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Book AppointmentAsim Katbeh
Specialist in cardiologyMD | PhD | FESC | Syrian Board Cardiology | Cardiology Fellowship | Internal Medicine Residency | ECFMG
Current Role
Specialist in cardiology
Newcastle Vitality Clinic, Dubai, UAE
Languages
Arabic & English
Sheikh Khalifa Specialty Hospital, UAE
Experience
18+ Years (Syria, Belgium & UAE)
Specialises In
Specialist in Cardiology
Sheikh Khalifa Specialty Hospital, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE. December 2025–Present.
Cardiologist
Harmony Heart Clinic and private hospitals, Damascus, Syria. January 2021–November 2025.
Consultant in Echocardiology
Damascus Heart Institute, Syria. September 2021–August 2022.
Cardio-Imaging Cardiologist
Cardiovascular Diagnosis and Management
Clinical Fellow in Cardiovascular Medicine
Advanced Cardiac Imaging and Echocardiography
About Dr. Asim Katbeh
Dr. Asim Katbeh is a cardiologist currently working at Sheikh Khalifa Specialty Hospital in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE. His professional career spans clinical cardiology, cardiovascular imaging, and academic research in several international medical institutions. He has worked in cardiology departments and heart clinics in Syria and the UAE, and completed clinical and research fellowships in Belgium and Spain. His research has focused particularly on left atrial mechanics, atrial fibrillation, echocardiographic strain imaging, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, and cardiovascular interventions. Dr. Katbeh completed his PhD in cardiovascular pathophysiology and therapeutics through the international CardioPaTh PhD programme at the University of Naples Federico II, Italy, in 2020. He became a Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology (FESC) in August 2020. His academic contributions include peer-reviewed publications, international congress presentations, scientific posters, and collaborative cardiovascular research. He has also participated in professional scientific activities, including abstract evaluation, congress sessions, and educational initiatives for early-career cardiologists.
Education & Qualifications
PhD
European CardioPaTh PhD Programme, University of Naples Federico II, Italy — 2020
FESC
European Society of Cardiology — August 2020
CCT
Syrian Board Certification in Cardiology October 2013; rated Very Good
Fellowship
Damascus Heart Institute, Damascus, Syria — June 2011 to December 2014
MD
Bachelor of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Aleppo University, Syria
Internship
St Luke Episcopal Hospital, Houston, and John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, USA — April 2008 to March 2009
ECFMG
United States of America — September 2008
Professional Experience
- Specialist in Cardiology — Sheikh Khalifa Specialty Hospital, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE (December 2025–Present).
- Cardiologist — Harmony Heart Clinic and private hospitals, Damascus, Syria (January 2021–November 2025).
- Consultant in Echocardiology — Damascus Heart Institute, Syria (September 2021–August 2022).
- PhD Candidate in Cardiovascular Pathophysiology and Therapeutics — University of Naples Federico II, Italy (November 2016–October 2020).
- Cardio-Imaging Cardiologist and Clinical Research Fellow — Cardiovascular Centre Aalst, OLV Hospital, Belgium (September 2017–June 2020).
- Clinical Fellow in Cardiovascular Medicine — Hospital Universitario ClÃnico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain (October 2014–June 2016).
- Cardiology Specialist — Damascus Heart Institute, Damascus, Syria (November 2013–October 2014).
Certifications, Memberships & Awards
- Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology (FESC), since August 2020.
- Member of the European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Association (ESC HFA), since 2016.
- EuroPCR Faculty Member, since 2016.
- Member of the ESC Council on Valvular Heart Disease, since 2017.
- Member of the ESC Council for Cardiology Practice, since 2018.
- EchoAsia Young Investigator Awards Competition, 2020.
- EuroEcho Young Investigator Awards – Clinical Science, 2019.
- World Heart Federation Emerging Leaders Program, 2018.
- European Society of Cardiology Training Grant, 2015.
Selected Publications
- Katbeh A, et al. Left atrial strain as an independent predictor of sinus rhythm maintenance after catheter ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in HFpEF patients. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. 2023;30(Supplement 1), zwad125.012.
- Katbeh A, et al. Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction or non-cardiac dyspnea in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: The role of left atrial strain. International Journal of Cardiology. 2021;323:161–167.
- Katbeh A, et al. Echocardiography markers of myocardial deformation as independent predictors of sinus rhythm maintenance after catheter ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. European Heart Journal – Cardiovascular Imaging. 2021;22(Supplement 1), jeaa356.175.
- Katbeh A, et al. Atrial strain performance in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation undergoing successful radiofrequency catheter ablation. European Heart Journal – Cardiovascular Imaging. 2021;22(Supplement 1), jeaa356.174.
