title: Cardioversion differences among first detected episode, paroxysmal, and persistent atrial fibrillation patients in the RHYTHM AF registry in Poland.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the publication is to show differences among patients with the first detected episode of atrial fibrillation (AF), paroxysmal, and persistent AF patients, for whom cardioversion was planned in the hospital setting in Poland.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present an analysis of the Polish cohort of the multicenter, multinational RHYTHM-AF registry. Consecutive patients in the hospital setting, aged ≥ 18 years, with documented AF at the time of enrollment, and for whom cardioversion of AF is one of the planned therapeutic options were recruited. Follow-up data was collected 60 days after enrollment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five-hundred-and-one patients were recruited, 483 with a defined AF type: 88 - first detected, 191 paroxysmal, and 204 persistent AF. CHA₂DS₂VASc scores were not significantly different between the groups, while treatment with vitamin K antagonists (VKA) was significantly lower in paroxysmal AF group than in persistent AF patients. Primary electrical cardioversion was most commonly performed in patients with persistent AF (90.4%), while primary pharmacological cardioversion - in the first detected AF (80.0%) and paroxysmal AF patients (76.7%). During 2 months of follow-up, the rate of rehospitalization and complications was comparable among the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite their comparable CHA₂DS₂VASc scores, patients with persistent AF were more frequently treated with VKA antagonists than other groups. Recurrence of AF within 2 months after restoring sinus rhythm was present in about 25% of the patients, and the rate of complications was not different among the three groups.
authors.affiliation: 1st Chair and Depar tment of Cardiology, Medical University in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland Departament of Cardiology and Inter nal Diseases, Militar y Institute of Medicine, Warsaw, Poland. kiliszek@mp.pl.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiliszek
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Opolski
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Włodarczyk
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ponikowski
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010359:Patient Readmission; D011044:Poland; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants; D014812:Vitamin K