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Metformin as an Adjunctive Therapy to Catheter Ablation in Atrial Fibrillation

Metformin as an Adjunctive Therapy to Catheter Ablation in Atrial Fibrillation

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04625946
Enrollment
117
Registered
2020-11-12
Start date
2021-01-19
Completion date
2025-08-10
Last updated
2025-09-29

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Atrial Fibrillation

Keywords

ablation

Brief summary

This clinical trial is being done to determine if metformin, a drug which is normally used in diabetes, can reduce atrial fibrillation in patients who are having an ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). Atrial fibrillation is an abnormal heart rhythm which research has shown is related in part to obesity and diabetes. It is anticipated that the participants treated in the metformin arm will have greater freedom from recurrent atrial arrhythmias after ablation. Eligible participants enrolled in the trial will be assigned to one of the treatment arms (no treatment or metformin) and have follow-up visits up to approximately 1 year after the ablation. Additionally, all patients will also receive education on lifestyle changes and exercise which are standard of care.

Interventions

DRUGMetformin

Metformin immediate release will be initiated at 250 milligrams (mg) daily (orally), and increased as tolerated to 2000 mg daily over a four week period. If a patient is unable to tolerate a dose increase they will return to their last tolerated dose after omitting one days dosing. 0 to Six weeks after the initiation of drug the patient will undergo (standard of care) ablation with the intent of achieving rhythm control. Participants will stay on the metformin 12 months after the ablation. In addition, all participants will receive education on lifestyle changes and exercise which are standard of care as well as have a discussion with their treating electrophysiologist and receive a handout.

BEHAVIORALRecommendations for lifestyle modification.

All subjects will receive education on lifestyle changes and exercise which are standard of care. This will include discussion with their treating electrophysiologist and a handout.

DEVICEAliveCor

Device will be used in order to record an electrocardiogram during symptoms perceived to be AF. All patients will be instructed to transmit at least once per week.

Sponsors

University of Michigan
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Body Mass Index (BMI) \>25 kilograms / square meter (kg/m2) with plan for rhythm control of atrial fibrillation by catheter ablation * All subjects must be able to understand and willing to sign a written informed consent document.

Exclusion criteria

* Individuals who are already taking metformin or other antidiabetic medications, including insulin * Known diabetes * Known allergy or Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-labeled contraindication to taking metformin (estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)\<30 millilitres per minute (mL/min)/1.73 square meters (m2), hypersensitivity to metformin, acute or chronic metabolic acidosis) * Patients taking carbonic anhydrase inhibitors * eGFR below 30 mL/min per 1.73 m2 or other clinical diagnosis of advanced renal disease * Acute or chronic metabolic acidosis (serum bicarbonate \<22 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L)) * History of significant alcohol use (\>2 drinks/day on average) * History of hepatic dysfunction (serum bilirubin 1.5 times greater than ULN) * History of New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III or IV heart failure * Pregnancy or nursing

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Freedom from recurrent atrial arrhythmias by 12 months after a single ablation to eliminate AF12 months after ablationThere will be a 3 month blanking period after ablation during which recurrent atrial arrhythmias will not contribute to the primary endpoint.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Freedom from recurrent atrial arrhythmias at 6 months after repeat ablation6 months after a repeated ablation
Time to recurrence of atrial fibrillation after a 3 month blanking period of ablationup to 1 year after after ablation
Atrial Fibrillation Severity Score (AFSS)up to 12 months after ablationThere are a total of 19 questions (parts A,B, and C) in this questionnaire. This collects information regarding the participants atrial fibrillation. It includes seven questions for subjects to report severity of symptoms (i.e. palpitations, shortness of breath at rest/physical activity, exercise intolerance, fatigue at rest, and lightheadedness/dizziness, chest pain or pressure) on a Likert scale from 0 (subject did not have this symptom) to 5 (symptom bothers subject a great deal).
Percent change in weight at 3 months after ablation3 months after ablation
Percent change in weight at 6 months after ablation6 months after ablation
Freedom from recurrent atrial arrhythmias at 1 year after ablation after the blanking period of 3 months6 months after ablation
Percent change in hemoglobin A1C at 12 months after ablation12 months after ablation
Incidence of major procedural complicationsup to 30 daysComplications include but are not limited to major bleeding, vascular injury, myocardial perforation, stroke, and mortality.
Atrial Fibrillation related morbidity during follow-upup to approximately 1 year after ablationDuring follow-up visits information will be collected regarding Emergency department visits and hospital admissions due to AF, Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)/cerebrovascular accident (CVA), and mortality. These will be collected as total numbers between groups.
Burden of Atrial Fibrillation assessed by AliveCOR Kardia Devices6 months after ablation
Percent change in hemoglobin A1c at 6 months after ablation6 months after ablation

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026