Table 1.
Baseline characteristics—targeted therapy vs. conventional therapy
| Characteristic | Total population (n = 216) | Targeted therapy (n = 107) | Conventional therapy (n = 109) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 64.8 ± 8.3 | 64.4 ± 8.4 | 65.2 ± 8.2 |
| Male sex, no. (%) | 171 (79%) | 85 (79%) | 86 (79%) |
| Total duration AF (months) | 3.2 (1.9–5.5) | 3.6 (1.9–6.9) | 3.0 (1.9–4.8) |
| Total persistent AF (months) | 2.3 (1.4–4.0) | 2.2 (1.4–3.7) | 2.5 (1.4–4.0) |
| Previous ECV, no. (%) | 195 (91%) | 95 (90%) | 100 (92%) |
| Duration of HF (months) | 2.0 (1.0–4.0) | 2.0 (1.0–4.0) | 2.0 (1.0–3.5) |
| Hospital admission for HF, no. (%) | 25 (12%) | 12 (11%) | 13 (12%) |
| LVEF <45%, no. (%) | 61 (28%) | 32 (30%) | 29 (27%) |
| LVEF ≥45%, no. (%) | 155 (72%) | 75 (70%) | 80 (73%) |
| Hypertension, no. (%) | 130 (60%) | 59 (55%) | 71 (65%) |
| Diabetes, no. (%) | 19 (9%) | 8 (7%) | 11 (10%) |
| Coronary artery disease, no. (%) | 27 (12%) | 15 (14%) | 12 (11%) |
| Valvular disease, no. (%) | 19 (9%) | 9 (8%) | 10 (9%) |
| Cardiomyopathy, no. (%) | 12 (6%) | 7 (7%) | 5 (5%) |
| Ischaemic thromboembolic complication, no. (%) | 9 (4%) | 5 (5%) | 4 (4%) |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, no. (%) | 17 (8%) | 8 (7%) | 9 (8%) |
| CHA2DS2-VASc scorea | 2.0 (1.0–3.0) | 2.0 (1.0–3.0) | 2.0 (1.0–3.0) |
| Symptoms, no. (%) | |||
| Palpitations | 93 (43%) | 43 (40%) | 50 (46%) |
| Dyspnoea | 171 (79%) | 85 (79%) | 86 (79%) |
| Fatigue | 132 (61%) | 68 (64%) | 64 (59%) |
| EHRA class | 2.0 (2.0–2.0) | 2.0 (2.0–2.0) | 2.0 (2.0–2.0) |
| Length (cm) | 179 ± 8 | 180 ± 8 | 178 ± 8 |
| Weight (kg) | 91 ± 14 | 93 ± 13 | 90 ± 14 |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 28 (26–31) | 28.6 (26–31) | 27.9 (25–31) |
| Blood pressure (mmHg) | |||
| Systolic | 129 ± 15 | 131 ± 16 | 128 ± 14 |
| Diastolic | 83 (77.–90) | 85.0 (76–90) | 82.0 (78–90) |
| Heart rate at rest (beats/min) | 87 (77–96) | 85.0 (76–93) | 89.0 (78–99) |
| New York Heart Association functional class, no. (%) | |||
| I | 45 (21%) | 22 (21%) | 23 (21%) |
| II | 148 (69%) | 74 (69%) | 74 (68%) |
| III | 23 (11%) | 11 (10%) | 12 (11%) |
| Potassium (mmol/L) | 4.3 ± 0.4 | 4.3 ± 0.4 | 4.3 ± 0.4 |
| NT-proBNP (ng/L) | 1045 (695–1556) | 1057 (695–1542) | 1005 (703–1611) |
| Total cholesterol (mmol/L) | 5.0 ± 1.2 | 5.0 ± 1.1 | 5.0 ± 1.2 |
| LDL cholesterol (mmol/L) | 3.1 ± 1.0 | 3.0 ± 1.0 | 3.1 ± 1.0 |
| HDL cholesterol (mmol/L) | 1.2 (1.0–1.4) | 1.2 (1.1–1.4) | 1.2 (1.0–1.4) |
| Triglycerides (mmol/L) | 1.7 (1.1–2.2) | 1.8 (1.2–2.3) | 1.5 (1.1–2.1) |
