Source link : https://jpc.news/2024/12/08/lifestyle/article13388/
New Insights on Atrial Fibrillation Treatments: Metformin and Lifestyle Adjustments
Recent research shared at the 2024 American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions has shown that using metformin, a widely prescribed medication for type 2 diabetes, alongside lifestyle modifications—or even just one of these approaches—did not lead to significant reductions in the frequency or severity of atrial fibrillation (AFib) compared to conventional care methods.
Understanding Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is identified as the most prevalent form of arrhythmia and carries substantial health risks such as stroke and heart failure. Projections suggest that by 2030, over 12 million individuals in the United States will be diagnosed with AFib, accentuating the critical necessity for effective strategies in prevention and management.
Study Overview
The TRIM-AF trial (NCT03603912) involved a total of 149 adults living with AFib, who were randomly allocated into four treatment groups: standard care (providing educational materials about diet and exercise without personalized support), metformin alone, a structured lifestyle intervention focusing on diet and physical activity combined with cardiovascular risk management, or a mixed approach involving both metformin and lifestyle changes.
Participants receiving lifestyle interventions attended counseling sessions focused on diet adjustments and exercise every three months during their first year. By the end of this duration, while participants across all but standard care groups recorded some weight loss—a mean reduction of about 2.1% from those adjusting their lifestyles to as much as 4.4% for those engaging in combined treatments—none achieved the target weight loss goal of at least 10%.
Methodology
Utilizing implanted cardiac devices throughout this open-label study enabled researchers to monitor daily AFib burden—essentially measuring how long participants experienced arrhythmia each day—over two years.
Despite initial trends showing worsening AFib burdens among those exclusively on metformin before levels normalized thereafter, overall findings indicated no statistically significant differences between any treatment group concerning changes in AFib prevalence over time.
Additionally noted were gastrointestinal side effects prompting more than one-third from medication-focused groups to discontinue or limit their usage due to discomfort. However, enhancements in symptom scores related to AFib were reported within lifestyle modification groups; thus hinting at potential symptomatic relief benefits through regular physical activity—even if these methods fell short regarding reducing actual AFib complications.
Limitations Noted
One limitation acknowledged was the small participant pool which could impact statistical strength. Coupled with complications arising from COVID-19 pandemic restrictions that hindered participant recruitment along with face-to-face consultations led researchers by necessity to pivot towards virtual engagements dipping targeted enrollment numbers from an intended 200 participants down to just150.
“As it stands currently we’re not positioned to endorse metformin alone as an effective preventive treatment for AFib,” stated Dr. Mina K. Chung—the leading author associated with Cleveland Clinic Ohio—but added that “the combination regime may harbor synergistic advantages showing some promise.”
Final insights are expected following two-year follow-ups concluding around fall of 2025 which may provide enriched understanding regarding these findings moving forward.
References
American Heart Association News Release: ”Lifestyle & risk factor changes improved AFib symptoms but did not affect burden compared to standard care.” November 18th – December access through https://newsroom.heart.org/news/lifestyle-risk-factor-changes-improved-afib-symptoms-not-burden-over-standard-care
The post Transform Your Life: How Lifestyle Changes Can Alleviate AFib Symptoms Without Reducing the Burden Compared to Standard Care first appeared on JPC News.
Author : Jean-Pierre CHALLOT
Publish date : 2024-12-08 09:26:22
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