Ramadan Fasting in Chronic Heart Failure: A Systematic Review.
Ahad Nourmohammad, Negar Sheibani, Nima Ghasemzadeh et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review assessed clinical studies of Ramadan fasting in people with chronic heart failure. Searches of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science identified seven eligible studies from 137 records; most were conducted in the Middle East and North Africa. Across the included evidence, Ramadan fasting was not associated with increased hospitalisation, worsening clinical status, or higher mortality. The authors conclude that fasting may be relatively safe with medical supervision and adherence to prescribed treatment, while noting that larger prospective studies are needed.
Key findings
- Seven studies met the review’s inclusion criteria from 137 articles identified in the search.
- Ramadan fasting was not associated with increased hospitalisation, deterioration in clinical status, or higher mortality among patients with heart failure.
Why it matters
Ramadan fasting can alter daily eating and drinking patterns for people with chronic heart failure. This review offers a synthesis of the available clinical evidence on key outcomes, including hospitalisation and mortality, while underscoring that the evidence base is limited and does not establish safety for every patient or circumstance.
What to keep in mind
Only seven studies were included, most from the Middle East and North Africa; the review calls for larger prospective studies to validate the observations.