Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40033211›Full record

Observational studyBMC emergency medicine2025

Effect of non-invasive rhythm control on outcomes in patients with first diagnosed atrial fibrillation presenting to an emergency department.

Christian Salbach, Mustafa Yildirim, Hauke Hund, Matthias Müller-Hennessen, Norbert Frey, Hugo Anton Katus, Evangelos Giannitsis, Barbara Ruth Milles

Registry-linked trialAbstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMC emergency medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT05995561 (Heidelberg Registry of Atrial Fibrillation), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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.

NCT05995561 completednot on this map

Heidelberg Registry of Atrial Fibrillation

TypeobservationalSponsorUniversity Hospital HeidelbergRan2009 to 2020Enrolled12,297ConditionsAtrial FibrillationArmsno intervention is planned.
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

8 authors.

Christian SalbachDepartment of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
Mustafa YildirimDepartment of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
Hauke HundDepartment of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
Matthias Müller-HennessenDepartment of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
Norbert FreyDepartment of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
Hugo Anton KatusDepartment of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
Evangelos GiannitsisDepartment of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
Barbara Ruth MillesDepartment of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. barbararuth.milles@med.uni-heidelberg.de.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEvidence suggests a benefit of a rhythm control approach in patients with a recent diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF). This study sought to evaluate clinical characteristics, treatment strategies and outcomes in patients with first diagnosed AF (FDAF) undergoing a non-invasive rhythm control strategy in an emergency department (ED).

methodsThis analysis uses data from the Heidelberg Registry of Atrial Fibrillation (HERA-FIB). HERA-FIB is a retrospective single-centre observational study which consecutively included patients presenting to the ED of the University Hospital of Heidelberg between June 2009 and March 2020 with a sequential follow-up for all-cause mortality, stroke, major bleeding events and myocardial infarction (MI). Outcomes of patients with FDAF were related to treatment strategy (non-invasive rhythm vs. rate control).

resultsAmong the 2,758 (27%) patients who presented with FDAF, a non-implementation of a non-invasive rhythm control strategy at admission was observed in 75.4% and associated with an excess of all-cause mortality hazard ratio (HR): 1.61 (95%CI 1.30-1.99), p < 0.0001 and incident MI HR: 1.88 (95% CI 1.22-2.90), p = 0.0043 during follow-up. The non-implementation of a non-invasive rhythm control remained an independent predictor for all-cause mortality and MI even after adjustment for significant univariate variables with an adjusted HR of 1.52 (95%CI: 1.14-2.04, p = 0.0043) and 1.89 (95%CI: 1.03-3.45, p = 0.0392), respectively.

conclusionReal-world data from FDAF patients presenting to an ED showed a benefit regarding all-cause mortality and MI favouring a non-invasive rhythm control strategy. Further prospective research is needed to validate this hypothesis.

trial registrationThe trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05995561.

Indexed as

Anti-Arrhythmia AgentsAtrial FibrillationEmergency Service, HospitalAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleGermanyHumansMaleMiddle AgedMyocardial InfarctionRegistriesRetrospective StudiesAnti-Arrhythmia AgentsAtrial fibrillationFirst diagnosed atrial fibrillationNon-invasive rhythm controlReal-world evidence

Identifiers

PMID40033211
PMCPMC11877945

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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.