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Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acid for Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease: A Contemporary Meta-Analysis of Randomized, Controlled Trials

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Abstract

Purpose

Experimental and epidemiological studies suggest that omega-3 fatty acids have an antiarrhythmic effect. However, evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD) remains controversial. This study sought to evaluate the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids for secondary prevention of SCD in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the era of guidelines-based therapy.

Methods

We conducted a PubMed/EMBASE/CENTRAL search for RCTs evaluating omega-3 fatty acids for CVD secondary prevention with at least 6 months follow-up and with data on SCD. Primary outcome was SCD. Secondary outcomes were cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality.

Results

Ten randomized controlled trials were identified evaluating a total of 33,429 patients with CVD. In patients with guidelines-adjusted therapy, omega-3 fatty acids did not reduce the risk ratio (RR) of SCD (RR:0.96; 95% CI: 0.84-1.10). In patients with non- guidelines-adjusted therapy, omega-3 fatty acids reduced the RR of SCD (RR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.51-0.80). Overall, RR for cardiac death and all-cause mortality were 0.81 (95% CI: 0.69-0.95) and 0.89 (95% CI: 0.79-1.01), respectively.

Conclusions

In the era of guidelines-adjusted treatment for CVD secondary prevention, omega-3 fatty acids do not appear to reduce SCD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geriatric Cardiology, The General Hospital of the People’s Liberation Army, 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing, Country

    Qi Chen, Tie-Hui Xiao, Yu-Xiao Zhang, Mei Zhu, Ran Zhang, Ke Li, Yu Wang & Yang Li

  2. Department of Radiology, The General Hospital of the People’s Liberation Army, 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing, Country

    Liu-Quan Cheng

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  1. Qi Chen
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  2. Liu-Quan Cheng
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  3. Tie-Hui Xiao
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  4. Yu-Xiao Zhang
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  5. Mei Zhu
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  6. Ran Zhang
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  7. Ke Li
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  8. Yu Wang
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  9. Yang Li
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Additional information

Q. Chen and L.-Q. Cheng are co-authors and contributed equally to the manuscript.

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Chen, Q., Cheng, LQ., Xiao, TH. et al. Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acid for Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease: A Contemporary Meta-Analysis of Randomized, Controlled Trials. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther 25, 259–265 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10557-011-6306-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10557-011-6306-8

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