title: Comparative efficacy of dronedarone and amiodarone for the maintenance of sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to compare the efficacy and safety of dronedarone versus amiodarone for the prevention of recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Dronedarone is a noniodinated amiodarone congener developed to maintain sinus rhythm. Few data are available to directly compare the efficacy and safety of dronedarone versus amiodarone.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a systematic overview of all randomized controlled trials in which the authors evaluated dronedarone or amiodarone for the prevention of AF. The effect of amiodarone versus dronedarone was summarized by the use of indirect comparison meta-analysis and normal logistic meta-regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 4 placebo-controlled trials of dronedarone, 4 placebo-controlled trials of amiodarone, and 1 trial of dronedarone versus amiodarone. By using random-effects modeling, we found that there was a significant estimated reduction in recurrent AF with amiodarone versus placebo (odds ratio [OR]: 0.12; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.08 to 0.19) but not dronedarone versus placebo (OR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.33 to 1.87). A normal logistic regression model incorporating all trial evidence found amiodarone superior to dronedarone (OR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.37 to 0.63; p < 0.001) for the prevention of recurrent AF. In contrast, these models also found a trend toward greater all-cause mortality (OR: 1.61; 95% CI: 0.97 to 2.68; p = 0.066) and greater overall adverse events requiring drug discontinuation with amiodarone versus dronedarone (OR: 1.81; 95% CI: 1.33 to 2.46; p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dronedarone is less effective than amiodarone for the maintenance of sinus rhythm, but has fewer adverse effects. For every 1,000 patients treated with dronedarone instead of amiodarone, we estimate approximately 228 more recurrences of AF in exchange for 9.6 fewer deaths and 62 fewer adverse events requiring discontinuation of drug.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA. jonathan.piccini@duke.edu
authors.forename: Jonathan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Piccini
authors.forename: Vic
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hasselblad
authors.forename: Eric D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: Jeffrey B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Washam
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Califf
authors.forename: David F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Kong
mesh_terms: D000638:Amiodarone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000077764:Dronedarone; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012849:Sinoatrial Node / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000077764:Dronedarone; D000638:Amiodarone