Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35045127›Full record

SynthesisPloS one2022

The comparison of catheter ablation on hard outcomes versus medical treatment for atrial fibrillation patients: A meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials with trial sequential analysis.

Jikai Song, Qinggang Zhang, Lifang Ye, Yaru Zheng, Lihong Wang

Open access · goldAbstract readComparative StudyMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PloS one, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
1.3field-weighted citation impact, top 20% 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

3 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 8 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Review
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

5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Jikai SongZhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Qingdao University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.ORCID 0000-0003-3091-9002
Qinggang ZhangZhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Qingdao University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Lifang YeZhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Qingdao University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Yaru ZhengZhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Qingdao University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Lihong WangZhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Qingdao University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.ORCID 0000-0002-0579-6912
Qingdao University · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe prevailing view is that ablation does not reduce the incidence of stroke and deaths in atrial fibrillation (AF), and guidelines suggest that long-term anticoagulation is required after ablation, regardless of the success of the procedure. We performed a meta-analysis of recent randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) to verify whether ablation compared with drugs reduced the incidence of stroke and deaths.

methodsWe systematically searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases for RCTs of AF catheter ablation (CA) compared to medical therapy (MT). The risk ratio (RR) and weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% CIs were calculated using a random-effects model. A trial sequential analysis (TSA) was used to further validate the reliability of the primary outcomes.

resultsSeventeen RCTs were included, comprising 5,258 patients (CA, n = 2760; MT, n = 2498). Compared with medical therapy, CA was associated with a reduction in stroke/transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs) (p = 0.035; RR = 0.61 [95% CI, 0.386 to 0.965]; I2 = 0.0%) and deaths (p = 0.004; RR = 0.7 [95% CI, 0.55 to 0.89]; I2 = 0.0%). CA was associated with improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (p = 0.000; WMD = 5.39 [95% CI, 2.45 to 8.32]; I2 = 84.4%) and the rate of maintenance of sinus rhythm (SR) (p = 0.000; RR = 3.55 [95% CI, 2.34 to 5.40]; I2 = 76.7%).

conclusionsCA for AF had more favourable outcomes in terms of stroke/TIAs, deaths, change in LVEF, and the maintenance of SR at the end of follow-up compared to MT. Besides, the TSA results supported this conclusion.

Indexed as

AgedAnti-Arrhythmia AgentsAtrial FibrillationCatheter AblationFemaleHeart FailureHumansMaleMiddle AgedRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicReproducibility of ResultsStrokeStroke VolumeTreatment OutcomeVentricular Function, LeftAnti-Arrhythmia Agents

Identifiers

PMID35045127
PMCPMC8769301
OpenAlexW4206697819

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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.