The “Pill-in-the-Pocket” Approach to Atrial Fibrillation

To the Editor: Alboni and colleagues (Dec. 2 issue) 1 present data from a prospective study investigating the strategy of rhythm control in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation by self-administration of antiarrhythmic agents (the “pill-in-the-pocket” approach). According to the inclusion criteria, patients 18 to 75 years old were recruited, with 44 percent of the study population having some structural heart disease. Therefore, some of these patients were likely to have had risk factors for stroke and should have received antithrombotic therapy, which is considered a cornerstone of treatment for atrial fibrillation. 2 – 4 Accordingly, the authors should provide additional information on the . . .