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ABSTRACT: Background
Sustained new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) in the intensive care unit has been reported to be associated with poor outcomes. However, in critical illness, whether rhythm-control therapy can achieve sinus rhythm (SR) restoration is unknown. This study aimed to assess the impact of rhythm-control therapy on SR restoration for new-onset AF in critically ill patients.Methods
This post-hoc analysis of a prospective multicenter observational study involving 32 Japan intensive care units compared patients with and without rhythm-control therapy for new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) and conducted a multivariable analysis using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis including rhythm-control therapy as a time-varying covariate for SR restoration.Results
Of 423 new-onset AF patients, 178 patients (42%) underwent rhythm-control therapy. Among those patients, 131 (31%) underwent rhythm-control therapy within 6 h after AF onset. Magnesium sulphate was the most frequently used rhythm-control drug. The Cox proportional hazards model for SR restoration showed that rhythm-control therapy had a significant positive association with SR restoration (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.46; 95% confidence interval: 1.16-1.85). However, the rhythm-control group had numerically higher hospital mortality than the non-rhythm-control group (31% vs. 23%, p = 0.09).Conclusions
Rhythm-control therapy for new-onset AF in critically ill patients was associated with SR restoration. However, patients with rhythm-control therapy had poorer prognosis, possibly due to selection bias. These findings may provide important insight for the design and feasibility of interventional studies assessing rhythm-control therapy in new-onset AF.
SUBMITTER: Yoshida T
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7937754 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

Yoshida Takuo T Uchino Shigehiko S Sasabuchi Yusuke Y Kyo Michihito M Igarashi Takashi T Inoue Haruka H
International journal of cardiology. Heart & vasculature 20210301
<h4>Background</h4>Sustained new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) in the intensive care unit has been reported to be associated with poor outcomes. However, in critical illness, whether rhythm-control therapy can achieve sinus rhythm (SR) restoration is unknown. This study aimed to assess the impact of rhythm-control therapy on SR restoration for new-onset AF in critically ill patients.<h4>Methods</h4>This post-hoc analysis of a prospective multicenter observational study involving 32 Japan intens ...[more]