Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent cardiac arrhythmia and represents a high priority public health problem, as in a few decades it will become a possibly unsustainable load for the national health system. Preventive and therapeutic strategies based on the best possible scientific evidence are required. Ablation therapy, despite being the most effective approach, is associated with a 30-35% arrhythmic recurrence rate. An intervention with Mediterranean diet and extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) has proven effective in primary prevention and reduced the incidence of AF in high-risk subjects in a recent, large, randomized trial (PREDIMED). Methods: Parallel, randomized, multicenter nutritional intervention trial in 640 patients with AF treated with catheter ablation. Two groups will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio: 1) intervention with Mediterranean diet and EVOO; 2) usual care (control group). The primary objective will be the incidence of atrial tachyarrhythmias for two years after ablation. At least 190 recurrences are expected after 2 years (median) of follow-up. A relative risk of 0.7 is assumed and statistical power of 80%. Follow-up visits will be scheduled at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. In addition to the in-person visits, event monitors will be used to document episodes. Dietary intervention will be carried out by nutritionists who will use methods adapted from the PREDIMED trial with contacts every 2 months. 1 liter of EVOO per week will be provided for free in the intervention arm. Inflammatory markers will be analyzed in both groups during follow-up. Cox models will be used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
720
The patients in the intervention group will receive 1 liter of EVOO per week free of charge and dietary advice on how to follow a Mediterranean diet with contacts every two months. Dietary intervention will be carried out by nutritionists with previous experience in the PREDIMED study. All of them were registered, trained and certified for developing the PREDIMED intervention protocol that is similar to the one to be carried out in this study. The theoretical sessions with patients about dietary education shall be conducted in telephone form, using the internet and sending comprehensive written material to their homes that includes recipes, shopping lists, menus and explanations of typical food in the Mediterranean diet
Teresa Barrio Lopez
Madrid, Spain
Teresa Barrio López
Madrid, Spain
atrial tachyarrhythmias documented by electrocardiogram or recorder device
Atrial tachyarrhythmia is defined at any fast rate (\>100 bpm) of supraventricular origin lasting more than 30 seconds and that is documented by ECG, Holter or event monitor.
Time frame: mean follow up of 2 years
Atrial fibrillation documented by electrocardiogram or recorder device
AF is defined at any irregular atrial rhythm lasting more than 30 seconds and that is documented by ECG, Holter or event monitor. AF may or may not be symptomatic.
Time frame: mean follow up of 2 years
changes in Inflammatory markers in blood samples
Prior to ablation blood samples will be collected for determination of inflammatory parameters in a subsample of the study (neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, TNF-alpha, fibrinogen, IL-2, IL6, IL-8, C-reactive protein). At 3 and 12 months of follow-up the determination of these parameters will be repeated.
Time frame: 1 year follow up
Changes in quality of life measured by SF-36 questionnaire
Change in quality of life during the follow up measured by SF-36 questionnaire
Time frame: mean follow up of 2 years
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