Long-term efficacy of antiarrhythmic drugs in the prevention of paroxymal atrial fibrillation; Significance of suffering period.

171 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (Paf), mean age 65±11 years, 121 males, 50 females. Stratified by disease duration: <1 month (Group A, N=56), 1-12 months (Group B, N=56), and ≥12 months (Group C, N=59).

Antiarrhythmic drugs (randomly assigned to Class Ia/Ib initially after defibrillation; if recurrence, randomly changed to Class Ic or Bepridil)

Comparison between disease duration groups (<1 month vs 1-12 months vs ≥12 months)

Progression to chronic atrial fibrillation and mean duration of sinus rhythm maintenancehard clinical