Comparison of therapeutic efficacy between bisoprolol and metoprolol in treating permanent atrial fibrillation

Objective To compare the effects and safety of bisoprolol and metoprolol in the treatment of permanent atrial fibrillatin.Methods Ninety-four patients with permanent atrial fibrillation and rapid ventricular heart rate were randomized into bisoprolol group(n = 45) and metoprolol group(n = 49).Beside conventional treatment,patients received bisoprolol or metoprolol orally for 8 weeks.Resting and active heart rates were compared.Drug-related side-effects were recorded.Results The resting heart rates in the two groups after treatment had no significant difference(66.67% vs 48.98% P0.05).However,the active heart rates between the two groups had significant difference(84.44% vs 55.10% P ﹤ 0.01).There were no serious drug-related side-effects in both groups.Conclusion Bisoprolol shows better effect in treating atrial fibrillatin,especially in controlling active venticular heart rate.