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. 2019 Sep 4;2019(9):CD005049. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD005049.pub5

Kuhlkamp 2000.

Methods RCT
Double‐blind
Loss to follow‐up reported: yes
Participants Persistent AF lasting 2 days to 1 year (mean duration: 3 months). n = 394
Men: 70%
Age (mean): 60 (range 24–86) years
Structural heart disease: 36%. LAD: 42 mm. LVEF: 64%
Interventions Metoprolol 100 mg/day vs placebo
Method of AF cardioversion: pharmacological 18%, electrical 82%
Warfarin discretionary
Outcomes At 6 months:
Mortality
Proarrhythmia
Adverse effects
AF recurrence
Notes  
Risk of bias
Bias Authors' judgement Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias) Low risk Computer‐generated randomisation list.
Allocation concealment (selection bias) Low risk Central allocation after inclusion.
Blinding (performance bias and detection bias) 
 All outcomes Low risk Double‐blind study.
Quote: "The placebo tablets were identical in size, weight, colour, and taste to the metoprolol CR/XL [controlled‐release/extended release] tablets".
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) 
 All outcomes Low risk Withdrawals and lost to follow‐up were balanced between groups and well described.
Selective reporting (reporting bias) Low risk All prespecified outcomes and expected outcomes of interest were well reported.
Other bias Low risk No other bias apparent.