Effect of weight reduction and cardiometabolic risk factor management on symptom burden and severity in patients with atrial fibrillation: a randomized clinical trial

Abed HS, Wittert GA, Leong DP, et al.
JAMA. 2013 Nov 20;310(19):2050-60. doi: 10.1001/jama.2013.280521

Background

The prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) is predicted to rise. Population aging is generally regarded as an important contributor, but obesity may also account for a substantial proportion of the increasing prevalence [1].
Obesity has been associated with several factors known to promote arrhythmogenesis [2], such as diastolic dysfunction [3], systemic proinflammatory state [4], autonomic tone abnormalities [5] and atrial enlargement [6]. Fat stores have also been shown to correlate with incident AF [7]. A direct effect of obesity was recently demonstrated on the atrial substrates [8].
This study therefore evaluated the effect of a structured weight reduction and risk factor management program on AF burden in a randomised controlled trial. 150 patients with symptomatic paroxysmal or persistent AF and BMI>27 and waist circumference greater than 100 cm in men or 90 cm in women were included. Patients were randomised to either a physician-led weight loss program or to self-directed general lifestyle measures (control group). Mean follow-up was 12.9 (95%CI: 12.3-13.5) months in the intervention group and 12.0 (95%CI: 11.1-12.9) in the control group.

Main results

• Weight, BMI and waist circumference decreased in both groups, but statistically significantly more in the intervention group. The differences were already clear by 3 months, and persisted throughout the rest of follow-up.
• AF symptom burden and symptom severity scores declined in both groups. No changes were seen yet in the first three months. From 6 to 15 months, the intervention group showed a greater reduction in both domains, as compared to the control group (burden score: 21.0 (95%CI: 20.1-21.9) to 8.8 (95%CI: 7.6-10.1)] vs. 21.6 (95%CI: 20.5-22.7) to 18.7 (95%CI: 16.7-20.6); symptom score, 15.2 (95% CI: 13.6-16.8) to 6.7 (95% CI: 5.0-8.4) vs. 16.0 (95%CI: 14.3-17.7).
• Holter recordings were performed at baseline and at 12 months. The mean number of AF episodes in the intervention group (n=57) decreased from 3.3 (95%CI: 1.6-4.9) to 0.62 (95%CI: 0.19-1.0) and the duration of AF decreased from 1176 (95%CI: 720-1632) minutes to 491 (95%CI: 159-822) minutes.
  In the control group, the number of episodes changed from 2.8 (95%CI: 1.7-4.0) to 2.0 (95%CI: 1.1-3.0), and duration increased from 1393 (95%CI: 785-1994) minutes to 1546 (95%CI: 782-2308) minutes.
• Height-indexed left atrial area and volume, and septal thickness and posterior wall thickness and height-indexed left ventricular mass decreased in all groups, but more so in the intervention group as compared to the control group.

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Conclusion

This study showed that a structured weight management program for highly symptomatic patients with AF can reduce symptom burden and severity, as compared to attempts to optimally manage risk factors alone. The beneficial effects may be a consequence of a decrease in left atrial area and ventricular wall thickness, which may reduce left atrial hypertension that is commonly found in obese patients. The greater reduction in BMI in the intervention group was accompanied by improvement in other risk factors for AF.

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References

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