Published in:
Open Access 01-03-2014 | Original Article
Success of electrocardioversion on the elderly
Published in: Netherlands Heart Journal | Issue 3/2014
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Background
There are two treatment strategies for medication-resistant atrial fibrillation (AF): rhythm control or rate control. It has been suggested that rate control is a valid strategy in well-tolerated AF because it does not result in increased mortality. We aimed to investigate the 1-year outcome of rhythm control in an elderly population of AF patients.
Method
The study was retrospective, using the data collected from electrocardioversions (ECV) of elderly patients and the data of their follow-up visits to the outpatient clinic. We looked for recurrence of AF within the first year after ECV. Furthermore, we investigated possible predictors of recurrence.
Results
From February 2008 till November 2011, 436 consecutive elderly patients admitted for ECV were included. The 1-year recurrence rate of AF was 51.3 %. We found that being female and a large left atrial diameter were independent predictors of recurrence.
Conclusion
The AF recurrence rate in our elderly population is comparable with reported AF recurrence rates in a younger population; we conclude that rhythm control can be regarded as the viable strategy in persistent AF in elderly patients.