Ramadan Fasting in Chronic Heart Failure: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a significant global health concern, affecting over 64 million individuals worldwide. During Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Muslims abstain from food, drink, smoking, and sexual activity between dawn and sunset. This systematic review investigates the potential impact of Ramadan observance in patients with CHF.

METHODS

In accordance with JBI and PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive literature search was performed across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science to identify clinical studies examining the effects of Ramadan fasting in patients with CHF. Review articles, case reports, animal studies, editorials, conference abstracts, and commentaries were excluded. Risk of bias was evaluated using the JBI critical appraisal tools.

RESULTS

The search identified 137 articles, of which seven met the inclusion criteria. The included studies were mostly conducted in MENA region. Overall, Ramadan fasting was not associated with increased hospitalization rates, deterioration in clinical status, or higher mortality among patients with heart failure.

CONCLUSION

This study suggest that fasting may be relatively safe when undertaken with appropriate medical supervision and adherence to prescribed treatment. Nonetheless, larger prospective studies are warranted to further validate these observations.