uid
So
nd
MD,
D,
Com
a University of Calgary/Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
b Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
c Montreal Heart Institute, Université de Montréal and McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
y of Toro
s AC. C
g Conse
AB
The
age
life
ma
The
ma
and
AF
Be
init
his
not
Digoxin and dronedarone may be used in combination with other agents
to optimize rate control. The first-choice antiarrhythmic drug for mainte-
nan
any
wit
RÉ
Les
du
d’a
ass
con
tra
et/
sym
fré
per
Les
les
triculaire de la FA et du flutter auriculaire chez la plupart des patients sans
antécédent d’infarctus du myocarde ou dysfonction ventriculaire gauche.
La digoxine n’est pas recommandée enmonothérapie pour le contrôle de
At
ate
tio
Rec
Sci
Tel
CC
lite
con
diology
082
doi
ce of sinus rhythm in patients with non structural heart disease can be
one of dronedarone, flecainide, propafenone, or sotalol. In patients
h abnormal ventricular function but left ventricular ejection fraction
la fréquence ventriculaire chez les patients actifs. L’ajout de digoxine ou
de dronédarone en combinaison avec d’autres agents peut être considéré
pour optimiser le traitement. Chez les patients dont la fonction ventriculaire
rial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL) are often associ-
d with rapid and irregular ventricular rates causing palpita-
ns, dyspnea, fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance, other symp-
toms, and in some cases, left ventricular dysfunction and
congestive heart failure. The approach to the management of
AF and AFL includes, in parallel, identification and treatment
eived for publication November 4, 2010. Accepted December 3, 2010.
Corresponding author: Dr Anne M. Gillis, University of Calgary, Cardiac
ences, 3280 Hospital Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 4Z6.
: �1-403-220-6841, fax: �1-403-270-0313.
E-mail: amgillis@ucalgary.ca
The disclosure information of the authors and reviewers is available from the
with amandate to formulate disease-specific recommendations. These recommen-
dations are aimed to provide a reasonable and practical approach to care for spe-
cialists and allied health professionals obliged with the duty of bestowing optimal
care to patients and families, and can be subject to change as scientific knowledge
and technology advance and as practice patterns evolve. The statement is not
intended to be a substitute for physicians using their individual judgment in man-
d St Michael’s Hospital and Universit
e For a complete listing of committee members, see Gillis AM, Skane
2010: Implementing GRADE and Achievin
STRACT
goals of atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL) arrhythmia man-
ment are to alleviate patient symptoms, improve patient quality of
, and minimize the morbidity associated with AF and AFL. Arrhythmia
nagement usually commences with drugs to slow the ventricular rate.
addition of class I or class III antiarrhythmic drugs for restoration or
intenance of sinus rhythm is largely determined by patient symptoms
preferences. For rate control, treatment of persistent or permanent
and AFL should aim for a resting heart rate of�100 beats perminute.
ta-blockers or nondihydropyridine calcium channel blockers are the
ial therapy for rate control of AF and AFL in most patients without a
tory of myocardial infarction or left ventricular dysfunction. Digoxin is
recommended as monotherapy for rate control in active patients.
S on the followingWeb sites: www.ccs.ca and www.ccsguidelineprograms.ca.
This statement was developed following a thorough consideration of medical
rature and the best available evidence and clinical experience. It represents the
sensus of aCanadian panel comprised ofmultidisciplinary experts on this topic
agin
the
abl
sari
8-282X/$ – see front matter © 2011 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by
:10.1016/j.cjca.2010.11.001
nto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
anadian Cardiovascular Society Atrial Fibrillation Guidelines
nsus. Can J Cardiol 2011;27:27-30.
