CSJ reports on the findings of the latest studies into atrial fibrillation treatment, which were discussed at the European Society of Cardiology Congress.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm problem that requires medical treatment. It reduces quality of life and is associated with increased risk of stroke and disability. AF becomes more common with higher age, being observed in 2% of people aged 60 years and at least 5% of the population older than 70 years.
At the ESC Congress in London this year, Professor Jens Cosedis Nielsen, consultant cardiologist at Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark, presented the latest findings from the MANTRA-PAF (Medical ANtiarrhythmic Treatment or Radiofrequency Ablation in Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation) study. An international multicentre trial conducted by heart rhythm specialists. He said: “In clinical practice most doctors choose antiarrhythmic drug therapy for initial treatment of symptomatic atrial fibrillation and catheter ablation is used for patients who fail drug therapy.” The MANTRA-PAF trial set out to find out whether catheter ablation is superior to antiarrhythmic drug therapy as first-line treatment.
A total of 294 patients with highly symptomatic paroxysmal AF were randomised to receive either catheter ablation or antiarrhythmic drug therapy as first-line treatment. The two-year results of the trial showed that both treatments reduced AF effectively, but none of the two treatment strategies were superior.
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