Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyRandomised controlled trial
Alcohol Abstinence in Drinkers with Atrial Fibrillation
- Randomised controlled trial
- multicentre
- prospective
- open-label
- 6 hospitals in Australia
Authors' conclusion
Abstinence from alcohol reduced arrhythmia recurrences in regular drinkers with atrial fibrillation.
Study context
- Population
- Adults drinking ≥10 standard drinks/week with paroxysmal or persistent AF in sinus rhythm at baseline
- Participants
- 140 adults
- Comparison
- Alcohol abstinence vs usual alcohol consumption
- Abstinencen = 70
- Controln = 70reference
- Primary endpoint
- Freedom from AF recurrence (after 2-week blanking period) and total AF burden (proportion of time in AF)
- Follow-up
- 6 months
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Hazard ratio
0.55
95% CI 0.36–0.84
P = 0.005
Events by treatment group
Abstinence vs Control
HR 0.55 (95% CI 0.36–0.84); P = 0.005
Further findings
Alcohol intake (standard drinks/week) Abstinence mean 2.1 (SD 3.7) standard drinks per week · Control mean 13.2 (SD 6.5) drinks per week
Baseline Abstinence 16.8±7.7 · Control 16.4±6.9
Reduction
Original publication
Alcohol Abstinence in Drinkers with Atrial Fibrillation. N Engl J Med. Published 2 January 2020. doi:10.1056/nejmoa1817591
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it