# Long-term outcome and predictors for recurrence after medical and interventional treatment of arrhythmias at the UniverSity Heart CenTer Hamburg (TRUST): design and patient profile snapshot of a prospective clinical cohort study

**Authors:** Julius Obergassel, Jan Leon Rieß, Sandro Jaeckle, Silke van Elferen, Moritz Nies, Niklas Schenker, Marc Daniel Lemoine, Alexander Welcker, Shinwan Kany, Laura Rottner, Djemail Ismaili, Laura Charlotte Sommerfeld, Johannes Petersen, Katharina Govorov, Lauritz Schoof, Olga Tsoy, Jan Baumbach, Simon Pecha, Tanja Zeller, Stefan Blankenberg, Larissa Fabritz, Bruno Reißmann, Feifan Ouyang, Andreas Rillig, Andreas Metzner, Paulus Kirchhof

PMC · DOI: 10.1093/ehjopen/oeag002 · European Heart Journal Open · 2026-01-14

## TL;DR

This study outlines a new clinical cohort to understand arrhythmia treatment outcomes and recurrence predictors over time.

## Contribution

The TRUST study introduces a comprehensive, prospective cohort with detailed phenotypic and procedural data for arrhythmia patients.

## Key findings

- The TRUST cohort includes 1500 patients with diverse arrhythmia types and detailed baseline data.
- Most patients received invasive procedures within a month of enrollment.
- The study will provide insights into treatment responses and disease progression in real-world settings.

## Abstract

Optimal outcomes for patients with cardiac arrhythmias can be achieved through multimodal therapy including lifestyle support, medication, and interventions. Planning of these therapy concepts requires a detailed understanding of phenotypes, responses to therapies, and outcomes.

The prospective Long-term Outcome and Predictors for Recurrence after Medical and Interventional Treatment of Arrhythmias at the University Heart Center Hamburg (TRUST) combines deep phenotypic, procedural, and follow-up information in a contemporary cohort of patients with cardiac arrhythmias.

TRUST is an investigator-initiated, prospective, cohort study enrolling consecutive patients at the UHZ Hamburg. Comprehensive baseline work-up, imaging, and biobanking at baseline is combined with follow-up using a combination of in-person visits, online questionnaires, and remote rhythm-monitoring. Enrolment started in March 2021 and is ongoing. This paper describes the design and the clinical characteristics of the first 1500 enrolled patients with verified baseline datasets (562 women (37%), median age 64 (IQR 55, 74) years). Overall, 1077/1500 patients (71%) were seen for atrial fibrillation, 161/1500 (11%) for ventricular tachycardia and premature ventricular complexes, 239/1500 (16%) for supraventricular tachycardia, and 23/1500 (2%) patients for other reasons. Ablations, rhythm surgery, or invasive procedures were performed in 1363/1500 (91%) within 1 month after inclusion.

This snapshot of the first 1500 patients enrolled in TRUST illustrates current characteristics and comorbidity burden in patients undergoing arrhythmia treatment. This rich data set will provide information on treatment patterns, detailed phenotypes, and follow-up, offering insights into the natural progression and treatment responses of arrhythmias in routine care.

Graphical Abstract

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** atrial fibrillation (MONDO:0004981), ventricular tachycardia (MONDO:0005477)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** REN (renin) [NCBI Gene 5972] {aka ADTKD4, HNFJ2, RTD}
- **Diseases:** AF (MESH:D001281), ischemic (MESH:D002545), valvular heart disease (MESH:D006349), ischemic heart disease (MESH:D017202), diabetes (MESH:D003920), ischemic stroke (MESH:D002544), myocardial infarction (MESH:D009203), cardiovascular conditions (MESH:D002318), Dilated cardiomyopathy (MESH:D002311), chronic kidney disease (MESH:D051436), OSA (MESH:C535586), atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (MESH:D013611), PK (MESH:C564858), Thrombosis and Hemostasis (MESH:D013927), atrial flutter (MESH:D001282), acute coronary syndrome (MESH:D054058), Atrial tachycardia (MESH:D013617), III (MESH:C537189), hypertension (MESH:D006973), death (MESH:D003643), VT (MESH:D017180), appendage (MESH:D018280), PVC (MESH:D018879), Arrhythmias (MESH:D001145), HF (MESH:D006333), depression (MESH:D003866), TRUST (MESH:C563594), bleeding (MESH:D006470), embolic (MESH:D004617), Obstructive sleep apnea (MESH:D020181), Left (MESH:D018487), Coronary artery disease (MESH:D003324), PVI (MESH:D000071078), cardiac condition (MESH:D006331), Cardiomyopathies (MESH:D009202), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (MESH:D002312)
- **Chemicals:** sotalol (MESH:D013015), aldosterone (MESH:D000450), AAD (-), propafenone (MESH:D011405), Flecainide (MESH:D005424), sacubitril/valsartan (MESH:C549068), MRA (MESH:C502936), Amiodarone (MESH:D000638), dronedarone (MESH:D000077764)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

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## Figures

4 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12930198/full.md

## References

82 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12930198/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12930198