UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

Impact of anti-arrhythmic drugs and catheter ablation on the survival of patients with atrial fibrillation: a population study based on 199 433 new-onset atrial fibrillation patients in the UK

Chung, Sheng-Chia; Lai, Alvina; Lip, Gregory YH; Lambiase, Pier D; Providencia, Rui; (2022) Impact of anti-arrhythmic drugs and catheter ablation on the survival of patients with atrial fibrillation: a population study based on 199 433 new-onset atrial fibrillation patients in the UK. EP Europace , Article euac155. 10.1093/europace/euac155. (In press).

[thumbnail of Bebiano Da Providencia E Costa_AF rhythm control EHJ 15072022 black.pdf] Text
Bebiano Da Providencia E Costa_AF rhythm control EHJ 15072022 black.pdf
Access restricted to UCL open access staff until 16 September 2023.

Download (590kB)

Abstract

AIMS: Utilizing real-world UK data, we aimed to understand: (i) whether anti-arrhythmic drugs and catheter ablation are effective in improving the survival of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients and (ii) which rhythm control option produces better results for the whole AF population and for specific groups of patients, stratified by age, sex, and history of heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS: We identified 199 433 individuals (mean age at diagnosis 75.7 ± 12.7 years; 50.2% women) with new-onset AF diagnosis in nationwide electronic health records linking primary care consultation with hospital data and death registry data from 1998 to 2016. We investigated the survival and causes of death of new-onset AF patients receiving vs. not-receiving rhythm control therapies. During a median follow-up of 2.7 (0.7-6.0) years, we observed a significantly lower mortality in patients receiving rhythm control [multivariate-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84-0.88]. Pulmonary vein isolation was associated with a two-third significant mortality reduction compared with no rhythm control (HR = 0.36, 95% CI 0.28-0.48), flecainide with 50% reduction (HR = 0.52, 95% CI 0.48-0.57), and propafenone and sotalol with reduction by a third (HR = 0.63, 95% CI 0.50-0.81, 0.71, 95% CI 0.68-0.74, respectively). Amiodarone showed no survival benefit in individuals <70 years (HR = 0.99, 95% CI 0.97-1.02). Otherwise, the effect of rhythm control on survival did not differ by age, sex, nor history of heart failure. CONCLUSION: Among individuals with new-onset AF, favourable survival was observed for patients receiving rhythm control treatment. Among different rhythm control strategies, pulmonary vein isolation showed the most pronounced survival benefit.

Type: Article
Title: Impact of anti-arrhythmic drugs and catheter ablation on the survival of patients with atrial fibrillation: a population study based on 199 433 new-onset atrial fibrillation patients in the UK
Location: England
DOI: 10.1093/europace/euac155
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euac155
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Science & Technology, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems, Cardiovascular System & Cardiology, Rhythm control, Arrhythmia, Mortality, Pulmonary vein isolation, Anti-arrhythmic agents, RHYTHM CONTROL, STROKE, MORTALITY, RISK, DEATH
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Cardiovascular Science > Clinical Science
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Cardiovascular Science
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Health Informatics > Clinical Epidemiology
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Health Informatics
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10157264
Downloads since deposit
1Download
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item