Pharmacologic Cardioversion in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: A Network Meta-Analysis.

Abstract

We sought to indirectly compare and rank antiarrhythmic agents focusing exclusively on adults with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in order to identify the most effective for pharmacologic cardioversion over different time settings (4h as primary, and 12, 24h as secondary outcomes). We searched several databases from inception to March 2020 without language restrictions, ClinicalTrials.gov, references of reviews, and meeting abstract material. We included randomized controlled trials of patients with AF lasting ≤7days comparing either two or more intravenous (i.v.) or oral (p.o.) pharmacologic cardioversion agents or an agent against placebo. For each outcome, we performed network meta-analysis based on the frequentist approach. Forty-one trials (6013 patients) were included in our systematic review. Moderate confidence evidence suggests that i.v. vernakalant and flecainide have the highest conversion rate within 4h, possibly allowing discharge from the emergency department and reducing hospital admissions. Intravenous and p.o. formulations of class IC antiarrhythmics (flecainide more so than propafenone) are superior regarding conversion rates within 12h, while amiodarone efficacy is exhibited in a delayed fashion (within 24h), especially if ranolazine is added. Our network meta-analysis identified with sufficient power and consistency the most effective antiarrhythmics for pharmacologic cardioversion over different time settings, with vernakalant and flecainide exhibiting a safer and more efficacious profile toward faster cardioversion.