TY - JOUR
T1 - Atrial fibrillation management strategies and early mortality after myocardial infarction
T2 - Results from the Valsartan in Acute Myocardial Infarction (VALIANT) trial
AU - Nilsson, Kent R.
AU - Al-Khatib, Sana M.
AU - Zhou, Yi
AU - Pieper, Karen
AU - White, Harvey D.
AU - Maggioni, Aldo P.
AU - Kober, Lars
AU - Granger, Christopher B.
AU - Lewis, Eldrin F.
AU - McMurray, John J.V.
AU - Califf, Robert M.
AU - Velazquez, Eric J.
PY - 2010/6
Y1 - 2010/6
N2 - Objective: The management of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) following a myocardial infarction (MI) remains uncertain. This study compared a rate control strategy to an anti-arrhythmic-based rhythm control strategy for the treatment of AF following myocardial infarction. Design, setting and patients: We studied 1131 patients with AF after MI who were enrolled in the Valsartan in Acute Myocardial Infarction Trial (VALIANT). We classified patients into those treated with a rhythm control strategy (n=371) and those treated with a rate control strategy (n=760). Main outcomes measures: Using Cox models, we compared the two groups with respect to both death and stroke during two different time periods after randomisation for which data collection had been prespecified: 0e45 days and 45e1096 days. Results: After adjustment, a rhythm control strategy was found to be associated with increased early mortality (0-45 days: HR: 1.9, 95% CI 1.2 to 3.0, p=0.004) but not late mortality (45-1096 days: HR 1.1, 95% CI 0.9 to 1.4, p=0.45). No difference was observed in the incidence of stroke (0-45 days: HR 1.2, 95% CI 0.4 to 3.7, p=0.73; 45-1096 days: HR 0.6, 95% CI 0.3 to 1.3, p=0.21). Conclusions: In patients with AF after an MI, an antiarrhythmic drug-based rhythm control strategy is associated with excess 45-day mortality compared with a rate control strategy, but is not associated with increased mortality outside of the immediate peri-infarct period. These results potentially identify a patient population in whom the use of anti-arrhythmic drug therapy may portend an increased risk of death.
AB - Objective: The management of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) following a myocardial infarction (MI) remains uncertain. This study compared a rate control strategy to an anti-arrhythmic-based rhythm control strategy for the treatment of AF following myocardial infarction. Design, setting and patients: We studied 1131 patients with AF after MI who were enrolled in the Valsartan in Acute Myocardial Infarction Trial (VALIANT). We classified patients into those treated with a rhythm control strategy (n=371) and those treated with a rate control strategy (n=760). Main outcomes measures: Using Cox models, we compared the two groups with respect to both death and stroke during two different time periods after randomisation for which data collection had been prespecified: 0e45 days and 45e1096 days. Results: After adjustment, a rhythm control strategy was found to be associated with increased early mortality (0-45 days: HR: 1.9, 95% CI 1.2 to 3.0, p=0.004) but not late mortality (45-1096 days: HR 1.1, 95% CI 0.9 to 1.4, p=0.45). No difference was observed in the incidence of stroke (0-45 days: HR 1.2, 95% CI 0.4 to 3.7, p=0.73; 45-1096 days: HR 0.6, 95% CI 0.3 to 1.3, p=0.21). Conclusions: In patients with AF after an MI, an antiarrhythmic drug-based rhythm control strategy is associated with excess 45-day mortality compared with a rate control strategy, but is not associated with increased mortality outside of the immediate peri-infarct period. These results potentially identify a patient population in whom the use of anti-arrhythmic drug therapy may portend an increased risk of death.
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U2 - 10.1136/hrt.2009.180182
DO - 10.1136/hrt.2009.180182
M3 - Article
C2 - 20406769
AN - SCOPUS:77953709925
SN - 1355-6037
VL - 96
SP - 838
EP - 842
JO - Heart
JF - Heart
IS - 11
ER -