As an electrophysiologist, how do you think ATHENA affects key points in the management of atrial fibrillation?
A few points to note: ATHENA and other previous studies indicate we have another safe, well-tolerated drug that’s useful for preventing recurrences of atrial fibrillation. ATHENA has also opened up new possibilities on a broader scale. This is the first anti-arrhythmic drug to reduce cardiovascular hospitalization; this has gone beyond what previous drugs have managed to show. In the past, it had been suggested that anti-arrhythmic drugs do little other than reduce symptomatic recurrences of atrial fibrillation. Q: What is your final message? Atrial fibrillation is common. It is associated with a variety of other risk factors that need to be managed. So physicians need to be knowledgeable about the issues related to atrial fibrillation. The good news is we have continued therapeutic advances that are promising. Proper management should improve outcomes in patients. Shafiq Qaadri is a family doctor in Toronto.
