Lifestyle modification proves helpful for preventing AF

Among overweight/obese patients, weight reduction by ≥10 percent reduces the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), hinting at the value of lifestyle modification for managing AF risk, a recent study has found.

Researchers conducted a systematic review to search for studies assessing the efficacy of lifestyle-based strategies for reducing primary and secondary AF. They were able to find one study that showed that a body weight reduction of ≥10 percent led to a sixfold increase in the likelihood of AF-free survival.

Another study including over 4,000 patients with severe obesity found that weight loss of around 20 percent of body weight through bariatric surgery suppressed the risk of new-onset AF by more than 30 percent over a 19-year follow-up.

On the other hand, a large randomized study found that less aggressive weight loss (6.0 percent after 9 years) had negligible impact on AF risk. According to researchers, “these data suggest that a larger sustained weight loss, perhaps at least 10 percent of body weight, is necessary to achieve a significant long-term reduction in AF risk.”

The systematic review also uncovered other modifiable risk factors, such as hypertension and obstructive sleep apnoea, and the effective control of both could also help reduce AF risk. Moreover, sedentary behaviours and chronic high-intensity endurance exercises were found as risk factors of AF, while instead adopting a moderate physical activity regimen could help decrease such risk.

“Although further studies are needed, AF prevention strategies should be used in both primary and secondary prevention and as an adjunct to increase success rates of antiarrhythmic drug therapy and catheter ablation,” the researchers said.