Methods
A total of 73 individuals (59 men, 14 women) undergoing DC cardioversion of an atrial arrhythmia agreed to participate in this study. Inclusion criteria included subjects older 18 who were undergoing DC cardioversion for an atrial arrhythmia. This included elective and non-elective admissions. Exclusion criteria included an MI or CABG within the past month, cardioversion for a ventricular arrhythmia, or any recent shocks by an implantable internal cardioverter defibrillator. Patients underwent standard procedure for DC cardioversion with blood work (troponin I and CRP) performed prior to and six hours post cardioversion. Primary outcome was change in troponin I. Secondary outcomes included changes in CRP, relationships between troponin I and cumulative energy and LVM, and a sub-group analysis stratified by the presence of cardiomyopathy.