MINERVA study of Medtronic pacemakers and Atrial Fibrillation

The MINERVA (MINimizE Right Ventricular pacing to prevent Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure) study found that Medtronic pacemakers with atrial antitachycardia pacing (Reactive ATP)), managed ventricular pacing (MVP) and atrial intervention features were able to significantly decrease the incidence of mortality, cardiovascular hospitalizations or permanent AF at two years compared to pacemakers without these features.

The effects of these features were most evident by a significant delay in the progression of atrial tachyarrhythmias to permanent AF, with a 61 percent relative risk reduction at two years. Pacers used in the study carried advancements such as atrial intervention features, reactive pacing--which starts only when an irregular heart rhythm is detected--and managed ventricular pacing, which helps to promote regular heart rhythms. The company's EnRhythm pacer was used in the study, but the technology is also in other Medtronic devices such as its Advisa and Revo MRI SureScan pacers.