- Katbeh A, et al. Acute change in left atrial performance in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing catheter ablation using AutoStrain. European Heart Journal – Cardiovascular Imaging. 2021;22(Supplement 1), jeaa356.106.
- Katbeh A, et al. Effects of catheter ablation on left atrial performance in different types of atrial fibrillation: A strain study. European Heart Journal. 2020;41(Supplement 2), ehaa946.0095.
- Katbeh A, et al. Time course of left atrial performance in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation undergoing radiofrequency catheter isolation of pulmonary veins. European Heart Journal – Cardiovascular Imaging. 2020;21(Supplement 1). DOI: 10.1093/ehjci/jez319.631.
- Katbeh A, et al. Atrial mechanical dispersion in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing catheter ablation. European Heart Journal – Cardiovascular Imaging. 2020;21(Supplement 1). DOI: 10.1093/ehjci/jez319.284.
- Katbeh A, et al. The effect of hypertension and metabolic syndrome on left atrial function in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation undergoing catheter ablation. European Heart Journal. 2019;40(Supplement 1), ehz747.0266.
- Katbeh A, et al. Patterns of left atrial structural and functional remodeling after catheter ablation in paroxysmal and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation. European Heart Journal. 2019;40(Supplement 1), ehz748.0783.
- Katbeh A, et al. Cardiac resynchronization therapy optimization: A comprehensive approach. Cardiology. 2019;142(2):116–127.
- Katbeh A, et al. Imaging of myocardial fibrosis and its functional correlates in aortic stenosis: A review and clinical potential. Cardiology. 2018;141(3):141–149.
- Katbeh A, et al. Comparison between echocardiography and three-dimensional rotational angiography: The implication for successful percutaneous left atrial appendage closure. European Heart Journal – Cardiovascular Imaging. 2019;20(Supplement 1), i363–i381. DOI: 10.1093/ehjci/jey265.
- Katbeh A, et al. Catheter ablation during sinus rhythm is associated with acute loss of left atrial contractile function in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: A strain study. European Heart Journal. 2018;39(Supplement 1), ehy566.P6469.
- Katbeh A, et al. Outcome of paradoxical low-flow low-gradient severe aortic stenosis following TAVI: Paradoxical versus parallel to outcome of high-gradient aortic stenosis. Journal of Cardiology & Cardiovascular Therapy. 2016;2(1):555582.
- Di Gioia G, et al. Fractional flow reserve in patients with reduced ejection fraction. European Heart Journal. 2019. DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehz571. Co-author.
- Balogh ZB, et al. Mitral valve repair of atrial functional mitral regurgitation in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2020;9(11):3432. Co-author.
- Balogh ZB, et al. Minimally invasive surgical mitral valve repair of secondary mitral regurgitation improves outcome in non-ischemic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Circulation. 2019;140:A12828. Co-author.
- Zaidel EJ, et al. Inclusion in the World Health Organization Model List of Essential Medicines of non-vitamin K anticoagulants for treatment of non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Global Heart. 2020;15(1):52. Co-author.
- Cameli M, et al. Multicentric atrial strain comparison between two different modalities: MASCOT HIT study. Diagnostics. 2020;10(11):946. Co-author.
- Albano M, et al. Long-term outcome of minimally invasive mitral valve annuloplasty in disproportionate mitral regurgitation. European Heart Journal. 2020;41(Supplement 2), ehaa946.0894. Co-author.
- Balogh ZB, et al. Endoscopic repair of atrial functional mitral regurgitation in heart failure: Long-term effects. European Heart Journal. 2020;41(Supplement 2), ehaa946.0857. Co-author.
- Fiordelisi A, et al. The involvement of GRK2 in stress response to radiation during cardiovascular invasive procedure. Vascular Pharmacology. 2020;132:106719. DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2020.106719. Co-author.
- Iliodromitis K, et al. The impact of radiofrequency wide circumferential pulmonary vein isolation on left atrial geometry in patients with recurrent atrial fibrillation. Authorea. October 28, 2020. Co-author.
- Abdin A, et al. Application of recommended therapies among patients with heart failure during the Syrian conflict: Reality and barriers. ESC Heart Failure. 2022. DOI: 10.1002/ehf2.14119. Co-author.
- Moya A, et al. Left atrial mechanics and functional capacity in HFpEF patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: Behaviour in obese and overweight patients. Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine. 2023;7:39–44. Co-author.
- Santoro C, et al. Inter-center reproducibility of standard and advanced echocardiographic parameters in the EACVI-AFib echo registry. Echocardiography. 2023;40(8):775–783. Co-author.
Scientific Posters & International Congresses
- Effect of rheumatic process on myocardial performance in patients with mild to moderate rheumatic mitral regurgitation: A strain study. World Congress on RHD 2023 and APSC ECS Congress 2024.
