Background: The systematic review and meta-analysis are to evaluate the effect of t Telmisartan on atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrences in hypertensive patients with paroxysmal AF.
Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched. Random controlled trials (RCTs) were conducted in which telmisartan was compared to other antihypertensive drugs for AF recurrences prevention in hypertensive patients with paroxysmal AF. A systematic review and meta-analysis based on aggregate data extracted from the included studies were carried out to assess the telmisartan in preventing AF relapse. The efficacy outcome was the incidence of AF recurrences. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated from published summary statistics and combined to give pooled estimates of efficacy.
Results: This meta-analysis comprised four studied including 1050 hypertensive patients (537 men and 513 women; mean age 63; mean blood pressure (BP) 156/94 mmHg). With the similar BP control, the AF recurrences rate was significantly lower in the telmisartan-treated patients than in the other antihypertensive drugs-treated patients (HR 0.54, CI 0.34-0.86, P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The results of this review and meta-analysis indicate that telmisartan seems to be more effective than other antihypertensive drugs in preventing AF recurrences among hypertensive patients with paroxysmal AF.
Keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Hypertention; Meta-analysis; Telmisartan.
© 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.