REWEIGH-AF

Referral to Weight Management Centers in Obese Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: A Prospective Review on Weight Loss Efficacy, Atrial Fibrillation Burden, and Therapeutic Practices

Overview

Atrial fibrillation (an irregular and often fast heart rhythm problem) and being overweight are common problems that many patients have.

Reducing weight has been shown to decrease the symptoms that AF patients experience, although more information is still needed.

This study will monitor patients with atrial fibrillation as they are managed by the Calgary Weight Management Center for weight loss, quality of life, AF symptoms and other cardiac symptoms or events.

 

Ethics ID: REB19-0497

Demographic

Ages 18 - 75
Male, Female, Transgender, Other
Accepting healthy participants

Duration

6 Months - 1 Year

Enrolment Status

Currently enrolling

The purpose of this study is to find out if patients with AF will benefit from a treatment strategy which includes weight loss management through a physician lead clinic.

  1. Inclusion Criteria

    You may be eligible to participate in this study if you:

    • Are >18 years old

    • Are diagnosed with AF

    • Have a BMI ≥ 3 kg/m^2

    • Are willing to be referred to Calgary Weight Management Center

  2. Exclusion Criteria

    You may be ineligible to participate in this study if you:

    • Had a heart attack in the last year
    • Had heart surgery in the last year
    • Have cancer
    • Have severe liver kidney disease
    • Have very weak heart muscle
    • Have severe heart valve disease

If you decide to participate you will be expected to attend visits to the Calgary Weight Management Centre (Bridgeland Professional Centre, 1010 1 Ave NE) as per their regular schedule. You will also be contacted for further information regarding your AF and general health either by AF clinic nurses or study staff at 6 and 12 months from enrollment. These visits will include

  • Medical history and review of medications
  • Review of lab work
  • AF symptom questionnaire

The risks of participating in this study are small. The therapies monitored in this study are standard practices for patients with AF and obesity.

Unexpected side effects of counselling, education, physical activity, medications and procedures may potentially occur.

You may discuss alternative forms of therapy with your doctor. Your participation in this study is completely voluntary, and you may refuse simply by telling your doctor. If you decide not to participate, your decision will not in any way affect your present or future medical care and treatment. At any time, your doctor can decide to stop your participation in this study. If new information about treating atrial fibrillation is available during the course of this study, your doctor will discuss this with you.

If you agree to participate in this study there may or may not be a direct benefit to you. If you are in the study because you have been identified as having Atrial fibrillation. Your condition may be improved during the study but there is no guarantee that this research will help you. The information we get from this study may help us to provide better treatments in the future for patients with AF.

If you would like to participate, please fill out this form.

Contact

Stephen Wilton M.D.

Principal Investigator

Phone: (403) 210-8606
Email: sbwilton@ucalgary.ca

Jennifer McKeage

Research Coordinator

Phone: (403) 210-6047
Email: jmckeage@ucalgary.ca

Nirav Bhagat

Research Assistant

Phone: (403) 210-3996
Email: nirav.bhagat1@ucalgary.ca