Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Dronedarone provides effective early rhythm control: post-hoc analysis of the ATHENA trial using EAST-AFNET 4 criteria
Primary result · CV death, stroke, or hospitalisation for HF or ACSResult — go to the resultHazard ratio 0.71 95% CI 0.54–0.94Study context
- Population
- Patients with early AF/atrial flutter and CV comorbidities meeting EAST-AFNET 4 inclusion criteriaearly AF
- Participants
- 1,810 patients
- Comparison
- Dronedarone vs placebo
- Dronedaronen = 924
- Placebon = 886reference
- Primary endpoint
- Co-primary: (i) CV death, stroke, or hospitalisation for worsening heart failure (HF) or acute coronary syndrome (ACS); (ii) nights spent in hospital per year
Methodological detailsplacebo-controlled, EAST-AFNET 4 criteria
- Placebo-controlled
- EAST-AFNET 4 criteria
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
CV death, stroke, or hospitalisation for HF or ACS
Hazard ratio
0.71
95% CI 0.54–0.94
P = 0.014
Events by treatment group
Dronedarone
87
events
Placebo
117
events
Dronedarone vs Placebo
HR 0.71 (95% CI 0.54–0.94); P = 0.014
Secondary outcomes
Sinus rhythm · 12 months
Safety
Events
| Outcome | Dronedarone | Placebo |
|---|---|---|
| Primary safety outcome: death, stroke, or prespecified serious AESIs related to rhythm control therapy | 60 | 71 |
- Primary safety outcome: death, stroke, or prespecified serious adverse events of special interest (AESIs) related to rhythm control therapy: patients with ≥1 event
Primary safety outcome: death, stroke, or prespecified serious AESIs related to rhythm control therapy
- Not different between groups
Original publication
Dronedarone provides effective early rhythm control: post-hoc analysis of the ATHENA trial using EAST-AFNET 4 criteria. Europace. Published 29 April 2025. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it