n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the prevention of atrial fibrillation recurrences after electrical cardioversion: a prospective, randomized study.
Circulation
; 124(10): 1100-6, 2011 Sep 06.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21844082
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) exert antiarrhythmic effects and reduce sudden cardiac death. However, their role in the prevention of atrial fibrillation remains controversial. We aimed to determine the effect of n-3 PUFAs in addition to amiodarone and a renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitor on the maintenance of sinus rhythm after direct current cardioversion in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation. METHODS ANDRESULTS:
We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm trial in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation, with at least 1 relapse after cardioversion, and treated with amiodarone and a renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitor. Participants were assigned to placebo or n-3 PUFAs 2 g/d and then underwent direct current cardioversion 4 weeks later. The primary end point was the probability of maintenance of sinus rhythm at 1 year after cardioversion. Of 254 screened patients, 199 were found to be eligible and randomized. At the 1-year follow up, the probability of maintenance of sinus rhythm was significantly higher in the n-3 PUFAs-treated patients compared with the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.62 [95% confidence interval, 0.52 to 0.72] and 0.36 [95% confidence interval, 0.26 to 0.46], respectively; P=0.0001).CONCLUSIONS:
In patients with persistent atrial fibrillation on amiodarone and a renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitor, the addition of n-3 PUFAs 2 g/d improves the probability of the maintenance of sinus rhythm after direct current cardioversion. Our data suggest that n-3 PUFAs may exert beneficial effects in the prevention of atrial fibrillation recurrence. Further studies are needed to confirm and expand our findings. Clinical Trial Registration- URL http//www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier NCT01198275.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Atrial Fibrillation
/
Fatty Acids, Omega-3
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
/
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Circulation
Year:
2011
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Italy