Vernakalant: Perception of state of health in patients with a recent-onset atrial fibrillation

Abstract

Background: Vernakalant is a new, safe and effective drug used intravenously, which has proved to be more rapid in converting recent onset atrial fibrillation (AF) to sinus rhythm compared to placebo, amiodarone, propafenone, and fecainide in clinical studies. Until now no study has been conducted comparing the perception of state of health in patients who received vernakalant versus propafenone or fecainide for conversion of recent-onset A F. The aim of our study is to compare the change of perception of state of health from screening to hour 2 in patients treated with vernakalant and propafenone or fecainide for conversion of recent-onset A F. Methods: Eighty hemodynamically stable patients with recent onset AF without structural heart disease were prospectively included. A single oral dose of propafenone 600 mg was administered to 30 patients, 30 patients received intravenous vernakalant and the remaining 20 patients received a single oral dose of fecainide 300 mg. Clinical, laboratory variables and perception of state of health from screening to hour 2 treated with these drugs measured by the EQ-5 D quality-of-life assessments visual analog scale were recorded. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar in the three groups. Treatment with vernakalant resulted in a significantly greater improvement in patient perception of state of health at hour 2 compared with propafenone and fecainide. In the vernakalant group, a mean increase (from baseline) of 12.1 points was seen compared with a mean increase of 5.4 points in the propafenone group or 5.2 points in fecainide group (p < 0.01). Conclusions: The change of perception of state of health from screening to hour 2 treated with vernakalant had a significantly statistical improvement compared with propafenone or fecainide for conversion recent-onset AF. © 2014 Via Medica.