SUMÉ
principaux objectifs du traitement de la fibrillation auriculaire (FA) et
flutter auriculaire sont d’atténuer les symptômes des patients,
méliorer leur qualité de vie et de réduire au minimum la morbidité
ociée à la FA et au flutter auriculaire. Le traitement de l’arythmie
siste d’abord à ralentir la fréquence ventriculaire. La décision d’un
itement avec antiarythmiques de classe I ou III pour la conversion
ou le maintien du rythme sinusal repose sur la présence de
ptômes et les préférences du patient. L’objectif du contrôle de la
quence ventriculaire pour la FA ou le flutter auriculaire persistant ou
manent est une fréquence cardiaque inférieure à 100/min au repos.
béta-bloquants ou les inhibiteurs calciques (non-dihydropyridine) sont
médicaments de premier choix pour le contrôle de la fréquence ven-
Society G
Canadian Cardiovascular
Guidelines 2010: Rate a
Anne M. Gillis, MD, FRCPC,a Atul Verma,
Stanley Nattel, MD, FRCPC,c Paul Dorian, M
Guidelines
Canadian Journal of Car
elines
ciety Atrial Fibrillation
Rhythm Management
FRCPC,b Mario Talajic, MD, FRCPC,c
FRCPC,d and the CCS Atrial Fibrillation
mitteee
27 (2011) 47–59
g clinical care in consultation with the patient, with appropriate regard to all
individual circumstances of the patient, diagnostic and treatment options avail-
e and available resources. Adherence to these recommendations will not neces-
ly produce successful outcomes in every case.
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
of
fac
an
sin
tom
1).
to
an
rhy
en
on
rhy
na
ep
no
Th
Alt
ma
tim
arr
1).
acc
infl
sum
an
ap
Go
are
R
s
w
R
s
c
e
Q
�35%, dronedarone, sotalol, or amiodarone is recommended. In pa-
tie
on
the
tie
alt
ma
qu
con
est normale, les anti-arythmiques de premier choix pour le maintien du
ryth
le
ma
rec
tien
%,
occ
au
atiq
fré
dér
ant
sin
Fig
con
req
Fig
mo
an
11
48 Canadian Journal of Cardiology
Volume 27 2011
precipitating causes, antithrombotic therapy based on risk
tors for stroke, drug therapy to control ventricular rates, and
tiarrhythmic therapy as required to restore and/or maintain
us rhythm with the major goal of alleviating patient symp-
s and minimizing the morbidity associated with AF (Fig.
1,2 Arrhythmia management usually commences with drugs
slow the ventricular rate. The addition of class I or class III
tiarrhythmic drugs for restoration or maintenance of sinus
thm is largely determined by patient symptoms and prefer-
ces as, to date, none of the large randomized trials has dem-
strated that pharmacologic therapy to maintain sinus
thm has improved survival or reduced the risk of stroke.3-7
AFmay be classified as newly detected, paroxysmal (self-termi-
ting episodes lasting�7 days), persistent (non–self-terminating
isodes lasting�7 days), or permanent (no further attempts or
initial attempt to restore sinus rhythm to be undertaken).8-9
e nature of AF is recurrent and frequently progressive (Fig. 2).
hough a treatment strategy of rate control or rhythm control
y be selected initially, the treatment strategy may change over
e if the selected treatment strategy has been unsuccessful, as the
hythmia progresses, or as the patient’s condition changes (Fig.
10 Thus, treatment strategies and their effectiveness, safety, and
eptability must be constantly reevaluated. Factors that might
uence a decision for rate control versus rhythm control are
marized in Table 1.
AFLmay also occur in the patient with AF ormay present as
isolated arrhythmia. The goals of therapy and management
proaches for AFL are similar to those for AF.
nts with left ventricular ejection fraction �35%, amiodarone is the
ly drug usually recommended. Intermittent antiarrhythmic drug
rapy (“pill in the pocket”) may be considered in symptomatic pa-
nts with infrequent, longer-lasting episodes of AF or AFL as an
ernative to daily antiarrhythmic therapy. Referral for ablation of AF
y be considered for patients who remain symptomatic after ade-
ate trials of antiarrhythmic drug therapy and in whom a rhythm
trol strategy remains desired.
