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In the industry-funded, randomized ROCKET AF study involving 14,264 patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF), the factor Xa inhibitor rivaroxaban was noninferior to warfarin for preventing a composite endpoint of stroke and systemic embolism (JW Cardiol Aug 10 2011). Now, researchers have analyzed data from the subgroup of 321 trial participants who underwent cardioversion or catheter ablation procedures (181 electrical cardioversions, 194 pharmaceutical cardioversions, and 85 ablations).
The rate of cardioversion or AF ablation was similar in the rivaroxaban and warfarin groups. Death, stroke, rehospitalization, and clinically relevant bleeding were each significantly more common among patients who underwent cardioversion or ablat…