EHRA 2026 — Dr Kent Nilsson (Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital, Athens, GA, USA) joins us to discuss 1-year outcomes from the ARRIVE study, evaluating the Abbott Aveir AR atrial leadless pacemaker against single-chamber atrial transvenous pacemakers in a real-world Medicare population.

This prospective, observational coverage with evidence development (CED) study leverages real-world data from Medicare claims linked with Abbott device registry data. The study enrolled Medicare beneficiaries implanted with either the Aveir AR leadless pacemaker or a single-chamber atrial transvenous pacemaker, comparing acute complication rates at 30 days and survival outcomes at 2 years as co-primary endpoints, alongside chronic complication and device-related re-intervention rates as secondary measures.

Findings showed an approximate 50% reduction in overall complications with the Aveir AR atrial leadless pacemaker as compared to single-chamber atrial transvenous pacemakers. There was no difference in mortality outcomes between the two devices.

Interview Questions:

1. What was the reasoning behind the ARRIVE Study?
2. Could you outline the ARRIVE study design and patient population
3. What were your key findings?
4. What are the implications of these findings for how electrophysiologists should be thinking about atrial leadless pacing today?
5. What are your key take-home messages, and what further evidence do you think is still needed?

Recorded at EHRA 2026, Paris.
Editors: Jordan Rance
Videographer: David Ben-Harosh
Support: This is an independent interview produced by Radcliffe Cardiology.