Table 1.
Baseline characteristics
| Rhythm control group (pre‐matched, n = 410) | Rate control group (pre‐matched, n = 607) | P value | Rhythm control group (post‐matched, n = 410) | Rate control group (post‐matched, n = 410) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 63.96 ± 10.08 | 70.17 ± 10.99 | <0.001 | 63.96 ± 10.08 | 65.13 ± 9.63 | 0.089 |
| Male, n (%) | 228 (55.6) | 321 (52.9) | 0.392 | 228 (55.6) | 233 (56.8) | 0.725 |
| NYHA Class I–II, n (%) | 118 (28.8) | 138 (22.7) | 0.029 | 118 (28.8) | 89 (21.7) | 0.020 |
| NYHA Class III, n (%) | 247 (60.2) | 366 (60.3) | 0.987 | 247 (60.2) | 237 (57.8) | 0.478 |
| NYHA Class IV, n (%) | 45 (11.0) | 103 (17.0) | 0.008 | 45 (11.0) | 84 (20.5) | <0.001 |
| Left ventricular ejection fraction at baseline categories | ||||||
| HFrEF, n (%) | 100 (24.4) | 163 (26.9) | 0.379 | 100 (24.4) | 131 (32.0) | 0.016 |
| HFmrEF, n (%) | 50 (12.2) | 75 (12.4) | 0.939 | 50 (12.2) | 49 (12.0) | 0.915 |
| HFpEF, n (%) | 260 (63.4) | 369 (60.8) | 0.398 | 260 (63.4) | 230 (56.1) | 0.033 |
| Left ventricular ejection fraction at baseline | ||||||
| HFrEF (%) | 32.50 (30.00, 36.00) | 34.00 (28.00, 38.00) | 0.816 | 32.50 (30.00, 36.00) | 33.00 (26.25, 38.00) | 0.674 |
| HFmrEF (%) | 45.00 (44.00, 47.00) | 45.00 (43.00, 46.00) | 0.133 | 45.00 (43.25, 47.00) | 46.00 (44.00, 47.00) | 0.838 |
| HFpEF (%) | 58.00 (55.00, 59.00) | 57.00 (55.00, 58.00) | 0.032 | 58.00 (55.00, 59.00) | 57.00 (55.00, 58.00) | 0.098 |
| Heart rate (b.p.m.) | 96.65 ± 29.29 | 91.92 + 26.81 | 0.008 | 96.65 ± 29.29 | 92.89 + 27.84 | 0.06 |
| Systolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 127.75 ± 18.76 | 135.97 ± 22.11 | <0.001 | 127.75 ± 18.76 | 134.52 ± 23.46 | <0.001 |
| Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 81.29 ± 14.68 | 81.20 ± 14.48 | 0.922 | 81.29 ± 14.68 | 82.22 ± 15.24 | 0.374 |
| Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, n (%) | 100 (24.4) | 108 (17.8) | 0.021 | 100 (24.4) | 73 (17.8) | 0.021 |
| Persistent atrial fibrillation, n (%) | 310 (75.6) | 499 (82.2) | 0.021 | 310 (75.6) | 337 (82.2) | 0.021 |
| Ischaemic heart disease, n (%) | 55 (13.4) | 164 (27.0) | <0.001 | 55 (13.4) | 84 (20.5) | 0.007 |
| Valvular disease, n (%) | 158 (38.5) | 156 (25.7) | <0.001 | 158 (38.5) | 119 (29.0) | 0.004 |
| Dilated cardiomyopathy, n (%) | 27 (6.6) | 44 (7.2) | 0.684 | 27 (6.6) | 40 (9.8) | 0.097 |
| Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, n (%) | 23 (5.6) | 32 (5.3) | 0.815 | 23 (5.6) | 26 (6.3) | 0.659 |
| Hypertension, n (%) | 209 (51.0) | 386 (63.6) | <0.001 | 209 (51) | 231 (56.3) | 0.123 |
| Diabetes mellitus, n (%) | 80 (19.5) | 188 (31.0) | <0.001 | 80 (19.5) | 106 (25.9) | 0.030 |
| Previous stroke or TIA, n (%) | 39 (9.5) | 95 (15.7) | 0.005 | 39 (9.5) | 45 (11) | 0.490 |
| CHA2DS2‐VASc score, n (%) | 3.13 ± 1.57 | 3.98 ± 1.67 | <0.001 | 3.13 ± 1.57 | 3.31 ± 1.36 | 0.079 |