Overview of AF Management
Detec�on and
AF Detected Treatment of
Precipita�ng Causes
M t fA t f Management of
Arrhythmia
Assessment of
Thromboembolic Risk
(CHADS )
Rate RhythmOAC Rate
Control
Rhythm
Control
OAC
Aspirin
No an�thrombo�c may be
appropriate in selected young
pa�ents with no stroke risk factors
2
ure 1. Overview of AF management. If a strategy of rate or rhythm
trol is not successful, crossover to the alternate strategy may be
uired. AF, atrial fibrillation; OAC, oral anticoagulation.
als of AF Arrhythmia Management
The major goals of AF and AFL arrhythmia management
to
● Identify and treat underlying structural heart disease and
other predisposing conditions
● Relieve symptoms
● Improve functional capacity and quality of life (QOL)
● Reduce morbidity and mortality associated with AF and
AFL, that is,
● Prevent tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy
● Reduce or prevent emergency room visits or hospital-
izations secondary to AF and AFL
● Prevent stroke or systemic thromboembolism
ECOMMENDATION
We recommend that the goals of ventricular rate control
hould be to improve symptoms and clinical outcomes
hich are attributable to excessive ventricular rates (Strong
ecommendation, Low-Quality Evidence).
We recommend that the goals of rhythm control therapy
hould be to improve patient symptoms and clinical out-
omes and that these goals do not necessarily imply the
limination of all AF (Strong Recommendation, Moderate-
uality Evidence).
me sinusal incluent la dronédarone, la flécaïnide, la propafénone ou
sotalol. Chez les patients dont la fonction ventriculaire est anormale
is avec fraction d’éjection ventriculaire gauche supérieure à 35 %, on
ommande la dronédarone, le sotalol ou l’amiodarone. Chez les pa-
ts dont la fraction d’éjection ventriculaire gauche est inférieure à 35
seule l’amiodarone est recommandée. Un traitement anti-arythmique
asionnel (“pill-in-the-pocket”) peut-être considéré comme alternative
traitement antiarythmique quotidien chez les patients symptom-
ues qui présentent des épisodes de FA ou de flutter auriculaire in-
quents mais de longue durée. L’ablation par cathéter doit être consi-
ée chez les patients symptomatiques après échec du traitement
iarythmique et pour lesquels une stratégie de maintien du rythme
usal demeure indiquée.
P l P iParoxysmal Persistent
Permanent
Patterns of AF
Newly Diagnosed AF
ure 2. Interrelationships among categories of AF. Arrows indicate
st common forms of progression. AF, atrial fibrillation. Adapted
d reprinted with permission from Fuster V, et al.8 Circulation 2006;
4(7):e257-e354. ©2006 American Heart Association, Inc.
V
a
r
c
o
r
Re
ere
car
or
tie
an
tac
tac
ab
ref
hig
the
tro
an
Ra
tie
im
fun
du
sh
av
th
tri
ch
som
rat
or
co
H
de
stu
bp
rat 15
(co
str
fou
pro
tio
tar
ha
of
12
an
de
qu
gro
�1
saf
he
all
pa
ma
exc
exe
of
sta
tes
ach
str
tha
sho
an
AF
R
a
(
s
a
t
t
r
i
V
h
s
e
H
blo
dr
Th
Fig
th
Al
co
Table 1. Factors favouring rate versus rhythm control
Fav
Per
Les
Ag
Hy
No
h
Pre
d
Pat
Gillis et al.
Rate and Rhythm Management
49
alues and preferences. These recommendations place
high value on the decision of individual patients to balance
elief of symptoms and improvement in QOL and other
linical outcomes with the potentially greater adverse effects
f class I or class III antiarrhythmic drugs compared with
ate-control therapy.
ferral for Specialty Care
Most patients with a history of AF or AFL should be consid-
d for referral to a cardiologist or an internist with an interest in
diovascular disease for an expert opiniononmanagement ofAF
AFL, as well as any underlying cardiovascular conditions. Pa-
nts aged�35 years with symptomatic AF should be referred to
arrhythmia specialist to rule out other forms of supraventricular
hycardia that may trigger AF (so-called “tachycardia-induced
hycardia”) and that would be best treated by radiofrequency
lation. Patients with isolated AFL may also be considered for
erral for curative ablation therapy.11 Patients who remain
hly symptomatic despitemultiple trials of antiarrhythmic drug
rapy or who remain unresponsive to or intolerant of rate-con-
lling therapies should be referred to an arrhythmia specialist for
expert opinion on management alternatives.
