title: Therapeutic strategies for atrial fibrillation. The value of decision analysis.
abstract: In the absence of randomized, controlled trials of low-dose amiodarone in atrial fibrillation or a randomized, controlled trial of ventricular rate control versus antifibrillatory therapy, a Markov decision analysis is useful in comparing different therapeutic strategies for atrial fibrillation. The decision analysis described compared warfarin, quinidine, and low-dose amiodarone in patients with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic chronic, persistent atrial fibrillation. This model suggests that electrical cardioversion followed by low-dose amiodarone is a relatively safe, effective alternative to long-term warfarin therapy.
authors.affiliation: Section of Cardiology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Malenka
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Disch
mesh_terms: D000638:Amiodarone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000628:therapy*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D004554:Electric Countershock; D006801:Humans; D008390:Markov Chains; D011802:Quinidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin; D011802:Quinidine; D000638:Amiodarone; D001241:Aspirin