n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in the Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation Recurrences After Electrical Cardioversion: A Prospective, Randomized Study

• Published in: Circulation (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 124; no. 10; pp. 1100 - 1106
• Main Authors: NODARI, Savina, TRIGGIANI, Marco, CAMPIA, Umberto, MANERBA, Alessandra, MILESI, Giuseppe, CESANA, Bruno M, GHEORGHIADE, Mihai, DEI CAS, Livio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 06.09.2011
• Subjects: Aged; Amiodarone - therapeutic use; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents - therapeutic use; Atrial Fibrillation - prevention & control; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; Chronic Disease; Diseases of the peripheral vessels. Diseases of the vena cava. Miscellaneous; Electric Countershock; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - therapeutic use; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Renin-Angiotensin System - drug effects; Secondary Prevention; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Treatment Outcome; Vascular surgery: aorta, extremities, vena cava. Surgery of the lymphatic vessels; Arrhythmia; fatty acids; Atrial fibrillation; Lipids; Cardioversion; Cardiovascular disease; n-3 fatty acid; Excitability disorder; Prevention; recurrence; omega-3; Heart disease; Unsaturated fatty acid
• ISSN: 0009-7322; 1524-4539
• DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.111.022194

n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) exert antiarrhythmic effects and reduce sudden cardiac death. However, their role in the prevention of atrial fibrillation remains controversial. We aimed to determine the effect of n-3 PUFAs in addition to amiodarone and a renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitor on the maintenance of sinus rhythm after direct current cardioversion in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm trial in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation, with at least 1 relapse after cardioversion, and treated with amiodarone and a renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitor. Participants were assigned to placebo or n-3 PUFAs 2 g/d and then underwent direct current cardioversion 4 weeks later. The primary end point was the probability of maintenance of sinus rhythm at 1 year after cardioversion. Of 254 screened patients, 199 were found to be eligible and randomized. At the 1-year follow up, the probability of maintenance of sinus rhythm was significantly higher in the n-3 PUFAs-treated patients compared with the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.62 [95% confidence interval, 0.52 to 0.72] and 0.36 [95% confidence interval, 0.26 to 0.46], respectively; P=0.0001). In patients with persistent atrial fibrillation on amiodarone and a renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitor, the addition of n-3 PUFAs 2 g/d improves the probability of the maintenance of sinus rhythm after direct current cardioversion. Our data suggest that n-3 PUFAs may exert beneficial effects in the prevention of atrial fibrillation recurrence. Further studies are needed to confirm and expand our findings. Clinical Trial Registration- URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01198275.