Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32209631›Full record

SynthesisBMJ open2020

Managing new-onset atrial fibrillation in critically ill patients: a systematic narrative review.

Liam Joseph O'Bryan, Oliver C Redfern, Jonathan Bedford, Tatjana Petrinic, J Duncan Young, Peter J Watkinson

Open access · goldAbstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMJ open, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
17citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
2.1field-weighted citation impact, top 11% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

17 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 22 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. A prospective, multi-site, observational study assessing the treatment thresholds of new onset atrial fibrillation in the critically ill.Critical care and resuscitation : journal of the Australasian Academy of Critical Care Medicine · 2026
    Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. Epidemiology and pharmacological management of new onset atrial fibrillation in critically ill adults: A multicentre observational study.Critical care and resuscitation : journal of the Australasian Academy of Critical Care Medicine · 2026
    Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Review
  10. Article
  11. Review
  12. Article
  13. Development ofBMJ open · 2023
    Article
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Article
  17. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Liam Joseph O'BryanNuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK lobrya.2@gmail.com.ORCID 0000-0002-5565-914X
Oliver C RedfernNuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Jonathan BedfordNuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-9455-022X
Tatjana PetrinicCairns Library, University of Oxford Health Care Libraries, Oxford, UK.
J Duncan YoungNuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Peter J WatkinsonNuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-1023-3927
University of Oxford · GBThe University of Melbourne · AU

Funding

Department of Health 17/71/04Department of Health NIHR300224
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThe aim of this review is to summarise the latest evidence on efficacy and safety of treatments for new-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) in critical illness.

participantsCritically ill adult patients who developed NOAF during admission. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES: Primary outcomes were efficacy in achieving rate or rhythm control, as defined in each study. Secondary outcomes included mortality, stroke, bleeding and adverse events.

methodsWe searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Knowledge on 11 March 2019 to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies reporting treatment efficacy for NOAF in critically ill patients. Data were extracted, and quality assessment was performed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool, and an adapted Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

resultsOf 1406 studies identified, 16 remained after full-text screening including two RCTs. Study quality was generally low due to a lack of randomisation, absence of blinding and small cohorts. Amiodarone was the most commonly studied agent (10 studies), followed by beta-blockers (8), calcium channel blockers (6) and magnesium (3). Rates of successful rhythm control using amiodarone varied from 30.0% to 95.2%, beta-blockers from 31.8% to 92.3%, calcium channel blockers from 30.0% to 87.1% and magnesium from 55.2% to 77.8%. Adverse effects of treatment were rarely reported (five studies).

conclusionThe reported efficacy of beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, magnesium and amiodarone for achieving rhythm control was highly varied. As there is currently significant variation in how NOAF is managed in critically ill patients, we recommend future research focuses on comparing the efficacy and safety of amiodarone, beta-blockers and magnesium. Further research is needed to inform the decision surrounding anticoagulant use in this patient group.

Indexed as

AmiodaroneAtrial FibrillationStrokeAdrenergic beta-AntagonistsAdultCalcium Channel BlockersCritical IllnessHumansMagnesiumAdrenergic beta-AntagonistsAmiodaroneCalcium Channel BlockersMagnesiumadult cardiologyadult intensive & critical careanaestheticsintensive & critical care

Identifiers

PMID32209631
PMCPMC7202704
OpenAlexW3009336215

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.