Rolf Wachter

Heart Failure / Cardiomyopathy

University of Göttingen

About

Rolf Wachter works in Heart Failure / Cardiomyopathy affiliated with University of Göttingen.

Prof. Dr. med. Rolf Wachter is Professor for Clinical and Interventional Cardiology at Universität Leipzig and Deputy Director of the Clinic and Policlinic for Cardiology at Universitätsklinikum Leipzig. He previously worked at Universitätsmedizin Göttingen from 2003 to 2017, serving as Deputy Director of the Clinic for Cardiology and Pneumology. His research includes clinical trials on heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and detection of atrial fibrillation in patients with ischemic stroke.

Research focus

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)Atrial fibrillation screening in stroke patientsExercise training and diastolic function in heart failureInterventional cardiologyClinical trials in cardiovascular medicine

Impact

465 pubs · 15,873 cites · h-index 64

Training

MD
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen and Université Paris-Sud
2000
Habilitation (PhD equivalent)
University of Göttingen
2011

Affiliations

Work Experience

Professor for Clinical and Interventional Cardiology / Deputy Director, Clinic and Policlinic for Cardiology

Universität Leipzig / Universitätsklinikum Leipzig · 2017 - Present

Deputy Director (Leitender Oberarzt), Clinic for Cardiology and Pneumology

Universitätsmedizin Göttingen · 2014 - 2017

Cardiology Consultant (Oberarzt)

Universitätsmedizin Göttingen · 2009 - 2014

Assistant doctor, Department of Cardiology and Pneumology

Georg-August-University Göttingen · 2003 - 2006

Resident / Assistant doctor

Heart and Cardiovascular Center Dresden / TU Dresden · 2000 - 2003

Publications

review

OCT 19WasserNeurological Research and Practice

Individualized stroke prevention strategies balance thromboembolism and hemorrhage risks in complex atrial fibrillation patients.

May guide multidisciplinary decisions in complex AF-stroke cases; leaves open optimal timing and LAAO selection for dedicated trials.

PDF

1w agoOpen Access

Level 5: Literature Review

WasserNeurological Research and Practice

Individualized stroke prevention strategies balance thromboembolism and hemorrhage risks in complex atrial fibrillation patients.

Implication

May guide multidisciplinary decisions in complex AF-stroke cases; leaves open optimal timing and LAAO selection for dedicated trials.

PDF

cohort

JUL 17BochertDeutsches Ärzteblatt international

Observational study examines real-world post-stroke outpatient cardiac rhythm monitoring practices in Germany.

Discrepancies between recommendations and real-world outpatient monitoring after ischemic stroke persist in Germany; leaves open how to optimize post-stroke AF detection.

PDF

15w agoOpen Access

Level 3: Cohort Study

BochertDeutsches Ärzteblatt international

Observational study examines real-world post-stroke outpatient cardiac rhythm monitoring practices in Germany.

Implication

Discrepancies between recommendations and real-world outpatient monitoring after ischemic stroke persist in Germany; leaves open how to optimize post-stroke AF detection.

PDF

Dr. Rolf Wachter

Professor · University Hospital Leipzig

We started with the question, what is the real effect of catheter ablation on quality of life? To do this, we did a randomized multicenter double-blind trial and we found out that ... catheter ablation did not prove superiority to the sham procedure for improvement in the prespecified [Atrial Fibrillation Effect on the Quality of Life Questionnaire] summary score at 6 months.

PVI-SHAM-AF: what does this trial tell us about catheter ablation and symptoms in patients with atrial fibrillation?

Clinical Research in CardiologyLaufs et al.Aug 2026

Dr. Rolf Wachter

Professor of Clinical and Interventional Cardiology · Leipzig University

Our data show that most of the improvement reported by patients does not appear to be attributable to catheter ablation itself, but rather to factors such as a placebo effect or adjustments to their medication. Current guidelines recommend catheter ablation primarily to prevent the recurrence of atrial fibrillation and improve quality of life. However, our study shows that the effect of the ablation itself does not adequately explain the improvement in quality of life.

Catheter ablation for symptomatic atrial fibrillation (PVI-SHAM-AF): a randomised, double-blind, sham-controlled, multicentre trial

The LancetWachter et al.Aug 2026

meta-analysis · n=498

JUL 28Fegers‐WustrowEuropean Journal of Heart Failure

Exercise training improves percent-predicted peakV̇O2 over usual care in women with HFpEF but not men.

Supports equitable exercise prescriptions for HFpEF patients; extends prior RCTs by confirming comparable peakVO2 gains across sexes.

13w agoOpen Access

Level 1: Meta-Analysis

Fegers‐WustrowEuropean Journal of Heart Failure

Exercise training improves percent-predicted peakV̇O2 over usual care in women with HFpEF but not men.

