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A comparison of verapamil and digoxin for heart rate control in atrial fibrillation
Mohammad Afzali Moghadam1, Maryam Fadaie Dashti, Kavous Shahsavarinia
1Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Insights
Verapamil and digoxin similarly control heart rate in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. Further randomized studies are needed to determine the optimal treatment for AF rate control.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common sustained dysrhythmia with varied treatment approaches.
- Key treatment goals include ventricular rate control, sinus rhythm restoration, and thromboembolism prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of verapamil versus digoxin for heart rate control in patients with atrial fibrillation.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive study involving sixty patients with new-onset AF and rapid ventricular response.
- Patients were divided into two groups, each receiving either digoxin or verapamil in an emergency department setting.
Main Results:
- Both verapamil and digoxin significantly decreased heart rate (p = 0.002).
- Neither drug resulted in cardioversion.
- Optimal rate control was observed at 5.9 mg of verapamil (46.7%) and 0.6 mg of digoxin (36.7%).
Conclusions:
- Verapamil and digoxin demonstrate comparable efficacy in controlling heart rate for AF patients.
- Prospective randomized trials are recommended to definitively establish the superior drug for AF treatment.
Purpose:
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common types of sustained dysrhythmia and there are some disagreements about its treatment. The goals of AF treatment include the control of ventricular rate, the establishment of sinus rhythm and the prevention of thromboembolic events. In this study, the effect of verapamil was compared to digoxin on heart rate control in patients with AF.
Methods:
This descriptive study was conducted in an emergency department (ED) in Iran. Sixty patients with a new onset AF and rapid ventricular response receiving digoxin or verapamil were included and observed.
Results:
Two thirty-patient groups receiving verapamil or digoxin were evaluated. The heart rate was significantly decreased in both groups (p = 0.002); however, the cardioversion was not noticed in both of them. The best rate control in verapamil and digoxin groups was observed after 5.9 mg (46.7%) and 0.6 mg (36.7%), respectively.
Conclusion:
Administration of verapamil in comparison with digoxin has no difference to control the heart rate in AF patients. It should be taken into consideration that prospective randomized studies should be conducted to identify the efficacy and select the best of these two drugs to treat AF patients.
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