Treatment with the Type 2 diabetes medication metformin, lifestyle changes, or a combination of both did not improve atrial fibrillation (AFib) burden or progression when compared with standard care, according to preliminary late-breaking science presented Nov. 18 at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2024 . The meeting, held Nov.
16–18, 2024, in Chicago, is a premier global exchange of the latest scientific advancements, research and evidence-based clinical practice updates in cardiovascular science. Metformin is a common medication to treat Type 2 diabetes because it decreases the amount of glucose made in the liver, which helps control blood sugar levels. AFib is the most common form of arrhythmia, an abnormal heart rhythm, and it can lead to stroke, heart failure or other cardiovascular complications.
More than 12 million people are projected to have AFib in the U.S. by 2030, according to the American Heart Association's 2024 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics .
Previous research has indicated that lifestyle/ risk factor modification to reduce cardiovascular risk factors can help reduce AFib burden, a quantitative term used to refer to the amount of time a person's heart is experiencing the abnormal rhythms of AFib. Additionally, the study authors noted that recent genomic and genetic studies have suggested that improving the biochemical levers handling metabolic stress—the response to stressors that can cause an imbalance in energy supplies to cell.