Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34473249›Full record

Trial reportEuropace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology2022

Anticoagulation, therapy of concomitant conditions, and early rhythm control therapy: a detailed analysis of treatment patterns in the EAST - AFNET 4 trial.

Andreas Metzner, Anna Suling, Axel Brandes, Günter Breithardt, A John Camm, Harry J G M Crijns, Lars Eckardt, Arif Elvan, Andreas Goette, Laurent M Haegeli and 12 more

Erratum issued Registry-linked trialOpen access · hybridAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. It is linked to trial NCT06307860 (Comparison of Pulse Field Ablation and Radiofrequency Ablation in Left Atrial Reverse Remodeling in Patients With Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation), which is not on this map. Cited by 27 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
27citing papers in PubMed
6.4field-weighted citation impact, top 2% 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.

NCT06307860 unknown statusnot on this map

Comparison of Pulse Field Ablation and Radiofrequency Ablation in Left Atrial Reverse Remodeling in Patients With Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

TypeobservationalSponsorYun WanRan2022 to 2025Enrolled120ConditionsAtrial FibrillationArmspulsed field ablation, radiofrequency ablation
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

27 citing papers in PubMed, 48 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Dronedarone provides effective early rhythm control: post-hoc analysis of the ATHENA trial using EAST-AFNET 4 criteria.Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology · 2025
    Trial
  2. Safety and efficacy of long-term sodium channel blocker therapy for early rhythm control: the EAST-AFNET 4 trial.Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology · 2024
    Trial
  3. Trial
  4. Cost-effectiveness of early rhythm control vs. usual care in atrial fibrillation care: an analysis based on data from the EAST-AFNET 4 trial.Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology · 2023
    Trial
  5. Trial
  6. Article
  7. Review
  8. Review
  9. Article
  10. Review
  11. Article
  12. Safety and efficacy of amiodarone and dronedarone for early rhythm control in EAST-AFNET 4.Clinical research in cardiology : official journal of the German Cardiac Society · 2025
    Article
  13. Evolution in electrophysiology 100 years after Einthoven: translational and computational innovations in rhythm control of atrial fibrillation.Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology · 2024
    Review
  14. Review
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  16. Causes of death in patients with atrial fibrillation anticoagulated with rivaroxaban: a pooled analysis of XANTUS.Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology · 2024
    Article
  17. Antiarrhythmic drugs in the era of atrial fibrillation ablation.Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology · 2024
    Article
  18. Article
  19. Longer and better lives for patients with atrial fibrillation: the 9th AFNET/EHRA consensus conference.Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology · 2024
    Article
  20. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

22 authors at 19 institutions in 11 countries.

Andreas MetznerDepartment of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Center, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
Anna SulingInstitute of Medical Biometry and Epidemiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Axel BrandesDepartment of Cardiology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
Günter BreithardtAtrial Fibrillation Network (AFNET), Münster, Germany.
A John CammCardiology Clinical Academic Group, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St. George's University of London, London, UK.
Harry J G M CrijnsDepartment of Cardiology, Maastricht University Medical Center and Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht, Netherlands.
Lars EckardtAtrial Fibrillation Network (AFNET), Münster, Germany.
Arif ElvanIsala Hospital and Diagram Research, Zwolle, The Netherlands.
Andreas GoetteAtrial Fibrillation Network (AFNET), Münster, Germany.
Laurent M HaegeliUniversity Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Hein HeidbuchelUniversity Hospital Antwerp and Antwerp University, Antwerp, Belgium.
Josef KautznerInstitute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic.
Karl-Heinz KuckGerman Center of Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Hamburg/Lübeck/Kiel, Hamburg, Germany.
Luis MontUniversity of Barcelona and Institut de Recerca Biomèdica, August Pi-Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain.
G Andre NgDepartment of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, National Institute for Health Research Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK.
Lukasz SzumowskiArrhythmia Center of the National Institute of Cardiology, Medical Division of Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
Sakis ThemistoclakisDepartment of Cardiology, Ospedale dell'Angelo, Venice, Italy.
Isabelle C van GelderUniversity of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands.
Panos VardasHeart Sector, Hygeia Hospitals Group, Athens, Greece.
Karl WegscheiderGerman Center of Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Hamburg/Lübeck/Kiel, Hamburg, Germany.
Stephan WillemsGerman Center of Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Hamburg/Lübeck/Kiel, Hamburg, Germany.
Paulus KirchhofDepartment of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Center, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
University Hospital Magdeburg · DEUniversity Hospital Münster · DEUniversity Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf · DEAntwerp University Hospital · BEAtrial Fibrillation NETwork · DECentro de Investigación Biomédica en Red · ESGerman Centre for Cardiovascular Research · DEHelios Endo-Klinik Hamburg · DEHygeia Hospital · GRInstitute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine · CZMaastricht University · NLOdense University Hospital · DKOspedale dell' Angelo · ITSt George's, University of London · GBUniversitat de Barcelona · ESUniversität Hamburg · DEUniversity Hospital of Zurich · CHUniversity of Groningen · NLUniversity of Leicester · GB

