The effects of telmisartan co-administered with amiodarone on sinus rhythm maintenance in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the curative effect of telmisartan on sinus rhythm maintenance in patients with nonvalvular paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) after the recovery of sinus rhythm with amiodarone. Methods Seventy-six patients with nonvalvular paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who visited our hospital were randomly divided into two groups control group (amiodarone, n=36) and treatment group (telmisartan plus amiodarone, n=40). The maintenance of sinus rhythm and the change of left atrial diameter between the two groups at 3, 6 and 12 months after therapy were observed. Results The left atrial diameter and the maintenance rate of sinus rhythm between the two groups at 3 and 6 months after therapy had no statistically significant difference (t=0.04, 0.51, 0.03, 1.12, all P>0.05). After 1-year treatment, the maintenance rates of sinus rhythm were 48.4% and 73.5% in treatment group and control group ,respectively (t=4.33,P<0.05), and the left atrial diameter was significantly shorter in treatment group than in control group [(34.38±3.85) mm vs. (37.26±4.85)mm ,t=2.66, P<0.05]. Conclusions The combination of telmisartan and amiodarone is more effective than amiodarone alone on maintenance of sinus rhythm in patients with nonvalvular paroxysmal AF after the recovery of AF. The curative effect may be due to telmisartan effects on inhibiting the activation of renin-angiotensin system, decreaseing the cardiac burden and delaying the cardiac remodeling.