The Lead Podcast presented by Heart Rhythm Society

In this episode of The Lead recorded at EHRA, host Christopher Kowalewski, MD, is joined by Tina Baykaner, MD, MPH, and Sanjiv M. Narayan, MD, PhD, FHRS, to discuss the journal article, Relationship Between Time-to-First Atrial Tachyarrhythmia Recurrence and Atrial Fibrillation Burden: Implications for Trial Design. Together, they examine the relationship between time to first atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence and atrial fibrillation burden and discuss the implications of these measures for clinical trial design.
Learning Objectives
Review the relationship between time-to-first atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence and atrial fibrillation burden.
Discuss how different measures of atrial fibrillation recurrence and burden may influence the interpretation of clinical trial outcomes.
Examine the implications of atrial fibrillation burden and time-to-first recurrence for the design of future atrial fibrillation trials.
 
Host: Christopher Kowalewski, MD
 
Guests: Tina Baykaner, MD, MPH and Sanjiv M. Narayan, MD, PhD, FHRS
 
Disclosures:
 
C. Kowalewski
No relevant disclosures
 
T. Baykaner
Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Volta Medical, Medtronic, Pacemate, Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Medical, Boston Scientific
Research: NIH, Boston Scientific
 
S. Narayan
Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: UpToDate, Inc, LifeSignals, Abbott Medical, TDK Inc.
Research: National Institutes for Health
Intellectual Property Rights: University of California Regents
Stocks – Privately Held: Physcade

In this episode of The Lead recorded at HRS2026, host Danesh Kella, MBBS, FHRS is joined by Jeffrey S. Healey, MD, FHRS and Fred M. Kusumoto, MD, FHRS to discuss the journal article, Left Atrial Appendage Closure or Medical Therapy in Atrial Fibrillation (The CLOSURE-AF Trial). Together, they review the study findings comparing left atrial appendage closure with medical therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation and discuss the potential implications for clinical practice.
Learning Objectives
Review the design and key findings of the CLOSURE-AF Trial comparing left atrial appendage closure with medical therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation.
Discuss the comparative considerations of left atrial appendage closure and medical therapy for the management of atrial fibrillation.
Examine the potential clinical implications of the CLOSURE-AF Trial for treatment decision-making in patients with atrial fibrillation.
 
Host: Danesh Kella, MBBS, FHRS
Guests: Jeffrey S. Healey, MD, FHRS and Fred M. Kusumoto, MD, FHRS
 
Disclosures:
D. Kella
Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Zoll Medical Corporation, MBW Spectrum
 
J. Healey
Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Boston Scientific, Servier
Research: Pfizer, Boston Scientific, Medtronic, Inc.
Speakers' Bureau: Bristol-Myers Squibb
 
F. Kusumoto
No relevant disclosures

Recorded at HRS2026, this episode of The Lead features host Christopher Kowalewski, MD, in conversation with Junaid A.B. Zaman, MA, MD, PhD, CCDS, and Patrick Boyle, BS, PhD, FHRS, about the journal article, Digital Twin–Guided Ablation for Ventricular Tachycardia. Together, they discuss the study's findings and explore the use of digital twin technology to guide ventricular tachycardia ablation and its potential implications for clinical electrophysiology.
Learning Objectives
Review the design and key findings of the study evaluating digital twin–guided ablation for ventricular tachycardia.
Discuss the use of digital twin technology as a tool to guide ventricular tachycardia ablation.
Explore the potential clinical implications of digital twin–guided ablation for the management of ventricular tachycardia.
Host: Christopher Kowalewski, MD
 
Guests:
Junaid A.B. Zaman, MA, MD, PhD, CCDS 
Patrick Boyle, BS, PhD, FHRS 
 
Disclosures:
C. Kowalewski
No relevant disclosures
 
J Zaman
Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Acutus Medical Inc., Johnson and Johnson, American Medical Association, American College of Physicians, Bylis Medical Company
Office/Trustee/Director/Other Fiduciary Role: Society of Bedside Medicine
Travel/Entertainment: Boston Scientific
 
P Boyle
Research: Seattle Foundation, Catherine Holmes Wilkins Charitable Foundation, NIH/NHLBI, American Heart Association
Other Non-Financial Relationship: Cardiovascular Engineering and Technology
Office/Trustee/Director/Other Fiduciary Role: The Cardiac Electrophysiology Society

Recorded at EHRA 2026, this episode of The Lead features host Melissa Middeldorp, MPH, PhD, FHRS, in conversation with Sana Al-Khatib, MD, MHS, FHRS, and Wei Hua, MD, FHRS, about the journal article, Conduction System vs Biventricular Pacing in Heart Failure: The PhysioSync-HF Randomized Clinical Trial. Together, they discuss the findings of the PhysioSync-HF randomized clinical trial, comparing conduction system pacing with biventricular pacing in patients with heart failure and exploring the potential implications for clinical practice.
 
Learning Objectives:
Review the design and key findings of the PhysioSync-HF randomized clinical trial comparing conduction system pacing and biventricular pacing in patients with heart failure.
Discuss the differences between conduction system pacing and biventricular pacing as evaluated in the PhysioSync-HF trial.
Examine the potential clinical implications of the trial findings for pacing strategies in patients with heart failure.
 
Host: Melissa Middeldorp, MPH, PhD, FHRS
Guests: Sana Al-Khatib, MD, MHS, FHRS and Wei Hua, MD, FHRS
 
Disclosures:
M. Middeldorp
·      No relevant disclosures
 
S. Al-Khatib
·      Other Financial Relationship: American Heart Association
 
W. Hua
·      No relevant disclosures

In this episode of The Lead, host Tina Baykaner, MD, MPH, is joined by Christopher Kowalewski, MD, and Marco Perez, MD, to discuss the journal article, Atrial Fibrillation Screening According to Genetic Risk: A Secondary Analysis of the Randomized LOOP Study. Together, they review findings from this secondary analysis of the LOOP Study and explore the relationship between genetic risk and atrial fibrillation screening.
Learning Objectives
Review the key findings from the secondary analysis of the randomized LOOP Study examining atrial fibrillation screening according to genetic risk.
Discuss the relationship between genetic risk and atrial fibrillation screening as evaluated in the study.
Explore the potential implications of incorporating genetic risk into atrial fibrillation screening strategies.
 
Host: Tina Baykaner, MD, MPH
Guests: Christopher Kowalewski, MD and Marco Perez, MD
 
Disclosures:
T. Baykaner
Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Volta Medical, Medtronic, Pacemate, Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Medical, Boston Scientific
Research: NIH, Boston Scientific
 
C. Kowalewski
No relevant disclosures
 
M. Perez
Ownership/Partnership/Principal: QALY
Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Boston Scientific, Biotronik
Research: Apple, Inc.
Other/Stock Options Privately Held