Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Substrate and Trigger Ablation for Reduction of Atrial Fibrillation Trial - Star AF II Study
Brief Summary: This investigation is designed with the hypothesis that combined PV Antral Isolation and Ablation of Complex Fractionated Electrograms (PVI+CFE) approach will offer a higher success rate compared to the Wide Circumferential Pulmonary Vein Antrum Isolation (PVI) approach and to the Combined PV Antral Isolation and Empiric Linear Ablation (PVI+Lines) approach.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients age is18 years or greater;
* Patients undergoing a first-time ablation procedure for AF;
* Patients with persistent AF;
* Persistent AF will be defined as a sustained episode lasting \> 7 days and less than 3 years.
* Patients with symptomatic AF that is refractory to at least one antiarrhythmic medication;
* At least one episode of persistent AF must have been documented by ECG, holter, loop recorder, telemetry, trans telephonic monitoring (TTM), or implantable device within last 2 years of enrollment in this investigation;
* Patients must be able and willing to provide written informed consent to participate in this investigation; and
* Patients must be willing and able to comply with all peri-ablation and follow-up requirements.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients with paroxysmal AF;
* Patients with long-standing persistent AF;
* Patients for whom cardioversion or sinus rhythm will never be attempted/pursued;
* Patients with AF felt to be secondary to an obvious reversible cause;
* Patients with contraindications to systemic anticoagulation with heparin or coumadin or a direct thrombin inhibitor;
* Patients with left atrial size ≥ 60 mm (2D echocardiography, parasternal long axis view); and
* Patients who are pregnant.
B: Inclusion criteria:

* Male or female patient, age \>= 18 years at screening. For Japan only: Age \>=20 years at screening
* Patients with chronic HF (Chronic Heart Failure) NYHA (New York Heart Association classification) class II-IV and preserved EF (Ejection Fraction)(LVEF (Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction) \> 40 %) and elevated NT-proBNP (N-terminal of the prohormone brain natriuretic peptide) \> 300 pg/ml for patients without AF, OR \> 900 pg/ml for patients with AF, analysed at the Central laboratory at Visit 1
* Structural heart disease within 6 months prior to Visit 1, OR documented HHF (Hospitalisation for Heart Failure) within 12 months prior to Visit 1
* Stable dose of oral diuretics, if prescribed
* Signed and dated written ICF (informed consent form)
* Further inclusion criteria apply

Exclusion criteria:

* Myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft surgery or other major cardiovascular surgery, stroke or TIA (Transient Ischaemic Attack) in past 90 days prior to Visit 1
* Heart transplant recipient or listed for heart transplant
* Acute decompensated HF (Heart Failure)
* Systolic blood pressure (SBP) \>= 180 mmHg at Visit 2.
* Symptomatic hypotension and/or a SBP \< 100 mmHg
* Indication of liver disease,
* Impaired renal function, defined as eGFR (Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate) \< 20 mL/min/1.73 m2 (CKD-EPI (Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration Equation))cr or requiring dialysis
* History of ketoacidosis
* Current use or prior use of a SGLT (Sodium-glucose co-transporter) -2 inhibitor or combined SGLT-1 and 2 inhibitor
* Currently enrolled in another investigational device or drug trial
* Known allergy or hypersensitivity to empagliflozin or other SGLT-2 inhibitors
* Women who are pregnant, nursing, or who plan to become pregnant while in the trial
* Further exclusion criteria may apply
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Type 2 diabetes
* Overweight
* BMI of 25 kg/m2 or greater
* If on insulin, BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater
* Blood pressure less than 160/100 mmHg
* HbA1c less or equal to 11%
* Triglycerides less than 600 mg/dl
* Willingness to participate

Exclusion Criteria:

