title: N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids administration does not reduce the recurrence rates of atrial fibrillation and inflammation after electrical cardioversion: a prospective randomized study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present prospective randomized study was to evaluate the effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on recurrence rates of atrial fibrillation (AF) and inflammation after electrical cardioversion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Calculation of the number of patients needed was based on the assumption of 20% and 65% chance of maintaining sinus rhythm with amiodarone and with polyunsaturated fatty acids, respectively. To observe a significant difference with an alpha level of 0.05 and a power of 0.80 it was necessary to include 22 patients in each group. A total of 47 patients were randomized to amiodarone (n=24) and amiodarone plus n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n=23) groups before scheduled electrical cardioversion. The end-point was the recurrence of AF during 12-month follow-up. Effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on inflammation was evaluated with high sensitivity C-reactive protein level measurements. Statistical analysis was performed using unpaired Student' t, Mann Whitney U and Chi-square tests. We analyzed the recurrence of AF using the Cox proportional hazards regression model to control for potentially confounding factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine patients in the amiodarone group (37.5%), and 9 patients in the amiodarone plus n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids group (39.1%) had recurrence of AF during follow-up (p=1). With the Cox proportional model, risk factors for the recurrence of AF were previous electrical cardioversion (HR 10.33, 95% CI 1.74 to 61.10, p=0.01) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein levels (HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.38, p=0.007). High sensitivity C-reactive protein levels at baseline, at day 15 and during AF recurrence were similar between two groups (p > 0.05 for all).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids administration does not reduce the recurrence rates of atrial fibrillation and inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey. mehmetozaydin@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozaydın
authors.forename: Doğan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Erdoğan
authors.forename: Senol
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tayyar
authors.forename: Bayram Ali
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Uysal
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doğan
authors.forename: Atilla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Içli
authors.forename: Emel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.forename: Ercan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Varol
authors.forename: Yasin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Türker
authors.forename: Akif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arslan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004554:Electric Countershock; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000638:Amiodarone