Heart Rhythm 2026: Study Links Weight Loss Drugs to Lower Afib Risk

A new study analyzing data from more than 13,000 patients found that people using GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1-RAs) have a reduced risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), regardless of their total weight loss. Researchers presented these findings this week at Heart Rhythm 2026 in Chicago.

When AF occurs, the heart beats irregularly and the risk of stroke, heart failure, and other cardiovascular complications is increased. More than 40 million people worldwide live with AF, and in the United States alone, approximately 454,000 hospitalizations each year are associated with the condition.^i,ii As new uses and benefits of the increasingly popular GLP-1-RAs continue to emerge, researchers wanted to understand whether these therapies could help prevent AF or treat it. GLP-1-RAs are widely prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity and also are known to improve cardiovascular health, in part through weight loss. However, it is unclear whether the potential benefits for AF are primarily driven by weight reduction or whether the medications may have additional independent cardiovascular effects.

Researchers conducted a single-center retrospective study of 13,034 patients who initiated GLP-1-RA therapy between January 2020 and May 2024. Researchers identified patients through electronic medical records and used propensity score matching to compare them with similar patients from a cohort of more than 385,000 individuals who had never received GLP-1-RA therapy and had no prior AF diagnosis.

The study found that patients who took GLP-1-RAs experienced significantly better survival than matched patients in the control group. Researchers also found a significantly lower AF risk among patients taking GLP-1-RAs. Importantly, the reduction in AF risk remained consistent irrespective of the change in weight. Patients who lost 10% or more of their body weight, those who lost less than 10%, and those who gained weight while taking GLP-1-RAs all experienced a reduced AF risk compared with matched controls. Among the medications studied, semaglutide showed the strongest association with reduced AF risk compared with liraglutide, dulaglutide, and tirzepatide.

“As atrial fibrillation continues to affect more patients worldwide, clinicians need new strategies to reduce risk and improve long-term outcomes,” said Kenneth Bilchick, M.D., professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Virginia. “These findings suggest GLP-1-RAs may influence heart rhythm through mechanisms beyond weight loss. Understanding those effects could help guide how we approach prevention and treatment of atrial fibrillation in the future.”

This study adds to research examining the cardiovascular effects of GLP-1-RAs beyond diabetes and weight management. As researchers continue to explore these therapies, future studies must evaluate their potential role in AF prevention and management across larger and more diverse patient populations.

The Heart Rhythm Society is the international leader in science, education, and advocacy for cardiac arrhythmia professionals and patients and is the primary information resource on heart rhythm disorders. Its mission is to improve patient care by promoting research, education, and optimal healthcare policies and standards. Incorporated in 1979 and based in Washington, D.C., its membership consists of more than 9,000 heart rhythm professionals from 94 countries.

The Heart Rhythm Society’s annual Heart Rhythm meeting convenes 10,000 of the world’s clinicians, scientists, researchers, and innovators in cardiac pacing and electrophysiology. More than 2,000 international experts in the field serve as faculty for the 200-plus educational sessions, forums, symposia, and ceremonies, while over 110 exhibitors showcase their products and services.

References
ⁱ Benjamin EJ, Muntner P, Alonso A, et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics—2019 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2019;139(10):e56–e528.
ⁱⁱ Calkins H, Reynolds MR, Spector P, Sondhi M, Xu Y, et al. (2009) Treatment of atrial fibrillation with antiarrhythmic drugs or radiofrequency ablation: two systematic literature reviews and meta-analyses. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol 2 (4): 349-361