Implication

Supports equitable exercise prescriptions for HFpEF patients; extends prior RCTs by confirming comparable peakVO2 gains across sexes.

cross-sectional · n=1,5754 mentionsEuropean Heart Journal Highlight

AUG 2011EdelmannEuropean Heart Journal

Higher serum aldosterone linked to ~87% greater risk of concentric LVH in preserved LVEF.

Higher SAC was associated with concentric LV remodelling; leaves open aldosterone's causal role in preserved-EF patients.

Aug 2011Open Access

European Heart Journal Highlight

Level 4: Cross-Sectional

EdelmannEuropean Heart Journal

Higher serum aldosterone linked to ~87% greater risk of concentric LVH in preserved LVEF.

Implication

Higher SAC was associated with concentric LV remodelling; leaves open aldosterone's causal role in preserved-EF patients.

Vandana Sachdev

Senior research clinician, NHLBI, NIH · National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

5mo

Exercising helps improve the heart's pumping ability, decreases blood vessel stiffness and improves the function and energy capacity of skeletal muscle. Exercise capacity is an independent, clinically meaningful patient outcome, and research has indicated that guided exercise therapy is actually more effective at improving quality of life for people who have HFpEF than most medications.

Exercise Training Improves Exercise Capacity and Diastolic Function in Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Journal of the American College of CardiologyEdelmann et al.Oct 2011

RCT

MAR 10LinkePediatric Research

Intraoperative text messaging to reduce parental stress during outpatient pediatric surgery: a randomized trial

Randomized trial assesses text messaging effects on parental stress during outpatient pediatric surgery, suggesting gender differences in outcomes.

PDF

33w agoOpen Access

LinkePediatric Research

Intraoperative text messaging to reduce parental stress during outpatient pediatric surgery: a randomized trial

Implication

Randomized trial assesses text messaging effects on parental stress during outpatient pediatric surgery, suggesting gender differences in outcomes.

PDF

RCT · n=171European Heart Journal Highlight

DEC 2025FelixEuropean Heart Journal

After 6 months, LVEF increased from 29 ± 1% to 34 ± 1% in the IA/IgG group and from 29 ± 1% to 32 ± 1% in the control group, which did not differ significantly between groups (P = .08).

Immunoadsorption lacks support for routine dilated cardiomyopathy use; challenges earlier small positive studies and leaves subgroup effects open.

46w agoOpen Access

European Heart Journal Highlight

Level 2: RCT

FelixEuropean Heart Journal

After 6 months, LVEF increased from 29 ± 1% to 34 ± 1% in the IA/IgG group and from 29 ± 1% to 32 ± 1% in the control group, which did not differ significantly between groups (P = .08).

Implication

Immunoadsorption lacks support for routine dilated cardiomyopathy use; challenges earlier small positive studies and leaves subgroup effects open.

cohort · n=200

FEB 23Weber-KrügerNeurological Research and Practice

Extended Holter monitoring detects AF in ~14% of older stroke patients at six months.

May support BNP- and run-guided selection for extended monitoring post-stroke; leaves open whether targeted detection improves outcomes.

PDF

35w agoOpen Access

Level 3: Cohort Study

Weber-KrügerNeurological Research and Practice

Extended Holter monitoring detects AF in ~14% of older stroke patients at six months.

Implication

May support BNP- and run-guided selection for extended monitoring post-stroke; leaves open whether targeted detection improves outcomes.

PDF

preclinical · n=26

NOV 2025KneuerEuropean Heart Journal

HFpEF is characterized by an NK- and T-cell-driven immune response and significant mitochondrial metabolic dysregulation, distinct from the monocyte-driven inflammation in HFrEF.

NO2-OA merits testing in human HFpEF trials; leaves open clinical translation from this murine model.

Nov 2025

Level 5: Animal Study

KneuerEuropean Heart Journal

HFpEF is characterized by an NK- and T-cell-driven immune response and significant mitochondrial metabolic dysregulation, distinct from the monocyte-driven inflammation in HFrEF.

Implication

NO2-OA merits testing in human HFpEF trials; leaves open clinical translation from this murine model.

cohort · n=398

NOV 2025SchroederEuropean Heart Journal

In a multivariable model, BNP (HR 3.3, 95% CI 1.9-5.9), LAVI (HR 3.0, 95% CI 1.6-5.8), and ESVEA (HR 2.5, 95% CI 1.2-4.9) were significantly associated with detection of AF, whereas PTFV1 (HR 0.5, 95% CI 0.2-1.1) was not.

BNP, LAVI, and ESVEA identify post-stroke patients at higher AF risk; supports risk stratification but leaves open need for prospective validation.

Nov 2025

Level 3: Cohort Study

SchroederEuropean Heart Journal

In a multivariable model, BNP (HR 3.3, 95% CI 1.9-5.9), LAVI (HR 3.0, 95% CI 1.6-5.8), and ESVEA (HR 2.5, 95% CI 1.2-4.9) were significantly associated with detection of AF, whereas PTFV1 (HR 0.5, 95% CI 0.2-1.1) was not.

