Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyCohort study
Association of Antiarrhythmic Drug Therapy With Syncope and Pacemaker Implantation in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation
- Retrospective cohort study
- nationwide claims database
- propensity-score matched analysis
Authors' conclusion
This study showed an association between AADs and risk of pacemaker implantation or syncope, a consistent finding across various subgroups.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with new-onset Atrial Fibrillation (AF), Korean National Health Insurance Service, 2013–2019
- Participants
- 770,977 new-onset AF cases
- Exposure
- AAD users vs nonusers
- AAD usersn = 142,141
- Outcome
- Pacemaker implantation or syncope
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
AAD use associated with increased risk of pacemaker implantation or syncope (multivariate-adjusted)
3.5-fold
AAD use associated with increased risk of syncope
2.0-fold
AAD use associated with increased risk of pacemaker implantation
5.0-fold
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Pacemaker implantation or syncope, propensity-score matched analysis
- Similar results; significant association between AAD use and risk
Pacemaker implantation or syncope, subgroups
- Association consistent across various subgroups
- Women more susceptible to adverse effects of AADs than men
Original publication
Association of Antiarrhythmic Drug Therapy With Syncope and Pacemaker Implantation in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation. J Am Coll Cardiol. Published 19 March 2024. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2024.01.013
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it