Study designs of evaluations included in the review
All study designs were considered eligible. Studies had to report the dose, frequency and route of propafenone administration, and discuss the duration of follow-up or end point assessment. Data from trials using reduction in frequency, severity, or duration of episodes as end points in paroxysmal AF, were included in the text of the review but not formally combined. Randomised and non-randomised controlled trials were included in the review.
Specific interventions included in the review
Intravenous (2mg/kg initial bolus +/- infusion) and oral (450,600,900 mg/day) propafenone.
Participants included in the review
Patients with supraventricular tachycardia or atrial fibrillation, including paroxysmal AF (as defined by recurrent episodes lasting <72hrs) and chronic AF (as defined by a fixed pattern of AF lasting >72hrs). Studies reporting on atrioventricular (AV) reentrant tachycardias (Wolff-Parkinson-White) were excluded from the review. Patient exclusion criteria also varied across studies but in general patients with major conduction abnormalities, bradyarrhythmias, active cardiac ischaemia, recent myocardial infarction, or uncontrolled heart failure were excluded from participating in the studies. Patients with significant electrolyte, hepatic, renal or other metabolic abnormalities were also excluded from most of the trials.
Outcomes assessed in the review
Chronic suppression (9-12mths follow-up) and acute termination of arrhythmia; chronic suppression (6 and 12mths follow-up) and acute termination (1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 and 48hrs after initiation of therapy) of AF; efficacy of therapy for paroxysmal AF (as defined by a significant reduction in the frequency, severity, or duration of episodes of arrhythmia).
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The authors do not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many of the authors performed the selection.