| Glucose (mmol/L) | 5.8 (5.3–6.5) | 5.8 (5.3–6.5) | 5.8 (5.2–6.5) |
| HbA1c (%) | 5.9 (5.6–6.2) | 5.9 (5.6–6.1) | 5.8 (5.6–6.3) |
| Medication in use, no. (%) | |||
| Beta-blocker | 189 (88%) | 92 (86%) | 97 (89%) |
| Verapamil/diltiazem | 12 (6%) | 2 (2%) | 10 (9%) |
| Digoxin | 51 (24%) | 27 (25%) | 24 (22%) |
| ACE-inhibitor | 75 (35%) | 33 (31%) | 42 (39%) |
| Angiotensin receptor blocker | 48 (22%) | 23 (21%) | 25 (23%) |
| Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist | 3 (1%) | 1 (1%) | 2 (2%) |
| Statin | 72 (33%) | 34 (32%) | 38 (35%) |
| Diuretic | 86 (40%) | 44 (41%) | 42 (39%) |
| Anticoagulant | 213 (99%) | 105 (98%) | 108 (99%) |
| Antiplatelet | 14 (6%) | 9 (8%) | 5 (5%) |
| Echocardiographic variables | |||
| Left atrial size, long axis (mm) | 43 (40–47) | 43 (40–48) | 44 (40–47) |
| Left atrial volume (mL) | 81 (65–98) | 82 (65–99) | 79 (65–96) |
| Left atrial volume indexed (mL/m2) | 38 (31–48) | 38 (31–48) | 38 (32–48) |
| Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (mm) | 52 ± 6 | 51 ± 6 | 52 ± 6. |
| Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter index (mm/m2) | 25 (22–27) | 25 (22–26) | 25 (23–27) |
| Left ventricular end-systolic diameter (mm) | 37 ± 8 | 37 ± 8 | 38 ± 8 |
| Left ventricular end-systolic diameter index (mm/m2) | 18 (15–20) | 17 (15–20) | 18 (15–20) |
| Left ventricular ejection fraction (%) | 53 (43–60) | 53 (43–58) | 52 (43–60) |
| Exercise test | |||
| Maximum load (W) | 132 (105–160) | 134 (106–163) | 131 (100–160) |
| Maximum heart rate (beats/min) | 163 ± 28 | 162 ± 30 | 164 ± 27 |
| 24 h urine excretion | |||
| Sodium (mmol/24 h) | 161.0 (121.0–209.0) | 160.0 (120.0–203.0) | 163.0 (122.5–214.5) |
| Potassium (mmol/24 h) | 75.0 (57.0–90.1) | 74.8 (55.8–90.2) | 75.0 (59.5–88.6) |
| Creatinine (mmol/24 h) | 13.4 (10.5–15.8) | 13.0 (10.9–15.6) | 13.4 (10.0–15.8) |
Data are presented as mean (SD), number of patients (%), or median (IQR).
ACE, angiotensin-converting enzyme; AF, atrial fibrillation; ECV, electrical cardioversion; EHRA, European Heart Rhythm Association class for symptoms; HbA1c, haemoglobin A1c; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; HF, heart failure; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; NT-proBNP, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide.
a
The CHA2DS2-VASc score assesses thromboembolic risk. C = congestive heart failure/LV dysfunction, H = hypertension; A2 = age ≥75 years; D = diabetes mellitus; S2 = stroke/transient ischaemic attack/systemic embolism; V = vascular disease; A = age 65–74 years; Sc = sex category (female sex).