Key result
Verapamil (240 mg/day) had no significant effect on the total duration of AF (173 vs 270 hours, p=0.5) or number of AF episodes (8.5 vs 9.3, p=0.3) compared to no treatment in patients with an IAD.
Why the study?
Does verapamil reduce the duration and recurrence of atrial fibrillation in patients implanted with an implantable atrial defibrillator?
RCT (n=11)
crossover
Does verapamil reduce the duration and recurrence of atrial fibrillation in patients implanted with an implantable atrial defibrillator?
Verapamil 240 mg/day does not significantly reduce the duration or recurrence of atrial fibrillation in patients with an implantable atrial defibrillator.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Verapamil confers no AF benefit in IAD patients; confirms lack of efficacy and supports avoiding routine use.
BACKGROUND: The role of verapamil in the prevention of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with recurrent AF is unknown. HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of verapamil on the prevention of AF in patients implanted with an implantable atrial defibrillator (IAD). METHODS: The effects of verapamil (240 mg/day) on the total duration of AF, number of AF recurrences, and number of cardioversions were prospectively evaluated in a randomized, crossover fashion over an 8-week period in 11 patients (9 men, 2 women; mean age: 60 +/- 6 years) implanted with an IAD. RESULTS: Implantable atrial defibrillators successfully converted 13 of 14 (93%) spontaneous episodes of AF. There was no significant difference in the efficacy of cardioversion (86 vs. 100%, p = 0.8), the total duration of AF (173 +/- 198 vs. 270 +/- 241 h, p = 0.5), the number of AF episodes (8.5 +/- 9.0 vs. 9.3 +/- 10.2, p = 0.3), and the number of cardioversions (1.7 +/- 2.4 vs. 1.8 +/- 2.1 p = 0.7) with or without treatment with verapamil. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study suggest that treatment with verapamil has no significant effect on the prevention of AF in patients treated with an LAD.
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Tse et al. (2001) conducted an RCT in recurrent atrial fibrillation (n=11). verapamil vs. no verapamil was evaluated on total duration of AF (hours) (p=0.5). Verapamil (240 mg/day) had no significant effect on the total duration of AF (173 vs 270 hours, p=0.5) or number of AF episodes (8.5 vs 9.3, p=0.3) compared to no treatment in patients with an IAD.
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