Study population
This trial was a randomized, open-label, multicenter trial that included
200 patients undergoing first-time CBA for drug-refractory AF who had
been taking once-daily rivaroxaban (n=100) or edoxaban (n=100) between
July 2019 and June 2020. Paroxysmal AF (PAF) was defined as a
self-terminating AF that lasted ≤ 7 days. The exclusion criteria were:
patients younger than 18 years, mechanical prosthetic valve or
moderate-severe mitral stenosis, a history of AF ablation or cardiac
surgery, chronic kidney disease (creatinine clearance rate [CCr]
<30 mL/min or dialysis), an acute stroke within 6 months, and
a refusal to take NOACs in the long-term period. The study protocol was
approved by the institutional review board of each institute and
complied with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Written
informed consent was obtained from all enrolled patients.