Summary
The aim of the study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of successful cardioversion (CV) compared to failed CV in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and organic heart disease. A total of 471 consecutive patients with organic heart disease from the prospective single center anticoagulation registry ANTIK who underwent CV of AF or atrial flutter were analyzed. 417 patients (89%) could be successfully cardioverted. In 54 patients (11%) CV failed, these patients remained in AF. After 5 years there were 92 (24%) deaths among patients with restored sinus rhythm at index admission and 20 (38%) deaths among those who remained in AF after CV (unadjusted OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1–3.6). After adjustment for age, gender and ejection fraction, successful CV was not associated with a beneficial effect on mortality (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.43–1.21). Thus, successful CV is not an independent predictor of mortality on multivariate analysis. However, it remains a marker for a better prognosis in patients with organic heart disease as these patients have a lower unadjusted longterm mortality.
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Kleemann, T., Becker, T., Dönges, K. et al. The prognostic impact of successful cardioversion of atrial fibrillation in patients with organic heart disease. Clin Res Cardiol 96, 103–108 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00392-006-0466-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00392-006-0466-8