PulmOnary vein isolation With vs. without continued antiarrhythmic Drug trEatment in subjects with Recurrent Atrial Fibrillation (POWDER atrial fibrillation (AF)): results from a multicentre randomized trial
Authors' conclusion
In patients free of AF at the end of 3 months of post-ablation blanking period, continued use of previously ineffective ADT significantly reduces the recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmia in the 1st year after PVI.
Study context
- Population
- Patients undergoing contact force-guided pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for paroxysmal AF, free of AF at end of 3-month blanking period on previously ineffective antiarrhythmic drug therapy (ADT)3 lost to follow-up per arm
- Participants
- 77 vs 76
- Comparison
- ADT ON vs ADT OFF
- ADT ONn = 77
- ADT OFFn = 76reference
- Primary endpoint
- Any documented atrial tachyarrhythmia lasting >30 s
- Follow-up
- 1 year after PVI
Methodological detailsmulticentre
- Multicentre
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
P < 0.001
Secondary outcomes
| Outcome | ADT ON | ADT OFF | HR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Repeat ablation | 1.4% | 19.2% | 0.053 (0.007–0.399) | P < 0.01 | |
| Unscheduled arrhythmia-related health care visits | 2.7% | 20.5% | 0.055 (0.007–0.410) | P < 0.01 | |
| 0.050.21520Hazard ratio (log scale) |
Quality-of-life (QOL) scores
- Similar in both groups
Original publication
PulmOnary vein isolation With vs. without continued antiarrhythmic Drug trEatment in subjects with Recurrent Atrial Fibrillation (POWDER AF): results from a multicentre randomized trial. Eur Heart J. Published 2 December 2017. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it