American Heart Journal
Volume 158, Issue 5 , Pages 785-791 , November 2009

Does intensity of rate control influence outcome in persistent atrial fibrillation? Data of the RACE study

  • Hessel F. Groenveld, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Harry J.G.M. Crijns, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Cardiology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Michiel Rienstra, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Maarten P. Van den Berg, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Dirk J. Van Veldhuisen, MD, PhD, FACC

      Affiliations

    • Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Isabelle C. Van Gelder, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
    • Interuniversity Cardiology Institute Netherlands, Utrecht, The Netherlands
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Isabelle C. Van Gelder, MD, PhD, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands.
    • ,
  • for the RACE investigators

      Affiliations

    • Participants in the RACE for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Study are listed elsewhere (2).

Received 6 May 2009 ,Accepted 13 September 2009.

References 

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  2. Van Gelder IC, Hagens VE, Bosker HA, et al. A comparison of rate control and rhythm control in patients with recurrent persistent atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2002;347:1834–1840
  3. Roy D, Talajic M, Nattel S, et al. Rhythm control versus rate control for atrial fibrillation and heart failure. N Engl J Med. 2008;358:2667–2677
  4. Rienstra M, Van Gelder IC, Hagens VE, et al. Mending the rhythm does not improve prognosis in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation: a subanalysis of the RACE study. Eur Heart J. 2006;27:357–364
  5. Van Gelder IC, Van Veldhuisen DJ, Crijns HJ, et al. RAte Control Efficacy in permanent atrial fibrillation: a comparison between lenient versus strict rate control in patients with and without heart failure. Background, aims, and design of RACE II. Am Heart J. 2006;152:420–426
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  12. Rienstra M, Van Gelder IC, Van den Berg MP, et al. A comparison of low versus high heart rate in patients with atrial fibrillation and advanced chronic heart failure: effects on clinical profile, neurohormones and survival. Int J Cardiol. 2006;109:95–100
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  22. Connolly S, Pogue J, Hart R, et al. Clopidogrel plus aspirin versus oral anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation in the Atrial fibrillation Clopidogrel Trial with Irbesartan for prevention of Vascular Events (ACTIVE W): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2006;367:1903–1912
  23. Palareti G, Leali N, Coccheri S, et al. Bleeding complications of oral anticoagulant treatment: an inception-cohort, prospective collaborative study (ISCOAT). Italian Study on Complications of Oral Anticoagulant Therapy. Lancet. 1996;348:423–428
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  25. Perry G, Brown E, Thornton R, et al. The effect of digoxin on mortality and morbidity in patients with heart failure. The Digitalis Investigation Group. N Engl J Med. 1997;336:525–533
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PII: S0002-8703(09)00724-8

doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2009.09.007

American Heart Journal
Volume 158, Issue 5 , Pages 785-791 , November 2009

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