The Lead Podcast presented by Heart Rhythm Society

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

Recorded at EHRA 2026, this episode of The Lead features host Christopher Kowalewski, MD, in conversation with Christian Sohns, MD, and Pierre Jaïs, MD, about the journal article, 20 Years: Clinical Outcome After Pulmonary Vein Isolation in Patients With Symptomatic Drug-Refractory Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation. Together, they discuss the study's long-term clinical outcomes following pulmonary vein isolation in patients with symptomatic drug-refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and explore the implications of two decades of follow-up.
 
Learning Objectives:
Review the long-term clinical outcomes reported after pulmonary vein isolation in patients with symptomatic drug-refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
Discuss the implications of 20-year follow-up data for the treatment of patients undergoing pulmonary vein isolation.
Examine how long-term outcome data may inform clinical decision-making for catheter ablation in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
 
Host: Christopher Kowalewski, MD
 
Guests: Christian Sohns, MD and Pierre Jaïs, MD
 
Disclosures:
C. Kowalewski
No relevant disclosures
 
C. Sohns
No relevant disclosures
 
P. Jaïs
Ownership/Partnership/Prinicipal: inHEART
Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Biosense Webster, Inc., Boston Scientific, Medtronic

Recorded at EHRA 2026, this episode of The Lead features host Michael S. Lloyd, MD, FHRS, in conversation with Tina Baykaner, MD, MPH, and Kenneth Ellenbogen, MD, FHRS, about the journal article, Real-time smartphone alerts during atrial fibrillation episodes with implantable cardiac monitors and wearable devices: SMART-ALERT study. Together, they discuss the study findings and explore the use of real-time smartphone alerts in conjunction with implantable cardiac monitors and wearable devices during atrial fibrillation episodes.
Learning Objectives
Review the design and key findings of the SMART-ALERT study evaluating real-time smartphone alerts during atrial fibrillation episodes.
Discuss the use of implantable cardiac monitors and wearable devices for real-time detection and notification of atrial fibrillation episodes.
Explore the potential clinical implications of integrating smartphone alerts with cardiac monitoring technologies.
 
Host: Michael S. Lloyd, MD, FHRS
 
Guests: Tina Baykaner, MD, MPH
Kenneth A. Ellenbogen, MD, FHRS
 
Disclosures:
M. Lloyd
·      Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Other
 
T. Baykaner
·      Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Volta Medical, Medtronic, Pacemate, Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Medical, Boston Scientific
·      Research: NIH, Boston Scientific
 
K. Ellenbogen
·      Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: American College of Cardiology, Heart Rhythm Society, Boston Scientific, Medtronic, Inc., Abbott
·      Royalty Income: Wiley-Blackwell, Elsevier

Recorded at EHRA 2026, this episode of The Lead features host Michael S. Lloyd, MD, FHRS, in conversation with Tina Baykaner, MD, MPH, and Prashanthan Sanders, MBBS, PhD, FHRS, about the journal article, Atrial Mechanical Contraction Predicts Cerebrovascular Risk in Patients With Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy and Sinus Rhythm. Together, they discuss the study findings and explore the relationship between atrial mechanical contraction and cerebrovascular risk in patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy who are in sinus rhythm.
 
Learning Objectives:
Review the key findings of the study examining atrial mechanical contraction and cerebrovascular risk in patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy and sinus rhythm.
Discuss the association between atrial mechanical contraction and cerebrovascular risk in this patient population.
Explore the potential clinical implications of assessing atrial mechanical function in patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy.
 
Host: Michael S. Lloyd, MD, FHRS
 
Guests:
Tina Baykaner, MD, MPH
Prashanthan Sanders, MBBS, PhD, FHRS
 
Disclosures:
M. Lloyd
Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Other
 
T. Baykaner
Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Volta Medical, Medtronic, Pacemate, Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Medical, Boston Scientific
Research: NIH, Boston Scientific
 
P. Sanders
Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Boston Scientific, Abbott Medical
Other Financial Relationships: Medtronic PLC, Pacemate, CathRx
Research: Abbott, Becton Dickinson, Calyan Technologies, Ceryx Medical, Biosense Webster, CathRx, HelloAlfred, Medtronic, Inc., Abbott Medical

In this episode of The Lead, host Robert Schaller, DO, FHRS, is joined by Tina Baykaner, MD, MPH, and Maulin Shah, MD, to discuss the journal article, Device-Related Complications in Transvenous Versus Subcutaneous Defibrillator Therapy During Long-Term Follow-Up: The PRAETORIAN-XL Trial. Together, they review the study's long-term follow-up findings and explore device-related complications associated with transvenous and subcutaneous defibrillator therapy.
 
Learning Objectives:
Review the long-term follow-up results of the PRAETORIAN-XL Trial comparing transvenous and subcutaneous defibrillator therapy.
Discuss device-related complications associated with transvenous and subcutaneous implantable defibrillator systems.
Examine the clinical considerations of defibrillator therapy selection based on long-term device-related outcomes.
 
Host: Robert Schaller, DO, FHRS 
Guests: Tina Baykaner, MD, MPH and Maulin Shah, MD
 
Disclosures:
 
R. Schaller
Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Philips, Abbott Medical
Officer/Trustee/Director/Committee Chair/Other Fiduciary Role: Imricor
Other Financial Relationship: Other
 
T. Baykaner
Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Volta Medical, Medtronic, Pacemate, Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Medical, Boston Scientific
Research: NIH, Boston Scientific
 
M Shah
No relevant disclosures