Ramadan and heart failure: a review finds no signal of increased risk, but uncertainties remain

Seven clinical studies included

Ramadan involves, among other practices, abstaining from food and drink between dawn and sunset. The researchers examined clinical studies of this practice in people with chronic heart failure.

Their search of PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science identified 137 articles, seven of which were included. The studies came mainly from the Middle East and North Africa. The authors state that they followed JBI and PRISMA guidelines and assessed the risk of bias using JBI tools.

A reassuring finding, not an individual guarantee

Overall, the review finds no association between Ramadan fasting and increased hospitalizations, clinical deterioration or higher mortality among the patients studied. However, the abstract provides neither detailed numerical results nor uncertainty intervals.

The authors suggest that fasting could be relatively safe with appropriate medical supervision and adherence to prescribed treatment. This conditional conclusion does not mean that everyone with heart failure can fast without risk. Nor does it demonstrate that fasting benefits the condition.

What the abstract cannot settle

The total sample size, follow-up duration, comparators and severity of heart failure are not specified in the excerpt consulted. The results of the risk-of-bias assessment are not detailed either. This abstract alone cannot support a precise assessment of how robust the finding is or how relevant it is to each patient.

The authors call for larger prospective studies to confirm these observations. In the meantime, this review offers a basis for discussion with the healthcare team, not a blanket green light to fast.

What we can take away

The seven studies reviewed show no reported overall increase in risk, but the available information is insufficient to establish the safety of fasting for every heart failure patient profile.