GOAL-AF
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Feasibility study of GLP-1 analogues for the optimization of Outcomes in high BMI patients undergoing AbLation for Atrial Fibrillation
IRAS ID
305898
Contact name
Manish Kalla
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The aim of this project is to investigate the effect of an accelerated weight loss of patients who are overweight (body mass index >30) and who have an irregular heart beat, called atrial fibrillation (AF). AF occurs when the electrical impulses in the top chambers of the heart (the atria) become disorganised, causing them to twitch (fibrillation). AF causes both disabling symptoms, including palpitations and breathlessness, and is a major cause of disability and death as it promotes formation of blood clots that increase rates of stroke and heart attack. Ablation is an invasive procedure that can stop AF by burning or freezing the areas of the heart that are the source of the abnormal electrical impulses. As an invasive procedure, ablation is reserved for those patients with the worst symptoms that cannot be controlled by drug treatment or electrical shock treatment (cardioversion). Unfortunately, ablation is much less effective in obese patients. Previous research suggests that changes in lifestyle such as stopping smoking and reducing alcohol consumption, together with control of high blood pressure and diabetes, improve the chances of successful ablation. Unfortunately, lifestyle alterations only go so far and further improvements are needed.
Recently, a new medication developed for diabetic patients has been approved as treatment for weight loss effectively in patients without diabetes. The aim of this study is to determine whether the addition of this injectable medication, called Liraglutide, alongside lifestyle modification and optimal medical care prior can further improve results of ablation in treating AF.
This feasibility study will be conducted over one year, recruiting 30 patients to provide preliminary information on which to base a larger, definitive trial.REC name
West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/WM/0213
Date of REC Opinion
21 Oct 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion