New Study Finds Valsartan May Not Reduce Occurence of Atrial Fibrillation

Valsartan (Diovan), a blood pressure drug, may not reduce the occurrence of artrial fibrillation as suggested in earlier research.  Atrial fibrillation is a common cardiac arrhythmia or abnormal heart rhythm that can sometimes cause a heart attack or stroke.

The new study, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, involved 1,442 people who had two or more recent episodes of atrial fibrillation. Half of the participants were given valsartan, while the other half received a placebo.

Over the course of a year, atrial fibrillation reoccurred about equal in both groups, 51.4% of those taking valsartan and 52.1% of those taking the placebo. 

The study therefore concluded that treatment with valsartan could not be linked to a reduction in the reoccurrence of atrial fibrillation.

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