title: Cardioversion of Atrial Fibrillation (RHYTHM-AF) International Registry in Poland.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A key procedure of the rhythm control strategy in atrial fibrillation (AF) is cardioversion to normal sinus rhythm. The aim of the present study was to provide a review of treatment patterns for the cardioversion of patients with AF in a hospital setting in Poland and document the success rate of various cardioversion procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  We herein present the results from Poland of a prospective observational study to characterize patients with recent onset episodes of AF for whom cardioversion is one of the planned therapeutic options - the RHYTHM-AF registry. Consecutive patients in the hospital setting, age > 18 years, with documented AF at the time of enrollment, excluding those with atrial flutter and those treated with vernakalant, were recruited. No treatment was recommended nor discouraged.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five hundred and one patients were recruited (mean age 64.2 ± 12.1), with 294 (58.7%) patients finally undergoing cardioversion. Primary electrical cardioversion (ECV) was successful in 131 (88.5%) patients. Primary pharmacological cardioversion (PCV) was successful in 110 (75.3%) patients. Amiodarone and propafenone were most commonly used (52.1% and 24.7%, respectively). Fourteen complications and adverse events were recorded (no stroke was observed).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conversion to sinus rhythm was attempted in < 60% of the patients with AF admitted to the hospital with an intention to terminate arrhythmia. ECV was successful in ~90% of the patients, while PCV in ~75% of the patients (amiodarone and propafenone were most commonly used). The rate of complications was low (2.8%).
authors: 1st Chair and Depar tment of Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. kiliszek@mp.pl.
authors: Marek
authors: M
authors: Kiliszek
authors: Grzegorz
authors: G
authors: Opolski
authors: Piotr
authors: P
authors: Włodarczyk
authors: Rafał
authors: R
authors: Dąbrowski
authors: Piotr
authors: P
authors: Ponikowski
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland; D011405:Propafenone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012042:Registries; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D011405:Propafenone; D000638:Amiodarone