Dronedarone Lowers Hospitalizations and Deaths in Atrial Fibrillation

Dronedarone, an amiodarone derivative, lowers hospitalization rates and death in atrial fibrillation, according to a phase 3, manufacturer-conducted study appearing in the New England Journal of Medicine.

15 feb 2009--Some 4600 elderly patients underwent randomization to dronedarone or placebo. Patients had to have, in addition to paroxysmal or persistent afib, at least one additional risk factor for death — e.g., diabetes, previous stroke, or LVEF of 40% or less.

After a median follow-up of almost 2 years, dronedarone patients showed a lower hazard ratio (0.76) than those on placebo for the primary outcome: death or hospitalization for cardiovascular events. Bradycardia, prolonged QT-interval, and creatinine increases were more common among those on the drug.

In Journal Watch Cardiology, Mark Link writes: "I would expect that dronedarone will soon become a valuable part of our arsenal, largely replacing amiodarone for AF management."

LINK(S):

NEJM article (Free abstract; full text requires subscription)