Acute Cardioversion Versus Wait And See-approach for Symptomatic Atrial Fibrillation in the Emergency Department

Summary

A symptomatic episode of the heart rhythm disorder 'atrial fibrillation' (AF) is a frequent reason for visits to the emergency department. Currently, in the majority of cases, immediate (electrical or pharmacological) cardioversion is chosen, while atrial fibrillation terminates spontaneously in 70% of the cases within 24 hours. A wait-and-see approach with rate-control medication only, and when needed cardioversion within 48 hours of onset of symptoms, could be effective, safe and more cost-effective than current standard of care and could lead to a higher quality of life.

Timeline

Start

2014-10

Primary completion

2018-11

Completion

2019-12

Outcome

Met primary endpoint

paper a wait-and-see approach was noninferior to early cardioversion in achieving a return to sinus rhythm at 4 weeks. PMID 30883054 ↗

Publications

• Background Dudink E, Essers B, Holvoet W, Weijs B, Luermans J, Ramanna H, Liem A, van Opstal J, Dekker L, van Dijk V, Lenderink T, Kamp O, Kulker L, Rienstra M, Kietselaer B, Alings M, Widdershoven J, Meeder J, Prins M, van Gelder I, Crijns H. Acute cardioversion vs a wait-and-see approach for recent-onset symptomatic atrial fibrillation in the emergency department: Rationale and design of the randomized ACWAS trial. Am Heart J. 2017 Jan;183:49-53. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2016.09.009. Epub 2016 Oct 2.
• van der Velden RMJ, Pluymaekers NAHA, Dudink EAMP, Luermans JGLM, Meeder JG, Heesen WF, Lenderink T, Widdershoven JWMG, Bucx JJJ, Rienstra M, Kamp O, van Opstal JM, Kirchhof CJHJ, van Dijk VF, Swart HP, Alings M, Van Gelder IC, Crijns HJGM, Linz D. Mobile health adherence for the detection of recurrent recent-onset atrial fibrillation. Heart. 2022 Dec 13;109(1):26-33. doi: 10.1136/heartjnl-2022-321346.
• Pluymaekers NAHA, Dudink EAMP, Luermans JGLM, Meeder JG, Lenderink T, Widdershoven J, Bucx JJJ, Rienstra M, Kamp O, Van Opstal JM, Alings M, Oomen A, Kirchhof CJ, Van Dijk VF, Ramanna H, Liem A, Dekker LR, Essers BAB, Tijssen JGP, Van Gelder IC, Crijns HJGM; RACE 7 ACWAS Investigators. Early or Delayed Cardioversion in Recent-Onset Atrial Fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2019 Apr 18;380(16):1499-1508. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1900353. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

Drugs

Indications