Implication

BNP, LAVI, and ESVEA identify post-stroke patients at higher AF risk; supports risk stratification but leaves open need for prospective validation.

cohort · n=1,005

JAN 8Müller-KozarezESC Heart Failure

Asymptomatic systolic LV dysfunction presents at a younger age with fewer comorbidities than symptomatic HF.

May reflect selection into asymptomatic cohorts; leaves open whether differences modify progression or trial applicability.

42w agoOpen Access

Müller-KozarezESC Heart Failure

Asymptomatic systolic LV dysfunction presents at a younger age with fewer comorbidities than symptomatic HF.

Implication

May reflect selection into asymptomatic cohorts; leaves open whether differences modify progression or trial applicability.

cross-sectional · n=28

NOV 2025GeßnerJournal of Cardiac Failure

26 of 28 patients (93%) had HFpEF confirmed by invasive PVL, demonstrating that noninvasive diagnostic scores lacked sensitivity despite excellent specificity.

Noninvasive scores may miss most HFpEF in unexplained dyspnea; leaves open need for better diagnostics and prospective invasive validation.

PDF

Nov 2025Open Access

Level 4: Cross-Sectional

GeßnerJournal of Cardiac Failure

26 of 28 patients (93%) had HFpEF confirmed by invasive PVL, demonstrating that noninvasive diagnostic scores lacked sensitivity despite excellent specificity.

Implication

Noninvasive scores may miss most HFpEF in unexplained dyspnea; leaves open need for better diagnostics and prospective invasive validation.

PDF

cross-sectional · n=3,508European Heart Journal Highlight

JUL 2025StegmannEuropean Heart Journal

AF is linked to ~128% higher odds of non-lacunar infarcts compared with atherosclerosis.

Patients with atrial fibrillation exhibit a distinct pattern of vascular brain lesions on MRI, characterized by more non-lacunar infarcts and severe periventricular white matter disease, compared to those with atherosclerosis.

Jul 2025Open Access

European Heart Journal Highlight

Level 4: Cross-Sectional

StegmannEuropean Heart Journal

AF is linked to ~128% higher odds of non-lacunar infarcts compared with atherosclerosis.

Implication

RCT · n=322

AUG 2025SadlonovaJournal of Psychosomatic Research

A 12-month supervised exercise training intervention significantly improved overall motivation in patients with HFpEF compared to usual care (B = 0.78; 95% CI 0.14-1.42; p = 0.017).

May enhance long-term adherence in HFpEF; extends secondary RCT analysis of Ex-DHF.

Aug 2025Open Access

Level 2: RCT

SadlonovaJournal of Psychosomatic Research

A 12-month supervised exercise training intervention significantly improved overall motivation in patients with HFpEF compared to usual care (B = 0.78; 95% CI 0.14-1.42; p = 0.017).

Implication

May enhance long-term adherence in HFpEF; extends secondary RCT analysis of Ex-DHF.

preclinical · n=21

JUL 2025KneuerCirculation Research

Patients with HFpEF exhibited a distinct peripheral blood mononuclear cell transcriptional immune signature characterized by obesity-related cytokine signaling and mitochondrial-associated activity.

Hypothesis-generating for targeted anti-inflammatory therapies in HFpEF; leaves open whether modulating.

Jul 2025Open Access

Level 5: Animal Study

KneuerCirculation Research

Patients with HFpEF exhibited a distinct peripheral blood mononuclear cell transcriptional immune signature characterized by obesity-related cytokine signaling and mitochondrial-associated activity.

Implication

Hypothesis-generating for targeted anti-inflammatory therapies in HFpEF; leaves open whether modulating.

RCT

JUL 2025KnosallaESC Heart Failure

New RCT tests early elective LVAD vs. delayed implantation for event-free survival in advanced heart failure.

Pending VAD-DZHK3 RCT results may inform LVAD timing in transplant candidates; leaves open whether early elective implantation improves composite outcomes versus delayed strategy.

Jul 2025Open Access

Level 2: RCT

KnosallaESC Heart Failure

New RCT tests early elective LVAD vs. delayed implantation for event-free survival in advanced heart failure.

Implication

Pending VAD-DZHK3 RCT results may inform LVAD timing in transplant candidates; leaves open whether early elective implantation improves composite outcomes versus delayed strategy.

RCT · n=229

JUL 2025GüderJACC Heart Failure

CMR-first strategy proves ~20% less sufficient than CATH for diagnosing ICM but reduces invasive procedures.

In patients with new-onset HFrEF, a CMR-first diagnostic strategy offers similar sensitivity but lower specificity compared to invasive angiography for diagnosing ischemic cardiomyopathy, while potentially reducing the need for invasive procedures by nearly half.