The AFFIRM Trial: Rate vs Rhythm Control in A-Fib

Relevant Research and Clinical Conclusions

Conclusions: There is no survival benefit between rate and rhythm control. Rate control does have potential advantages including less drug side effects.

Criticisms: The sample average age was 69.7 years old, only 39.3% women, and only 11.4% members of an ethnic minority group.

Article Title: AFFIRM Trial: Comparison of Rate Control and Rhythm Control in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

Date of Publication: 2002

Reference: DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa021328

Knowledge Refresher: Rate control includes medicines such as beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and digoxin. Rhythm control includes medicines such as amiodarone, sotalol, propafenone, procainamide, etc.

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