te Control of AF and AFL
Rate control is an important part of therapy for all pa-
nts with AF or AFL. The primary goal of rate control is to
prove symptoms and prevent deterioration of cardiac
ction associated with excessively rapid ventricular rates
ring AF or AFL. In addition, therapy for rate control
ould aim to improve exercise tolerance, QOL, and to
oid hospitalization. Tachycardia-induced cardiomyopa-
y refers to a condition characterized by reversible left ven-
cular systolic dysfunction occurring in patients with
ronic rapid heart rates. This complication can occur in
e patients with AF or AFL and very rapid ventricular
es (eg,�120/min for most or all of the time) and is totally
partially reversible and preventable with adequate rate
ntrol.12
eart rate targets
In the past, adequate heart rate control had been empirically
fined as�80 beats per minute (bpm) at rest.3-6,8,13,14 A recent
dy randomized patients to strict (�80 bpm at rest and�110
m during moderate exercise) or lenient (�110 bpm at rest)
ours rate control Favours rhythm control
sistent AF Paroxysmal AF
Newly detected AF
s symptomatic More symptomatic
ed �65 years Aged �65 years
pertension No hypertension
history of congestive
eart failure
Congestive heart failure clearly
exacerbated by AF
vious antiarrhythmic
rug failure
No previous antiarrhythmic
drug failure
ient preference Patient preference
AF, atrial fibrillation.
e-control strategies. No difference in the primary outcome
mposite of cardiovascular death, heart failure hospitalization,
oke, systemic embolism, bleeding, and arrhythmic events) was
nd, and the lenient strategy rate goal was achieved in a larger
portion of patients, with lower drug doses and fewer combina-
ns of drugs, resulting in far fewer visits to achieve the intended
get.15 Relatively fewpatients randomized to lenient rate control
d restingheart rates�100 to110bpm.Furthermore, at the end
the first year, average resting heart rates were 86� 15 and 75�
bpm in the lenient and strict rate-control arms, respectively,
d the difference of 10 to 11 bpm remained through the remain-
r of the trial. Thus, although the definition of lenient seems
ite liberal, in the trial itself the difference in heart rates in the 2
ups was quite small. Since few patients had resting heart rates
00 bpm and previous studies cannot conclusively show the
ety of resting heart rates �100 bpm, we recommend that a
art rate target of�100 bpm at rest be used formost patients. In
cases, the heart rate target may need modification based on
tient symptoms and preferences. Patients with persistent or per-
nentAF orAFLwhohave exertional symptoms possibly due to
essive heart rates should have an assessment of rate response to
rcise. Activity heart rate assessment can be achieved in a variety
ways, including recording heart rate after brisk hall walking or
ir climbing, 24-hour ambulatorymonitoring, or formal exercise
ting. Correlation of symptoms and heart rate may also be
ieved by patient-activated electrocardiogram (ECG) rhythm
ips (“event recorders”). In all patients, it is reasonable to verify
t symptoms are caused by rapid ventricular rates. Finally, it
uld be noted that rate control in paroxysmal AF is empirical,
d heart rate targets are impractical for these briefer episodes of
.
ECOMMENDATION
We recommend that ventricular rate be assessed at rest in
ll patients with persistent and permanent AF or AFL
Strong Recommendation, Moderate-Quality Evidence).
We recommend that heart rate during exercise be as-
essed in patients with persistent or permanent AF or AFL
nd associated exertional symptoms (Strong Recommenda-
ion, Moderate-Quality Evidence).