- Left atrial strain as an independent predictor of sinus rhythm maintenance after catheter ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in HFpEF patients. ESC Congress 2023.
- Left atrial strain and its correlates to cardiorespiratory endurance in HFpEF patients with atrial fibrillation. ESC Congress 2023.
- Echocardiography markers of myocardial deformation as independent predictors of sinus rhythm maintenance after catheter ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. EACVI Congress 2020.
- Acute change in left atrial performance in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing catheter ablation using AutoStrain. EACVI Congress 2020.
- Atrial strain performance in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation undergoing successful radiofrequency catheter ablation. EACVI Congress 2020.
- Diagnosis of HFpEF in patients with dyspnea and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: The role of left atrial strain. ESC Congress 2020.
- Effects of catheter ablation on left atrial performance in different types of atrial fibrillation: A strain study. ESC Congress 2020.
- Atrial strain performance in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation undergoing successful radiofrequency catheter ablation. BSC Congress 2020.
- Effects of catheter ablation on left atrial performance in different types of atrial fibrillation. BSC Congress 2020.
- Acute change in left atrial strain performance in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing catheter ablation: A comparison of two vendors. BSC Congress 2020.
- Minimally invasive surgical mitral valve repair of secondary mitral regurgitation improves outcome in non-ischemic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. AHA Congress 2019.
- Impact of obesity and age on left atrial function in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation undergoing catheter ablation. ESC Heart Failure Congress 2019.
- Impact of radiofrequency wide circumferential pulmonary vein isolation on left atrial geometry in patients with recurrent atrial fibrillation. EHRA Congress 2019.
- Left atrial cardiotoxicity in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. BSC Congress 2019.
- Comparison between echocardiography and three-dimensional rotational angiography: The implication for successful percutaneous left atrial appendage closure. EuroEcho Congress 2018.
- How to assess left atrial function in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation undergoing first or redo catheter ablation: What is the most promising parameter? EuroEcho Congress 2018.
- Left atrial contractile strain, left ventricular strain or ejection fraction to assess cardiotoxicity in breast cancer patients receiving trastuzumab therapy? EuroEcho Congress 2018.
Case Reports
- Transapical valve-in-valve implantation for bioprosthetic mitral valve failure secondary to endocarditis. ESC Clinical Case Gallery 2018; EuroPCR Congress 2019.
- Transfemoral TAVI valve-in-valve for xenograft valve failure of valved Dacron conduit: Imaging-based case report. ESC Clinical Case Gallery 2018.
- TAVI in prosthetic heart valve failure: Echocardiography-guided transcatheter percutaneous valve-in-valve implantation for failed TAVI CoreValve bioprosthesis. EuroEcho Congress 2016.
Scientific Activities & Academic Contributions
- Director of the CardioDamas course and senior advisor for early-career Syrian cardiologists (2022–2025).
- Moderator of scientific meetings of Syrian young cardiologists, Damascus (2018–2021).
- Chair of the National Meeting of Syrian Young Cardiologists at the ESC Congress 2018.
- Co-director of the Syrian Working Group of Heart Failure, Damascus (2022–2025).
- Co-chair of scientific sessions and evaluator of abstracts submitted for EuroPCR since 2018.
- Grader of abstracts submitted for the World Congress of Cardiology 2018.
- Grader of clinical cases submitted for ESC Congresses (2018–2020).
Oral Presentations
- The role of multimodality imaging in cardiac resynchronization therapy optimization. Asian Heart Society Great Wall Congress 2025.
- Left atrial mechanics and functional capacity in HFpEF patients. ESC Preventive Cardiology Congress 2023, Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology Congress 2024, and Middle East Heart Failure Conference 2025.
- Advanced echocardiography in aortic stenosis. Asian Heart Society Great Wall Congress 2022.
- The role of left atrial strain in diagnosis of HFpEF in patients with dyspnea and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. ESC Heart Failure Congress 2022.
- Left atrial functional assessment in heart failure patients: The added value. EchoAsia Congress 2021.
- Echocardiography markers of myocardial deformation as independent predictors of sinus rhythm maintenance after catheter ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. EACVI Congress 2020.
- Atrial strain performance in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation undergoing successful radiofrequency catheter ablation. EACVI Congress 2020.
- Atrial mechanical dispersion in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing catheter ablation. EuroEcho Congress 2019.
- Comparison between echocardiography and three-dimensional rotational angiography. EuroEcho Congress 2018.
- Valve-in-valve implantation for bioprosthetic mitral valve failure secondary to endocarditis. EuroPCR Congress 2018.
- Treatment dilemmas in TAVI intervention: Left bundle branch block after TAVI. EuroPCR Congress 2017.
- Outcome of paradoxical low-flow low-gradient severe aortic stenosis following TAVI. ESC Congress 2016.
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