Clinical effect of amiodarone on senile patients suffering from arrhythmia

AIM: To explore the efficacy of amiodarone on senile patients suffering from frequent premature ventricular contractions and atrial fibrillation. METHODS: We selected 70 patients (aged 60 years) with frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs, mean PVCs >30 beats/h) or with atrial fibrillation (AF) and divided them into amiodarone (Am) group and propafenone (Pr) group. These patients were followed-up to observe the effects as well as adverse effects. RESULTS: For frequent PVCs, there was no significant difference between groups. For persistent AF, amiodarone was more effective than propafenone in the conversion of persistent AF (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between them in the maintenance of sinus rhythm. For paroxysmal AF, there was no significant difference between groups in the conversion rate, but the onset in Pr group was more rapid than in Am group (P<0.05), and the maintenance rate in the Am group was higher than in the Pr group (P<0.05). After 4 weeks, QTc and P-R interval were significantly prolonged in Am group (P<0.05), but no significant change was found in the LVEF value. The number of patients in the Am group suffering from adverse effects was higher than in the Pr group and, as a result, more patients in the Am group withdrew due to adverse effects. CONCLUSION: Amiodrone is effective for frequent PVCs and AF in senile patients with little effect on LVEF value and low proarrhythmic potential.