Eleven RCTs were included in the review (9 RCTs of quinidine with 443 participants (one study did not state number of participants); 4 RCTs of sotalol with 197 participants; and 7 RCTs of controls with 293 participants (one study did not state number of participants)).
Efficacy rates in the quinidine group at 3 months were reported in 8 studies and ranged from 55% to 91%. At 6 months, 6 studies showed rates ranging from 42% to 73%. At 12 months, 3 studies showed rates ranging from 29% to 52%. The point estimates and 95% CIs for the probability of death for the quinidine group was 3.0% (95% CI: 1.7, 4.7).
Efficacy rates in the sotalol group at 3 months were reported in 1 study at 63%. At 6 months, 4 studies showed rates ranging from 42% to 71%. No data were available for the 12 month time point. The point estimates and 95% CIs for the probability of death for the sotalol group was 2.2% (95% CI: 0.6, 4.8).
Efficacy rates in the control group at 3 months were reported in 6 studies and ranged from 33% to 57%. At 6 months, 5 studies showed rates ranging from 0% to 38%. At 12 months, 3 studies showed rates ranging from 5% to 28%. The point estimates and 95% CIs for the probability of death for the control group was 1.1% (95% CI: 0.3, 2.4).
Homogeneity testing for the efficacy endpoint gave values for P(H) of 0.775 for the quinidine group, 0.846 for the sotalol group, and 0.951 for the control group, implying that the data were combinable. Homogeneity testing for the mortality end point gave values for P(H) of > 0.999 for the quinidine group, > 0.996 for the sotalol group, and > 0.999 for the control group, implying that the data were combinable.