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Evidence summaries

Amiodarone and Flecainide in the Treatment of Resistant Atrial Fibrillation

Amiodarone may be more effective than flecainide in patients with atrial fibrillation who are refractory to type IA antiarrhythmic agents. The impact of amiodarone on mortality remains to be determined. Level of evidence: "C"

A systematic review 1 including 6 studies of amiodarone with 315 patients and 2 studies of flecainide with 163 patients was abstracted in DARE. After 3 months the proportion of amiodarone-treated patients remaining in sinus rhythm was significantly greater than that expected with the quinidine standard (72.6% compared with 70%, pooled difference 3.5%). After 6 months, the corresponding figure were 71% and 58%, pooled rate difference 13.8%. After 12 months the figures were 60% and 50%, pooled rate difference 10.4%. There was a 29% incidence of adverse effects with amiodarone. For flecainide after 3 months, 48.5% of patients remained in sinus rhythm compared to 70% of the quinidine standard. After 12 months the corresponding figures were 34% and 50%.

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by sparse data and indirectness (there was no direct comparison of amiodarone and flecainide).

    References

    • Zarembski DG, Nolan PE Jr, Slack MK, Caruso AC. Treatment of resistant atrial fibrillation. A meta-analysis comparing amiodarone and flecainide. Arch Intern Med 1995 Sep 25;155(17):1885-91. [PubMed] [DARE]

Primary/Secondary Keywords