Clinical Research Directory

Outcome of Overweight AF Patients Following Ablation With a Potential Weight Loss Medication ( GOAL-AF )

Sponsor: University Hospital Birmingham

Summary

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the most common abnormal heart rhythm(arrhythmia) affecting about one in 40 people in England. Patients with AF often have symptoms ranging from palpitations and breathlessness, and a small number of patients may develop heart failure. The major complication of AF is stroke, and this is effectively treated with blood thinning medications (anticoagulation). AF symptoms can lead to significant decline in quality of life and can affect patients' ability to work and exercise. There are numerous treatments targeted at maintaining normal rhythm and preventing AF recurrence. These include medications and catheter ablation. Ablation has been shown to be more effective than medications for the long-term control of AF, but its efficacy is significantly reduced by upstream conditions such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and poor fitness levels. This results in increased complications, repeat procedures, and increased AF recurrence or patients. Research currently available has shown that intensive risk factor control with weight loss and increased fitness can reduce AF burden and improve results from ablation. However, achieving these targets outside of a clinical trial have been challenging. Recent data has shown that a new class of drug (Liraglutide) can result in significant weight loss over a 3-month period, and pre-treatment prior to liver transplant has improved results and patient recovery. The overall aim of this study is to determine if accelerated weight loss by Liraglutide before AF ablation is feasible to base a future trial to inform if this approach improves outcomes and can be safely adopted into routine clinical practice.

Official title: Feasibility Study of GLP-1 Analogues for the Optimization of Outcomes in High BMI Patients Undergoing AbLation for Atrial Fibrillation

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