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OSLO, NORWAY. Permanent (long-standing persistent) atrial fibrillation (AF) is defined as AF that cannot be terminated by electrical cardioversion,
or by the use of pharmaceutical drugs. Thus it makes no sense to prescribe antiarrhythmics to permanent afibbers since the only effects they will
have are adverse. This also applies to digoxin (Lanoxin). Rate control drugs, specifically beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers can, however,
be useful in bringing down the heart rate and thus making the patient more comfortable.
A group of Norwegian physicians now report on a study they did to determine the most effective rate control drug. They evaluated four common
rate control drugs in a group of 60 permanent afibbers (70% male) with an average age of 71 years. To be included, the participants had to have a resting
heart rate in excess of 80 bpm and a minimum heart rate during the day of 100 bpm. Patients with heart failure, ischemic heart disease (angina), renal
failure or liver failure were excluded. The patients were randomized to receive one of the following drugs for 3 weeks:
Following a 2-week washout period, they were assigned another one of the four drugs, and so on, until each patient had tried all four drugs.
Before starting the trial and on the last day of the four treatment periods, the heart rate at rest and the average 24-hour heart rate were
measured (with ECG and Holter monitoring respectively) and the patients completed questionnaires regarding arrhythmia-related symptoms.
The questionnaire rated frequency (from 0 to 4) and severity (from 1 to 3) of 16 symptoms potentially associated with AF, thereby generating frequency
and severity scores ranging from 0 to 64 and 0 to 48, with higher scores representing worse symptoms. Results of the trial were as follows:
** Symptom
It is clear from this data that the sustained-release diltiazem is the optimum rate control drug for permanent afibbers. It is of interest to note
that the time spent with a heart rate above 110 bpm was also reduced very significantly with diltiazem (from 266 minutes at baseline to 32 minutes
with diltiazem). Also noteworthy is the finding that women tended to report a significantly greater frequency and severity of symptoms, both at
baseline and after treatment. The Norwegian researchers conclude that diltiazem is the most effective drug for reducing heart rate in patients with
permanent AF. It also significantly reduces arrhythmia-related symptoms whereas beta-blockers do not. Editor�s comment: It is interesting that the Norwegian research team included the following statement in the article: �The present study was initiated by the investigators and performed without the cooperation or financial support from the drug companies.� This is indeed a rare occasion these days!
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