| Pharmacotherapies | ||||||
| Digoxin, n (%) | 27 (6.6) | 216 (35.6) | <0.001 | 27 (6.6) | 161 (39.3) | <0.001 |
| Beta‐blocker, n (%) | 215 (52.4) | 540 (89.0) | <0.001 | 215 (52.4) | 366 (89.3) | <0.001 |
| ACEI or ARB or ARNI, n (%) | 163 (39.8) | 293 (48.3) | 0.007 | 163 (39.8) | 203 (49.5) | 0.005 |
| Spironolactone, n (%) | 243 (59.3) | 371 (61.1) | 0.554 | 243 (59.3) | 256 (62.4) | 0.352 |
| Diuretic, n (%) | 241 (58.8) | 404 (66.6) | 0.012 | 241 (58.8) | 274 (66.8) | 0.017 |
| Nitrate, n (%) | 42 (10.2) | 149 (24.5) | <0.001 | 42 (10.2) | 91 (22.2) | <0.001 |
| Novel oral anticoagulants, n (%) | 130 (31.7) | 157 (25.9) | 0.042 | 130 (31.7) | 100 (24.4) | 0.02 |
| Warfarin, n (%) | 239 (58.3) | 218 (35.9) | <0.001 | 239 (58.3) | 174 (42.4) | <0.001 |
| Antiplatelet, n (%) | 26 (6.3) | 202 (33.3) | <0.001 | 26 (6.3) | 115 (28) | <0.001 |
| Lipid‐lowering drug, n (%) | 148 (36.1) | 299 (49.3) | <0.001 | 148 (36.1) | 170 (41.5) | 0.115 |
| Laboratory test | ||||||
| Haemoglobin (g/L) | 140.18 ± 18.20 | 134.40 ± 20.99 | <0.001 | 140.18 ± 18.20 | 137.39 ± 20.83 | 0.042 |
| BNP level (pg/mL) | 297.54 (134.33, 562.61) | 393.66 (195.00, 826.53) | <0.001 | 297.54 (134.33, 562.61) | 399.08 (184.63, 817.72) | <0.001 |
| hs‐TnI (μg/L) | 0.02 (0.01, 0.05) | 0.02 (0.01, 0.07) | <0.001 | 0.02 (0.01, 0.05) | 0.02 (0.01, 0.06) | 0.005 |
| Creatinine (mmol/L) | 74.00 (62.00, 89.00) | 76 (63.00, 95.00) | 0.068 | 74.00 (62.00, 89.00) | 75.00 (63.00, 95.00) | 0.216 |
| Uric acid (mmol/L) | 417.25 ± 123.26 | 414.95 ± 135.55 | 0.791 | 417.25 ± 123.26 | 424.93 ± 135.03 | 0.412 |
| Potassium (mmol/L) | 4.07 ± 0.41 | 4.03 ± 0.48 | 0.132 | 4.07 ± 0.41 | 4.02 ± 0.48 | 0.097 |
| Sodium (mmol/L) | 142 (140, 144) | 141 (139, 143) | <0.001 | 142 (140, 144) | 141 (139, 143) | 0.001 |
| Echocardiographic parameters | ||||||
| LAD (mm) | 44 (40, 48) | 46 (41, 50) | 0.001 | 44 (40, 48) | 46 (42, 50) | <0.001 |
| LVEDD (mm) | 50.00 (45.00, 55.00) | 50 (45, 57) | 0.175 | 50.56 ± 7.68 | 52.25 ± 8.97 | 0.004 |
| E/e′ | 11.00 (8.20, 15.00) | 11.80 (9.00, 15.00) | 0.135 | 11.00 (8.20, 15.00) | 12 (9, 15) | 0.152 |
ACEI, angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor; ARB, angiotensin receptor blocker; ARNI, angiotensin receptor–neprilysin inhibitor; BNP, B‐type natriuretic peptide; CHA2DS2‐VASc score, congestive HF, hypertension, age ≥75 years, diabetes mellitus, stroke or transient ischaemic attack, vascular disease, age 65–74 years, and sex category; HFmrEF, heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction; HFpEF, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction; HFrEF, heart failure with reduced ejection fraction; hs‐TnI, high‐sensitivity troponin I; LAD, left atrial diameter; LVEDD, left ventricular end‐diastolic diameter; NYHA, New York Heart Association; TIA, transient ischaemic attack.