April 26, 2026 — New results from the multicenter catheter ablation versus anti-arrhythmic drugs for Ventricular Tachycardia (CAAD-VT) trial show that catheter ablation may reduce ventricular tachycardia (VT) events in patients with ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. Researchers presented these findings as a late-breaking clinical trial at Heart Rhythm 2026 in Chicago.
VT is a life-threatening heart rhythm disorder that occurs more frequently in patients with underlying heart disease and is a major contributor to sudden cardiac death (SCD), which accounts for approximately 350,000 deaths each year in the United States.i Historically, clinical trials evaluating treatments for VT have focused predominantly on patients with coronary atherosclerosis, which results in ischemic heart disease. This is due in part to the higher prevalence of ischemic heart disease and its more uniform disease substrate, which has made it easier to study in controlled settings. In contrast, patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy represent a more heterogeneous population and have been underrepresented in prior trials, leaving uncertainty about how otherwise well-established therapies perform in this group. The CAAD-VT study was designed to address this gap by including patients with either ischemic or non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, extending randomized evidence to a broader and more representative patient population.
CAAD-VT is a prospective, randomized, multicenter, open-label trial comparing two standard approaches for managing VT: antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) therapy, versus catheter ablation — a minimally invasive ‘keyhole’ procedure. The study enrolled patients with spontaneous or inducible VT and randomized them to receive one of the two approaches.
A total of 100 patients were followed for a median of 35.7 months. Researchers found that the primary endpoint — a composite of recurrent VT, VT storm, or all-cause mortality — occurred in 51% of patients treated with catheter ablation, compared with 71% in those receiving AAD therapy. Catheter ablation was also associated with a significantly lower risk of VT recurrence and VT storm, while mortality rates were similar between groups.
“While catheter ablation is widely used to treat ventricular tachycardia, continued evaluation across diverse patient populations is essential to ensure every patient receives the most effective therapy,” said Saurabh Kumar, MBBS, PhD, Cardiac Electrophysiologist, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia. “These findings add to growing evidence supporting catheter ablation as a viable option for treating patients with ventricular tachycardia, with both ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathies.”
Future research will include larger, multicenter trials to confirm generalizability and better understand cost-effectiveness and quality-of-life impacts.
Session Details:
“Late-Breaking Clinical Trials: Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation: Catheter Ablation versus Anti-arrhythmic Drugs for Ventricular Tachycardia in Ischaemic and Non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy: results from the CAAD-VT multi-centre randomized controlled trial”
i American Heart Association. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2023 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2023;147:e93–e621. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001123
April 14, 2026 
