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Bariatric surgery may have effect on AF incidence

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SAN FRANCISCO — Morbidly obese patients who underwent bariatric surgery had a lower incidence of atrial fibrillation compared with those who received medical management, according to findings presented at the Heart Rhythm Society Annual Scientific Sessions.

Yong-Mei Cha, MD, FHRS, of Mayo Clinic, and colleagues investigated the impact of bariatric surgery on incidence of AF on morbidly obese patients in a community-based, retrospective study. According to a press release, this study is the first to look at the relationship between AF and bariatric surgery in a large patient population.

The researchers evaluated 438 patients (mean age, 59 years; 81.1% women) from Olmstead County, Minn. who had a BMI ≥40 kg/m². Seventy-four percent of patients elected to undergo bariatric surgery and 26% opted for medical management.

The primary outcome was incidence of AF. AF diagnosis was confirmed by ECG or ambulatory monitors.

At baseline, the groups did not differ in the prevalence of AF (surgical group, 3.7%; control group, 4.5%; P=.63), although the surgical group was heavier on average (46.9 kg/m² vs. 43.2 kg/m²; P<.001).

After a mean follow-up of 7.2 years, 3.1% of the surgical group had new-onset AF compared with 12.5% of the control group (P<.01).

In addition, the surgical group had a greater reduction in BMI compared with controls. Compared with controls, the surgical group also showed a more favorable metabolic profile, including a greater reduction in triglycerides and a greater increase in HDL, the researchers found.

“Obesity has become an epidemic in our culture and prevention efforts are more important now than ever,” Cha stated in the press release. “Bariatric surgery is a preventative measure that obese patients may choose to take and our study shows that the surgery helps them not only lose weight, but also reduces their risk of developing a serious cardiac condition like AF. It is important to continue the conversation about how to help prevent this epidemic from becoming even more widespread.” – by Erik Swain

For more information:

Yuan H. Abstract PO01-187. Presented at: Heart Rhythm Society Annual Scientific Sessions; May 7-10, 2014; San Francisco.

Disclosure: Cha reports no relevant financial disclosures.