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Updated: Jan 15, 2026
Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 26, 2013
Effect of Semaglutide on Atrial Arrhythmias Recurrence Following Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: A Prospective
Jiongchao Guo1, Ziliang Song1, Shiyi Wang1
1Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (J.G., Z.S., S. Wang, W.J., Y.Z., S. Wu, X.L., X.H., M.Q.).
Insights
Semaglutide treatment after atrial fibrillation ablation reduced arrhythmia recurrence. This therapy also improved weight and blood sugar control in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Atrial fibrillation recurrence post-ablation is a clinical challenge.
- The role of semaglutide in preventing atrial arrhythmia recurrence is not well-defined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of semaglutide in reducing atrial arrhythmia recurrence after catheter ablation.
- To assess the impact of semaglutide on weight and glycemic control in this patient population.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 437 patients with type 2 diabetes and BMI ≥24 kg/m² undergoing atrial fibrillation ablation were analyzed.
- Patients were divided into semaglutide and control groups based on treatment preference.
- The primary outcome was freedom from atrial arrhythmia recurrence at 12 months post-ablation, following a 3-month blanking period.
Main Results:
- The semaglutide group (n=158) had a significantly higher event-free rate for recurrent atrial arrhythmias compared to the control group (n=279) (HR, 0.68; P=0.030).
- Semaglutide treatment was associated with greater weight loss (-8.2% vs -4.6%; P<0.001) and improved glycemic control (-1.3% vs -0.6% HbA1c reduction; P<0.001).
- Baseline characteristics showed higher BMI and HbA1c in the semaglutide group.
Conclusions:
- Semaglutide therapy following atrial fibrillation catheter ablation is linked to a reduced rate of atrial arrhythmia recurrence.
- Semaglutide may offer additional benefits in weight management and glycemic control for patients undergoing atrial fibrillation ablation.
Background:
Recurrence of atrial arrhythmias remains a significant challenge following catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation. The potential role of semaglutide in reducing atrial arrhythmia recurrence postablation is unclear.
Methods:
A consecutive sample of 437 patients with a body mass index ≥24 kg/m² and type 2 diabetes who underwent their first atrial fibrillation ablation procedure between January 2022 and March 2024 were enrolled. Participants were divided into a semaglutide group and a control group based on patient preference. The primary outcome was the freedom from atrial arrhythmia recurrence during the 12-month follow-up period after the 3-month blanking period postablation.
Results:
Of the 437 enrolled patients, 158 opted for semaglutide therapy and 279 declined. At baseline, the semaglutide group had higher body mass index (27.5 [2.2] versus 27.0 [2.4]; P=0.038) and glycated hemoglobin levels (8.0 [1.0] versus 7.6 [1.1]; P<0.001) compared with controls. During the 12-month follow-up, the semaglutide group showed a higher event-free rate for recurrent atrial arrhythmias (hazard ratio, 0.68 [95% CI, 0.49-0.95]; P=0.030), greater weight loss (-8.2% [3.2] versus -4.6% [2.9]; P<0.001), and larger reductions in glycated hemoglobin (-1.3% [0.8] versus -0.6% [0.8]; P<0.001).
Conclusions:
Semaglutide treatment following catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation is associated with a lower rate of atrial arrhythmia recurrence over 12 months and may lead to improvements in weight and glycated hemoglobin levels.
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