title: Antiarrhythmic drug therapy for atrial fibrillation: are the guidelines guiding clinical practice?
abstract: The AFFIRM study showed no clear survival advantage for a rhythm versus rate control strategy in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, rhythm control with antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) is appropriate in a large number of patients with AF. The American College of Cardiology/ American Heart Association/European Society of Cardiology AF management guidelines include a safety-based algorithm for selection of AAD therapy. Class 1C agents are recommended as first-line therapy in patients without or with minimal structural heart disease. However, market research and clinical study data indicate a growing use of class III agents (mainly amiodarone) despite long-term safety and tolerability concerns, suggesting that clinical practice does not adhere to current guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Columbia University Medical Center, 161 Fort Washington Ave., New York, NY 10032, USA. jareiffel@aol.com
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Reiffel
authors.forename: Gerald V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Naccarelli
mesh_terms: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011358:Product Surveillance, Postmarketing; D011379:Prognosis; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents