bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Duration of warfarin sodium therapy prior to electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation
Authors: Ryman J. , Frick M. , Frykman V. , Rosenqvist M. 
Published: March 2003

Abstract.  Ryman J, Frick M, Frykman V, Rosenqvist M (South Hospital and Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden) Duration of warfarin sodium therapy prior to electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation. Journal of Intern Med 2003; 253: 76–80.Objectives.  To evaluate the duration of anticoagulation treatment with warfarin sodium before elective DC‐cardioversion and to identify clinical variables predicting short‐term versus long‐term waiting times.Design.  Retrospective.Subjects.  Patients with a known start date for warfarin sodium, a known duration of atrial fibrillation (AF) and who underwent DC‐cardioversion were included.Main outcome measures.  Duration of treatment with warfarin sodium prior to DC‐cardioversion.Methods.  The hospital records of 288 consecutive patients with AF scheduled for elective cardioversion at two hospitals in Stockholm were reviewed. Only patients with a known start date for warfarin sodium and known duration of AF were included in the study.Results.  The median age was 70 (26–85) years and the duration of AF at time of cardioversion were 18 weeks (5–273) weeks. The median treatment duration prior to cardioversion with warfarin sodium was 12 weeks. Sinus rhythm was established in 224 (78%) patients of which 90 (40%) remained in sinus rhythm 1 month after cardioversion. In multivariate analysis, the only independent predictor of short waiting times for cardioversion (8 vs. 15 weeks) was if a cardiologist instituted the treatment with warfarin sodium (P < 0.001, 95% CI 5.0–9.0).Conclusion.  The average waiting time from start of warfarin sodium treatment to elective cardioversion exceeds by far the recommended 3–4 weeks on therapeutic international normalized ratio (INR). In order to minimize the time period until cardioversion significant changes in the out‐of‐hospital care logistics has to be undertaken.