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Predictors of Conversion of Recent‐Onset Atrial Fibrillation Treated with Vernakalant
Author(s) -
COSTABEL JUAN P.,
LAMBARDI FLORENCIA,
ARAGÓN MARTIN,
CAMPOS ROBERTO,
URDAPILLETA MARCELA,
ARIZNAVARRETA PAULA,
VERGARA JUAN M.,
CONDE DIEGO
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
pacing and clinical electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.686
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1540-8159
pISSN - 0147-8389
DOI - 10.1111/pace.12548
Subject(s) - medicine , atrial fibrillation , cardiology , ejection fraction , sinus rhythm , heart failure
Background Vernakalant is an available drug for the treatment of recent‐onset atrial fibrillation, producing conversion between 55% and 87% of the patients treated. In this sense, little is known about the predictors of conversion with this agent. The aim of our study was to analyze the predictors of conversion in our 2‐year experience using vernakalant for the treatment of recent‐onset atrial fibrillation. Methods One hundred twenty‐one patients with recent‐onset atrial fibrillation without hemodynamic impairment received pharmacological treatment with vernakalant. Clinical variables, history of cardiovascular diseases, and echocardiographic data were recorded. Results Mean age was 58.1 ± 13.9 years and 13.4% of patients had structural heart disease. Conversion to sinus rhythm was achieved in 84.5% of patients, and 46% required the second dose of vernakalant. After analyzing the predictors of conversion, the presence of structural heart disease was significantly larger in the group without conversion (35.3 vs 9.7%; P = 0.02). The mean ejection fraction in the group with conversion was 61.05 ± 5.7% versus 54.9 ± 8.4% in the group without conversion (P = 0.016). After dichotomizing the variable ejection fraction, patients with ejection fraction <55% had a lower conversion rate (P = 0.001). Conclusion In our study, the absence of any kind of structural heart disease and preserved systolic function were associated with greater conversion rate with vernakalant.