* Unable or unwilling to give informed consent or communicate with local study staff.
* Current diagnosis of schizophrenia, other psychotic disorders, or bipolar disorder.
* Hospitalization for depression in past six months.
* Self-report of alcohol or substance abuse within the past twelve months.
* Current consumption of more than 14 alcoholic drinks per week.
* Current acute treatment or rehabilitation program for these problems.
* Plans to relocate to an area not served by Look AHEAD or travel plans that do not permit full participation in the study.
* Lack of support from primary care health provider or family members.
* Failure to complete the two-week run-in for dietary intake and exercise.
* Weight loss exceeding 10 lbs. in past three months.
* Current use of medications for weight loss.
* Self reported inability to walk two blocks.
* History of bariatric surgery, small bowel resection, or extensive bowel resection.
* Chronic treatment with systemic corticosteroids.
* Another member of the household is a participant or staff member in Look AHEAD.
* Currently pregnant or nursing.
* Cancer requiring treatment in the past five years, except for non-melanoma skin cancers or cancers that have clearly been cured.
* HIV positive (self-report), due to effects on weight and body composition of HIV and medications used to treat HIV.
* Active tuberculosis (self-report).
* Cardiovascular disease (heart attack or procedure within the past three months).
* Participation in a cardiac rehabilitation program within last three months.
* Stroke or history/treatment for transient ischemic attacks in the past three months.
* Pulmonary embolus in past six months.
* Unstable angina pectoris or angina pectoris at rest.
* A history of cardiac arrest.
* Complex ventricular arrhythmia at rest or with exercise (e.g., ventricular tachycardia).
* Uncontrolled atrial fibrillation (heart rate of 100 beats per minute or more).
* New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III or IV congestive heart failure.
* Acute myocarditis, pericarditis or hypertrophic myocardiopathy.
* Clinically significant aortic stenosis.
* Left bundle branch block or cardiac pacemaker unless evaluated and cleared for participation by a cardiologist.
* Cardiac defibrillator.
* Heart transplant.
* History of aortic aneurysm of at least 7 cm in diameter or aortic aneurysm repair.
* Resting heart rate less than 45 beats per minute or greater than 100 beats per minute.
* Any abnormality during the maximum exercise stress test that indicates that it would be unsafe to participate in the Lifestyle Intervention.
* Angina pectoris.
* Significant ST segment depression at low levels of exercise. (ST segment is the flat, isoelectric section of the ECG between the end of the S wave (the J point) and the beginning of the T wave)
* Exercise induced ventricular arrhythmias.
* Abnormal hemodynamics, such as flat or decreasing systolic blood pressure with increasing workload.
* Those at moderate to high risk for cardiac complications during exercise.
* Those who are unable to self-regulate activity or understand the recommended activity level.
* Renal disease or dialysis.
* Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that would limit ability to follow the protocol.
* Self-reported chronic hepatitis B or C or cirrhosis.
* Inflammatory bowel disease requiring treatment in past year.
* Cushing's syndrome.
* Acromegaly.
* Amputation of lower limbs as result of non-traumatic causes.
* Any major organ transplant.
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Over the preceding 6 months have:

  1. ≥2 paroxysmal (electrocardiographic documentation of at least 1) atrial fibrillation (AF) episodes lasting ≥1 hour in duration: (that terminate spontaneously within 7 days or cardioversion is performed within 48h of AF onset): or
  2. electrocardiographic documentation of 1 persistent AF episode: (sustained for ≥7 days or cardioversion is performed more than 48h after AF onset): or
  3. electrocardiographic documentation of 1 longstanding persistent AF episode: (continuous AF of duration \>1 year).
* Warrant active therapy (within the past 3 months) beyond simple ongoing observation
* Be eligible for catheter ablation and ≥2 sequential rhythm control and/or ≥2 rate control drugs.
* Be ≥65 yrs of age, or \<65 yrs with one or more of the following risk factors for stroke: Hypertension (treated and/or defined as a blood pressure \>140/90 mmHg) \[90\], Diabetes (treated and/or defined as a fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dl) \[91\], Congestive heart failure (including systolic or diastolic heart failure), Prior stroke, transient ischemic attack or systemic emboli, Atherosclerotic vascular disease (previous myocardial infarction (MI), peripheral arterial disease or aortic plaque), left atrial (LA) size \>5.0 cm (or volume index ≥40 cc/m2), or ejection fraction (EF) ≤35.
* Have the capacity to understand and sign an informed consent form.
* Be ≥18 years of age.

  * NOTE- Subjects \<65 yrs of age whose only risk factor is hypertension must have a second risk factor or left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy to qualify.Patients receiving new drug therapy initiated within the previous 3 months may continue that therapy if randomized to the drug therapy arm. Patients may have documented atrial flutter in addition to atrial fibrillation and remain eligible for enrollment.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Lone AF in the absence of risk factors for stroke in patients \<65 years of age
* Patients who in the opinion of the managing clinician should not yet receive any therapy for AF
* Patients who have failed \>2 membrane active anti-arrhythmic drugs at a therapeutic dose due to inefficacy or side effects (Table 5.2.2)
* An efficacy failure of full dose amiodarone treatment \>8 weeks duration at any time
* Reversible causes of AF including thyroid disorders, acute alcohol intoxication, recent major surgical procedures, or trauma
* Recent cardiac events including MI, percutaneous intervention (PCI), or valve or bypass surgery in the preceding 3 months
* Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (outflow track)
* Class IV angina or Class IV congestive heart failure (CHF) (including past or planned heart transplantation)
* Other arrhythmias mandating anti-arrhythmic drug therapy (i.e. ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation (VF))
* Heritable arrhythmias or increased risk for torsade de pointes with class I or III drugs
* Prior LA catheter ablation with the intention of treating AF
* Prior surgical interventions for AF such as the MAZE procedure
* Prior AV nodal ablation
* Patients with other arrhythmias requiring ablative therapy
* Contraindication to appropriate anti-coagulation therapy
* Renal failure requiring dialysis
* Medical conditions limiting expected survival to \<1 year
* Women of childbearing potential (unless post-menopausal or surgically sterile)
* Participation in any other clinical mortality trial (Participation in other non-mortality trials should be reviewed with the clinical trial management center)
* Unable to give informed consent

  * NOTE- Prior ablation of the cavo-tricuspid isthmus alone is not an exclusion if the patient develops subsequent recurrent AF. Planned atrial flutter ablation in combination with the left atrial ablation is not an exclusion.

Answer: A