SORT - AF Supervised Obesity Reduction Trial for AF Ablation Patients

Study protocol:

The purpose of this study is to proof a professional care of overweight patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation, as well as the treatment of the risk factors for atrial fibrillation, especially obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension.

There is a 1:1 randomization. In the intervention group, patients are followed up in a 6-month intensive care after atrial fibrillation ablation. During the follow up time patients will visit the nutritional advice every two weeks for 6 months.

The Follow-up in the control group is standard of care. At baseline, a screening test for obstructive sleep apnea and arterial hypertension will be performed as standard care.

The documentation of atrial fibrillation after ablation is made possible by the implantation of an event recorder before atrial fibrillation ablation.

Follow up:

A follow-up will be performed after 3,6 and 12 months in both groups. Patients in the intervention group will be followed-up every 2 weeks in the first 6 months.

Inclusion criteria

• Age ≥ 18 years
• Overweight with a BMI ≥ 30
• Obtained written informed consent
• Symptomatic atrial fibrillation with indication for ablation

Exclusion criteria

• Age <18 years
• Permanent atrial fibrillation (failed Cardioversion or episode duration > 12 months)
• Previous surgical or interventional therapy of atrial fibrillation
• BMI > 40
• Pregnant women or women of childbearing potential without a negative pregnancy test within 48 hours prior to treatment
• History of hemorrhagic diathesis or other coagulopathies
• Contraindications for oral anticoagulation
• Hyper- or hypothyroidism
• Drug or chronic alcohol abuse
• Has any condition that would make participation not be in the best interest of the subject
• Incompliance
• Unable to perform athletic exercise due to disease or disability
• Resident outside Hamburg