Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of patients in EAST-AFNET4 biosample sub-study receiving either early rhythm control or usual care
| Treatment group | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early rhythm control (N = 793) | Usual care (N = 774) | Total (N = 1567) | ||
| Age | Median (IQR) | 71.0 (65.0;75.0) | 71.0 (66.0;76.0) | 71.0 (66.0;76.0) |
| Gender (female) | 352 (44.4%) | 352 (45.5%) | 704 (44.9%) | |
| PRS-AF score | Low | 144 (18.2%) | 170 (22.0%) | 314 (20.0%) |
| Intermediate | 499 (62.9%) | 440 (56.8%) | 939 (59.9%) | |
| High | 150 (18.9%) | 164 (21.2%) | 314 (20.0%) | |
| PRS-stroke score | Low | 164 (20.7%) | 150 (19.4%) | 314 (20.0%) |
| Intermediate | 480 (60.5%) | 459 (59.3%) | 939 (59.9%) | |
| High | 149 (18.8%) | 165 (21.3%) | 314 (20.0%) | |
| Body mass index (kg/m²) (N = 1560) | Mean ± SD | 29.4 ± 5.4 | 29.5 ± 5.3 | 29.4 ± 5.3 |
| Type of AF | First episode | 289 (36.4%) | 266 (34.4%) | 555 (35.4%) |
| Paroxysmal | 297 (37.5%) | 285 (36.8%) | 582 (37.1%) | |
| Persistent | 207 (26.1%) | 223 (28.8%) | 430 (27.4%) | |
| Heart rhythm (Sinus rhythm at baseline) | 446 (56.2%) | 431 (55.7%) | 877 (56.0%) | |
| Days since AF diagnosis | Mean ± SD | 80.2 ± 183.3 | 82.7 ± 164.0 | 81.4 ± 174.0 |
| Previous cardioversion | 291/776 (37.5%) | 272/773 (35.2%) | 563/1549 (36.3%) | |
| Prior stroke or transient ischaemic attack | 114 (14.4%) | 81 (10.5%) | 195 (12.4%) | |
| Concomitant conditions | ||||
| At least mild cognitive impairment (MoCA < 26) | 333/771 (43.2%) | 329/755 (43.6%) | 662/1526 (43.4%) | |
| Arterial hypertension | 704 (88.8%) | 681 (88.0%) | 1385 (88.4%) | |
| Systolic blood pressure (mmHg) (N = 1562) | Mean ± SD | 136.9 ± 19.6 | 137.3 ± 19.3 | 137.1 ± 19.4 |
| Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg) (N = 1562) | Mean ± SD | 81.3 ± 12.1 | 81.5 ± 12.0 | 81.4 ± 12.0 |
| Stable HF | 232 (29.3%) | 239 (30.9%) | 471 (30.1%) | |
| CHA2DS2-Vasc score | Mean ± SD | 3.4 ± 1.3 | 3.3 ± 1.3 | 3.3 ± 1.3 |
| Median (IQR) | 3.0 (2.0;4.0) | 3.0 (2.0;4.0) | 3.0 (2.0;4.0) | |
| Valvular heart disease | 324/793 (40.9%) | 316/773 (40.9%) | 640/1566 (40.9%) | |
| Chronic kidney disease (MDRD stage III or IV) | 99 (12.5%) | 94 (12.1%) | 193 (12.3%) | |
| Medication at discharge | ||||
| Oral anticoagulation (NOAC and VKA) at discharge | 737 (92.9%) | 703 (90.8%) | 1440 (91.9%) | |
| Digoxin or digitoxin at discharge | 27 (3.4%) | 47 (6.1%) | 74 (4.7%) | |
| Beta blockers at discharge | 584 (73.6%) | 656 (84.8%) | 1240 (79.1%) | |
| ACE inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blocker at discharge | 545 (68.7%) | 548 (70.8%) | 1093 (69.8%) | |
| Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist at discharge | 56 (7.1%) | 45 (5.8%) | 101 (6.4%) | |
| Diuretics at discharge | 300 (37.8%) | 306 (39.5%) | 606 (38.7%) | |
| Statin at discharge | 373 (47.0%) | 319 (41.2%) | 692 (44.2%) | |
| Inhibitor of platelet aggregation at discharge | 102 (12.9%) | 116 (15.0%) | 218 (13.9%) | |
| Rhythm control at baseline | Ablation | 56 (7.1%) | 0 (0.0%) | 56 (3.6%) |
| AAD | 714 (90.0%) | 21 (2.7%) | 735 (46.9%) | |
| None | 23 (2.9%) | 753 (97.3%) | 776 (49.5%) | |
Presented as mean ± standard deviation, Median and Interquartile range (IQR) or total numbers and percentages in brackets.
PRS, polygenic risk score; AF, atrial fibrillation; MoCA, montreal cognitive assessment; MDRD, modification of diet in renal disease; NOAC, non-VKA oral anticoagulant; VKA, vitamin K antagonist; AAD, anti-arrhythmic drug.