics—the atrial ECG and 4D flow MRI to evaluate stroke risk—to therapeutics, including the role of epicardial fat in atrial fibrillation and novel mapping approaches.
Dr. Jeffrey Goldberger
I had the great opportunity to meet with international investigators to explore possibilities of collaboration. The learning opportunities are vast, with one-to-one exchanges of thoughts and ideas.
What were some of the key presentations and research findings that stood out to you?
There was an abundance of presentations on the newest technology for pulsed field ablation. Other important areas with key presentations were related to atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, conduction system pacing and genetics.
What did Miller School researchers present?
Our key presentation this year was on the long-term follow-up from the LEAF study. In LEAF, patients who decided to undergo catheter ablation for treatment of atrial fibrillation were randomized to risk factor modification (RFM) or RFM plus liraglutide, a GLP1 analog used for weight loss. The long-term outcomes were dramatically improved for those treated with liraglutide.
In what ways is the Miller School making its mark in the heart rhythm field?
The Miller School has one of the top atrial fibrillation research programs in the world. Supported currently by three R01 grants from the National Institutes of Health, our portfolio of research spans from diagnostics—the atrial ECG and 4D flow MRI to evaluate stroke risk—to therapeutics, including the role of epicardial fat in atrial fibrillation and novel mapping approaches. Our thoughtful approach in atrial fibrillation has direct impact on the care of our patients with this disorder.
Where do you envision the field heading within the next five to 10 years?
We always have breakthroughs that substantially alter the field every five years. I suspect that we will see improved technology for conduction system pacing, which will become the norm. I anticipate that we will have novel, alternative approaches for the treatment of atrial fibrillation that will improve upon the success rates we currently have with catheter ablation.
Tags: arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, cardiovascular, Cardiovascular Division, Dr. Jeffrey Goldberger, heart care, heart disease, Heart Rhythm Society