Prevention

Why?

• Though long-term quinidine reduces relapse following cardioversion, it increases mortality ^a . 18% of patients on quinidine experience side-effects (diarrhoea , syncope and pyrexia). 9% have to stop it. ^a

Chronic AF: quinidine helps maintain sinus rhythm following DC cardioversion, but increases mortality

Patient	Treatment	Comparison	Outcome	CER	OR (95% CI)	NNT (95% CI)
chronic AF a	quinidine following DC cardioversion	placebo or no medication following DC cardioversion	sinus rhythm at 12 months	25%	- ( to )	4 (3 to 7)
			death at 3 months	0.3%	2.98 (1.07 to 8.33)	67 (19 to 1900)