GLP-1 Evidence

Not medical advice. A record of published research and our assessments of it. The limits

DUTCH weight control in atrial fibrillation study (DUTCH-WAIST) : Design and rationale of a randomised controlled trial

Design
Randomized trial · Unknown outcome
Match to healthy normal-weight adults aged 55–75
Different population[Auto] Participants had obesity/overweight (age/BMI not reported in abstract).
Could weight loss explain it?
Possibly[Auto] Participants had obesity and/or type 2 diabetes and the abstract does not separate direct drug effects from weight loss or glycaemic improvement.
Study tier
Study tier 3[Auto] Small or short randomized trial (auto-provisional).
Assessment
Version 1 · automatic, not yet reviewed by a person · Sep 20, 2026

Study facts come from the paper. Population match, weight-loss explanation and study tier are our judgments, made against the reference group of healthy normal-weight adults aged 55–75.

[Auto, unreviewed; quoted from abstract conclusions] This study investigates whether treatment of overweight with semaglutide, as an adjunct to lifestyle intervention, enhances rhythm control in AF patients with first detected persistent AF and overweight, offering a potential new approach to reducing AF burden and cardiovascular risk in this population.

01Findings

What the study reported

Drugs
Semaglutide
Dose
2.4 mg once weekly
Route
subcutaneous
Comparator
placebo
Primary outcome
Not extracted
Effect
Not extracted
95% confidence interval
Not extracted
Follow-up
6 months
Adverse events
Not extracted
Limitations
Auto-classified from abstract only; effect estimates, adverse events and limitations not extracted. Requires manual review.

Who was studied

Obesity status
obesity/overweight present (all or most)

Study quality details

Study design
Randomized controlled trial
Sample size
not extracted
Randomization
yes
Blinding
double-blind
Comparator
placebo
Follow up duration
6 months
Outcome type
unknown
Replication
not assessed (auto)
Consistency with other evidence
not assessed (auto)
Population applicability
INDIRECT
Statistical precision
not extracted
Risk of bias
not assessed (auto)
Funding conflicts
unclear
Peer review status
yes
02Funding

Funding and conflicts

Funding
Hartstichting
Industry funded
Unclear
Manufacturer
Novo Nordisk
Sponsor role
not reported in abstract
Author conflicts
Declarations. Conflict of interest: We wish to disclose that one of our co-authors, Dr. M. Hemels, serves as a Deputy Editor for the Netherlands Heart Journal. Furthermore, Dr. M. Hemels received payments for lectures from Novo Nordisk. L. Voorhout, R. Pisters, M. Huisman, E. Klok, F. Rutten, G.-J. Geersing, R. Tieleman, J.H. Cornel, A. Schut, J. Tijssen and A. van Bon declare that they have no competing interests.
Independent replication
unknown
Notes
Authors declare relationships with the drug's manufacturer: Novo Nordisk

Funding is shown on every study and never used to score it.

04Source

The source, as retrieved

Abstract

[BACKGROUND] Obesity is a well-established and highly prevalent risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF) and its progression by promoting structural and electrical atrial remodelling, leading to AF recurrence and persistence. Weight loss is expected to reverse atrial remodelling and improve rhythm control. Optimal strategies for weight management are, however, under-explored. [OBJECTIVE] To quantify the effect of clinically meaningful weight loss on rhythm control in overweight patients with first detected persistent AF. [DESIGN] A multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial evaluating semaglutide 2.4 mg once weekly versus placebo, in addition to combined lifestyle intervention (CLI), during a one-year period. [PARTICIPANTS] Adults with a BMI > 30 kg/m2, or BMI > 27 kg/m2 with a weight-related comorbidity, and first detected (< 6 months) persistent AF scheduled for electrical cardioversion. [INTERVENTION] Weekly subcutaneous injections of semaglutide 2.4 mg or placebo, alongside CLI and standard AF care in both groups. [OUTCOMES] The co-primary outcome is (i) a hierarchical assessment of rhythm status at one year, ranking patients by severity from arrhythmic death to sinus rhythm without any additional rhythm control support. (ii) the composite of either persistent atrial fibrillation on ECG, catheter ablation for AF, arrhythmic death, or any serious adverse event due to anti-arrhythmic drugs occurring within 1 year. [CONCLUSION] This study investigates whether treatment of overweight with semaglutide, as an adjunct to lifestyle intervention, enhances rhythm control in AF patients with first detected persistent AF and overweight, offering a potential new approach to reducing AF burden and cardiovascular risk in this population.

Where this record came from

SourceRetrievedIdentifier
pubmedSep 20, 202642734721
first ingestion