title: Patient characteristics and underlying heart disease as predictors of recurrent atrial fibrillation after internal and external cardioversion in patients treated with oral sotalol.
abstract: The aim of this study was to identify predictors for recurrent atrial fibrillation after internal and external cardioversion in 157 patients. After cardioversion, patients were treated orally with sotalol (174 +/- 54 mg/day). Univariate predictors for recurrence included coronary artery disease (p < 0.05) and advanced age (p < 0.05). Multivariate adjusted risk for relapse increased with the presence of coronary artery disease (odds ratio [OR] 3.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6 to 8.0), presence of atrial fibrillation > 2 months before cardioversion (OR 2.3; 95% CI 1.4 to 4.5), left atrial diameter > 60 mm (OR 2.1; 95% CI 1.2 to 3.1), and age > 65 years (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.3 to 3.3). In 26% of patients with lone atrial fibrillation, recurrence was observed compared with 51% of patients with underlying structural heart disease (p < 0.05). The mode of conversion, internal or external, had no impact on the recurrence rate. These findings might be useful for selection of the most appropriate therapy for the individual patient.
authors.affiliation: 1. Medizinische Klinik, Klinikum rechts der Isar der Technischen, Universität München, Germany.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alt
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ammer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pütter
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Ayers
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pasquantonio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schömig
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012008:Recurrence; D013015:Sotalol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D013015:Sotalol