Medtronic Presents Pacemaker Trial Data at AHA Showing Significant Delay in AF

New research shows that Medtronic

pacemakers with enhanced pacing features have the ability to slow the progression of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with bradycardia, or a slow heartbeat. Presented as a late breaking clinical trial at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2013, the MINERVA (MINimizE Right Ventricular pacing to prevent Atrial fibrillation and heart failure) study found that Medtronic pacemakers with atrial antitachycardia pacing (Reactive ATP(TM)), managed ventricular pacing (MVP®) and atrial intervention features were able to significantly decrease the incidence of mortality, cardiovascular hospitalizations or permanent AF at two years compared to pacemakers without these features. The effects of these features were most evident by a significant delay in the progression of atrial tachyarrhythmias to permanent AF, with a 61 percent relative risk reduction at two years. "By addressing atrial fibrillation, which is the most common cardiac arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice, our study is the first to demonstrate that pacemakers with enhanced pacing features can significantly reduce the progression of this