Introduction: Treatment choices in patients with atrial fibrillation remain not fully studied.
Methods: We investigated treatment methods in patients with atrial fibrillation, predominantly before cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) implantation or replacement.
Results: The study group consisted of 37 patients aged 72.5±8.9 (range:43-92;F:20,M:17). Most of the patients suffered from permanent atrial fibrillation (pAF) (n=23), while 14 patients had paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation. We did not observe any differences between beta-blocker (in 78%), ACE-I (in 62%), ARB (in 22%) or statin (in 68%) use in patients with or without pAF. Among patients with pAF 30% were using digoxin, 9% amiodarone, while in patients without pAF these drugs were used by 7% (because of persistant atrial tachycardia) and 14% respectively, both NS. Only patients without pAF were using propafenone (36%;p=0.005). Interestingly we did not find any differences in furosemide, hydrochlorothiazyde or indapamide use in patients with or without pAF. However, torasemide was more frequently used in patients with pAF (52%vs7%;p=0.01).
Conclusions: In patients with AF observed treatment differences include propafenon and tend in digoxin use, therefore indicate accurate therapeutic decisions.