We recommend that treatment for rate control of persis-
ent or permanent AF or AFL should aim for a resting heart
ate of �100 bpm (Strong Recommendation, High-Qual-
ty Evidence).
alues and preferences. These recommendations place a
igh value on the randomized clinical trials and other clinical
tudies demonstrating that ventricular rate control of AF is an
ffective treatment approach for many patients with AF.
eart rate control agents
Beta-blockers, nondihydropyridine calcium channel
ckers (diltiazem, verapamil), and digitalis are the primary
ugs used for ventricular rate control during AF or AFL.
e approach to selection of rate-control agents is shown in
ure 3. The doses, adverse effects, and practical tips about
e different rate-control agents are summarized in Table 2.
l these drugs act by slowing atrioventricular (AV) nodal
nduction and prolonging AV nodal refractoriness. Many
sm
no
In
tor
no
ch
ex
pa
dig
blo
em
va
th
be
du
ag
ro
co
tio
ag
am
wh
ha
an
tie
wi
co
R
c
o
m
(
a
w
f
i
b
h
d
t
r
b
e
r
f
L
V
o
i
u
p
Ra
tie
tiv
avo
wi
tio
pa
or
blo
fec
Fig
pre
bid
art
Ta
Cla
Bet
A
B
M
N
P
Ca
V
D
D
pro
50 Canadian Journal of Cardiology
Volume 27 2011
all comparative drug trials have been performed but have
t shown major advantages of one agent over another.13-19
small, mostly blinded randomized trials, beta-adrenocep-
blockers led to lower heart rates at rest and exercise but
change or a decrease in exercise capacity.14 Calcium
annel blockers were less effective at heart rate lowering on
ercise but led to an increase or no change in exercise ca-
city. In one study, beta-adrenoceptor blockers added to
oxin did not result in improved QOL, whereas calcium
ckers resulted in small improvements in physical and
otional function.20
Digitalis prolongs AV nodal refractoriness by enhancing
gal tone. During exercise, vagal tone is withdrawn, and
erefore digitalis controls the heart rate less effectively than
Rate-control Drug Choices
No Heart
Disease
Hypertension
CAD Heart Failure
β-blocker
β bl kDil�azem
Verapamil
Combina�on Rx
Di it li †
β β-blocker*
Dil�azem
Verapamil
-blocker
± digitalis
Digitalis†
*β-blockers preferred in CAD
†Digitalis may be considered as
monotherapy in sedentary individuals
Dronedarone
ure 3. Selection of rate-control drug therapy is based on the
sence or absence of underlying heart disease and other comor-
ities. Combination therapy (Rx) may be required. CAD, coronary
ery disease.
ble 2. Drugs for heart rate control
ss Dose Adverse effects
a-blockers
tenolol 50-150 mg orally daily Bradycardia, hypotension,
fatigue, depression
isoprolol 2.5-10 mg orally daily As per atenolol
etoprolol 25-200 mg orally twice a
day
As per atenolol
adolol 20-160 mg orally daily to
twice a day
As per atenolol
ropranolol* 80-240 mg orally 3 times
a day
As per atenolol
lcium channel
blockers
erapamil* 120 mg orally daily to
240 mg orally twice a
day
Bradycardia, hypotension,
constipation
iltiazem* 120-480 mg orally daily Bradycardia, hypotension,
ankle swelling
igoxin 0.125-0.25 mg orally
daily
Bradycardia, nausea,
vomiting, visual
disturbances
*Sustained release preparations are available and generally preferred to
long the dose interval and improve patient convenience or compliance.
ta-adrenoceptor blockers or calcium channel blockers
ring exercise. Digitalis should thus be avoided as the sole
ent in active patients.21,22 On its own, digoxin does not
utinely control the heart rate and frequently has to be
mbined with another rate-slowing drug. Drug combina-
ns are frequently effective when treatment with a single
ent fails. Dronedarone is a newly released analogue of
iodarone with significant rate-controlling properties23
ich may also be useful in selected patients. Amiodarone
s significant rate-controlling properties in addition to its
tiarrhythmic actions and may be used in refractory pa-
nts. However, because of the risk