Weight reduction results in atrial fibrillation symptom improvement

Obesity is known risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the effect of weight reduction on AF symptom burden is unknown. In this study, 150 patients with symptomatic AF who were overweight or obese were randomized to a physician led weight loss program (intervention arm) or self-directed general lifestyle measures (control arm). All patients received intensive cardiometabolic risk factor management and were evaluated at 3 monthly intervals by blinded study personnel. Primary outcomes of interest were AF symptom burden and symptom severity evaluated using a validated tool to assess disease specific patient-reported health status. Secondary outcomes included holter-derived episodes of AF, left ventricular thickness and left atrial size on echocardiograms.

Over a mean follow-up duration of 15 months, a significantly larger reduction in weight was noted in the intervention arm (14.3 kg vs 3.6 kg, p<.001). Both AF symptom burden and severity scores declined more in the intervention arm compared to the control arm. Furthermore, the probability of having 1 …