The ATHENA trial evaluated the drug dronedarone for reducing cardiovascular hospitalization and death in patients with atrial fibrillation. It found that dronedarone reduced the primary composite endpoint of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular hospitalization by 24% compared to placebo. It also decreased cardiovascular death by 30% and the risk of arrhythmia-related death by 45%. However, dronedarone was associated with higher rates of gastrointestinal side effects, skin disorders, and increased creatinine levels.

1. ATHENA Trial (A placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel arm Trial to assess the efficacy of dronedarone 400 mg bid for the prevention of cardiovascular Hospitalization or death from any cause in patiENts with Atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter) Presented at Heart Rhythm 2008 in San Francisco, USA Presented by Stefan H. Hohnloser, MD ATHENA Trial Copyleft Clinical Trial Results. You Must Redistribute Slides

10. ATHENA Trial: Baseline Characteristics JCE 2008; 19.1 /Heart Rhythm 2008 Copyleft Clinical Trial Results. You Must Redistribute Slides *AF at baseline: according to the stratification factor at randomization. Characteristic Incidence/Mean Value Patient age <65 years 19% 65-74 years 40% ≥ 75 years 42% Female gender 47% Hypertension 86% Mean systolic blood pressure 134 mmHg AF at baseline* 25% History of cardioversion 34%

11. ATHENA Trial: Baseline Characteristics JCE 2008; 19.1/Heart Rhythm 2008 Copyleft Clinical Trial Results. You Must Redistribute Slides **Structural heart disease: coronary heart disease and/or ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy and/or nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy and/or rheumatic valvular heart disease and/or nonrheumatic valvular heart disease and/or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and/or history of congestive heart failure and/or left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 45%. Characteristic Incidence/Mean Value Structural heart disease** 60% -History of coronary artery disease 30% -Ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy 5% -Nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy 4% -Rheumatic valve disease 2% -Nonrheumatic valve disease 15%

12. ATHENA Trial: Baseline Characteristics JCE 2008; 19.1/Heart Rhythm 2008 Copyleft Clinical Trial Results. You Must Redistribute Slides ***Lone atrial fibrillation: patients without hypertension and without structural heart disease. Characteristic Incidence/Mean Value Structural heart disease cont.** 60% - Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy 2% - History of congestive heart failure 29% - LVEF < 0.45 12% Lone atrial fibrillation*** 6%