Effect of Dronedarone on Cardiovascular Events in Atrial Fibrillation

The antiarrhythmic drug dronedarone was compared with placebo in 4628 patients with atrial fibrillation. At a mean follow-up of 21 months, the rate of first hospitalization due to cardiovascular events or death was significantly lower with dronedarone than with placebo. The dronedarone group had higher rates of bradycardia, QT-interval prolongation, nausea, diarrhea, rash, and increase in the serum creatinine level. The antiarrhythmic drug dronedarone was compared with placebo in patients with atrial fibrillation. At a mean follow-up of 21 months, the rate of first hospitalization due to cardiovascular events or death was significantly lower with dronedarone. Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia requiring medical care, with a prevalence of almost 1% in the adult population in the United States. 1 Its prevalence increases with age, affecting 3.8% of the U.S. population over 60 years of age and 9.0% of the population older than 80 years. Over the past two decades, hospitalizations for atrial fibrillation in the United States have increased by a factor of two to three, resulting in a substantial public health burden. 2 Despite advances in nonpharmacologic therapy, 3 many symptomatic patients receive medical treatment for rhythm control. Currently available antiarrhythmic agents are . . .