As such , evidence was insufficient to recommend rhythm or rate control as the first-line therapy for AF in older adults .
Atrial fibrillation ( AF ) is highly prevalent in older adults and has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality .
To reduce this AF-related morbidity in older adults , antiarrhythmic drugs ( AADs ) are regularly used for rhythm control , assuming that increasing time in sinus rhythm reduces AF-related morbidity .
However , whether AADs can improve clinical outcomes in older adults remains unclear because of the increased risk for adverse drug events compared with rate control .
The aim of this study was to determine the impact of rhythm control versus rate control on clinical outcomes in older adults with AF .
Atrial fibrillation: an observational study with outpatients.
BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation ( AF ) is the most common sustained arrhythmia with serious clinical consequences in the absence of treatment . However , there are limited data on the treatment of these patients in Argentina . The objective was to describe the therapeutic management of patients with nonacute AF by Argentinean cardiologists and to determine the incidence of clinical events after 12 months follow-up . METHODS The Atrial Fibrillation study in Argentina ( FARAON ) was an observational , descriptive , prospect i ve , national , and multicentric study that included out patients with AF , followed for 12 months . The study included 38 sites in Argentina . Each research er included the first 10 patients who met the inclusion criteria of being over 21 and also being an AF carrier documented by electrocardiogram or Holter within 12 months prior to or at the time of enrollment . RESULTS A total of 373 patients were included , mean age 70 ± 11.5 years , 40 % women ; 65 % had AF rhythm at the time of inclusion , 57 % had permanent AF , and 56 % were asymptomatic . At the time of enrollment , 40 % of physicians opted for rhythm control strategy . β-blockers and amiodarone were the most used drugs . Patients with rhythm control drugs had higher success rate than those with frequency control drug therapy ( 80 % vs 57 % ) . CONCLUSION Cardiologists in Argentina receive patients with AF that are mostly permanent AF . More than half of the patients are asymptomatic . They opt primarily by controlling the pace . When choosing antiarrhythmic drugs , nearly half of them indicated amiodarone
As such , evidence was insufficient to recommend rhythm or rate control as the first-line therapy for AF in older adults .
Atrial fibrillation ( AF ) is highly prevalent in older adults and has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality .
To reduce this AF-related morbidity in older adults , antiarrhythmic drugs ( AADs ) are regularly used for rhythm control , assuming that increasing time in sinus rhythm reduces AF-related morbidity .
However , whether AADs can improve clinical outcomes in older adults remains unclear because of the increased risk for adverse drug events compared with rate control .
The aim of this study was to determine the impact of rhythm control versus rate control on clinical outcomes in older adults with AF .