Funding

Angiotensin-II, Hypothalamic Inflammation and Neurogenic HypertensionF32HL116074 · NHLBI · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · PI DE KLOET, ANNETTE DIANE · 2012 to 2014
$91k
Abbott LaboratoriesAFNET, DZHKAFNET, DZHK, EHRA, DHS, Abbott Laboratories, Sanofi ISRCTN04708680British Heart Foundation AA/18/2/34218British Heart Foundation FS/13/43/30324British Heart Foundation PG/17/30/32961British Heart Foundation PG/18/33/33780ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01288352EAST-AFNET 4 ISRCTN ISRCTN04708680EHRA, DHSEuropean Union BigData@Heart EU IMI 116074German Centre for Cardiovascular Research supported by the German Ministry of Education and Research (DZHK)German Ministry of Education and Research (DZHK), and Leducq FoundationLeducq FoundationSanofi
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimsTreatment patterns were compared between randomized groups in EAST-AFNET 4 to assess whether differences in anticoagulation, therapy of concomitant diseases, or intensity of care can explain the clinical benefit achieved with early rhythm control in EAST-AFNET 4. METHODS AND

resultsCardiovascular treatment patterns and number of visits were compared between randomized groups in EAST-AFNET 4. Oral anticoagulation was used in >90% of patients during follow-up without differences between randomized groups. There were no differences in treatment of concomitant conditions between groups. The type of rhythm control varied by country and centre. Over time, antiarrhythmic drugs were given to 1171/1395 (84%) patients in early therapy, and to 202/1394 (14%) in usual care. Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation was performed in 340/1395 (24%) patients randomized to early therapy, and in 168/1394 (12%) patients randomized to usual care. 97% of rhythm control therapies were within class I and class III recommendations of AF guidelines. Patients randomized to early therapy transmitted 297 166 telemetric electrocardiograms (ECGs) to a core lab. In total, 97 978 abnormal ECGs were sent to study sites. The resulting difference between study visits was low (0.06 visits/patient/year), with slightly more visits in early therapy (usual care 0.39 visits/patient/year; early rhythm control 0.45 visits/patient/year, P < 0.001), mainly due to visits for symptomatic AF recurrences or recurrent AF on telemetric ECGs.

conclusionThe clinical benefit of early, systematic rhythm control therapy was achieved using variable treatment patterns of antiarrhythmic drugs and AF ablation, applied within guideline recommendations.

Indexed as

Atrial FibrillationCatheter AblationStrokeAnti-Arrhythmia AgentsAnticoagulantsHumansSecondary PreventionAnti-Arrhythmia AgentsAnticoagulantsAblationAntiarrhythmic drugsAnticoagulationAtrial fibrillationCardiovascular deathHeart failureRhythm control therapyStroke

Identifiers

PMID34473249
PMCPMC8982435
OpenAlexW3198652536

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Registered trials

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.