All Patient Studies

A BEhavioural WEight Loss Intervention delivered in Cardiac Rehabilitation for patients with Atrial Fibrillation and obesity: The BeWEL IN CR–AF Study

Summary
People with AFib who also have higher body weight can get relief from their symptoms if they lose about 10% of their weight. Research shows that one way to lose a moderate amount of weight and keep it off is by participating in behavioural weight loss treatment (BWLT). BWLT is a group-based therapy program that uses psychology to teach people how to manage their eating better, increase their physical activity, and maintain other healthy behaviours.

The purpose of this research study is to test if a BWLT program modified for people with AFib will result in a greater amount of cardiac rehabilitation patients losing 10% of their body weight compared to cardiac rehab patients who receive treatment as usual. We also want to know if people who take part in BWLT experience any changes in AFib symptoms, related health outcomes, and psychological health.

If you choose to participate in this study, our team will randomize you to participate in either the experimental or control group. If you're in the experimental group, you'll receive both the regular Total Cardiology rehabilitation program and the BWLT program, consisting of twelve 2-hour group-based weekly sessions that are provided virtually using Zoom. If you are in the control group, you will receive the standard Total Cardiology rehabilitation program.

If you are in the experimental group, you will be provided with a Fitbit Aria Scale and Charge 5 fitness tracker that will be yours to keep at the end of the study. All participants will receive a Kardia EKG device to record 2 daily ECG tracings for the duration of the study.

If you are interested in participating in this study, please speak with your cardiology healthcare team. Your cardiologist can determine if you would be eligible to participate.

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

Summary
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.

Summary
This study is comparing three different ways of doing an ablation procedure for people with persistent atrial fibrillation. Patients will not know which procedure they receive. Patients are then followed by study staff at 3,6, 9, 12, and 18 months. At each of these visits, patients will wear a 24 hour cardiac monitor which will be reviewed with the doctor. Patients will also use a Kardia device which connects to their smartphone, sending weekly transmissions to study staff.

Summary
This study is looking at the effect of a home-based exercise and nutrition program, as well as other risk factor monitoring and support, on atrial fibrillation patients before they undergo an ablation procedure.

There will be two groups of patients in this study. One group will participate a telephone based program with Exercise specialists, and have their blood pressure, diabetes and sleep apnea (if applicable) monitored closely. The other group will have their ablation without these extra items and both groups will be monitored for AF recurrence and other things.