Table 1

Characteristics of RCT included in the meta-analysis

Author (study) year (ref no)	Country	Design	Study population	Regimen	No of patients	Dosage	Duration	Age (years)	Men (%)
Calo et al 200520	Italy	R, OL	Post-CABG, SR	Intervention Control	79 81	0.85–0.88 g/day EPA; 1.7–1.76 g/day DHA Usual care	Immediate postoperative period until discharge	66.2 64.9	86 84
Erdogan et al 2007^* 24	Germany	R, DB, PC	Persistent AF >48 h Post-cardioversion	Intervention Placebo	54 54	301.5 mg α-linolenacid Placebo	4 Weeks before and 1 year after EC	66.5 63.5	70 74
Margos et al 2007^* 27	Greece	R, OL	Persistent AF Post-cardioversion	Intervention Control	20 20	PUFA Control	NA	54 57	85 55
Heidt et al 200921	Germany	R, DB	Post-CABG, SR	Intervention Control	52 50	100 mg/kg per day PUFA infused by perfusion pump (EPA:DHA 0.9:1) 100 mg/kg per day soya oil infused by perfusion pump	12 h before CABG until transfer from the ICU to a normal ward	65 67	73 64
Heidarsdottir et al 201022	Iceland	R, DB, PC	Post-open heart surgery, SR	Intervention Placebo	83 85	1.24 g/day EPA; 1 g/day DHA 2 g/day olive oil	5–7 Days before surgery until discharge	67 67	81.9 76.9
Saravanan et al 201023	UK	R, DB, PC	Post-CABG, SR	Intervention Placebo	52 51	2 g/day PUFA (EPA:DHA 1.2:1) 2 g/day olive oil	Before CABG until discharge	64 68	77 82
Sandesara et al 2010^* 26	USA	R, DB, PC	Post-CABG, SR	Intervention Placebo	120 123	4 g/day PUFA before CABG, 2 g/day PUFA after CABG (EPA:DHA 1.24:1) 4 g/day corn oil before CABG, 2 g/day corn oil after CABG	Preoperatively until primary endpoint or 14 days	63 62	78 83
Bianconi et al 201025	Italy	R, DB, PC	Persistent AF >1 month Post-cardioversion	Intervention Placebo	95 92	3 g/day PUFA 1 week before and 2 g/day thereafter (EPA:DHA 1.2:1) Placebo	1 Week before and 6 months after EC	69 69	67 62
Nodari et al 2010^* 28	Italy	R, PC	Persistent AF >1 month and on amiodarone and RASi; Post-cardioversion	Intervention Placebo	100 99	1 g/day PUFA Placebo	NA	70 69	NA
Kowey et al 201029	USA	R, DB, PC	Symptomatic paroxysmal and persistent AF (5:1)	Intervention Placebo	322 323	4 g/day PUFA with loading dose of 8 g/day for the first 7 days (EPA:DHA 1.24:1) 4 g/day corn oil with loading dose of 8 g/day for the first 7 days	24 Weeks after enrolment	60 61	60 53

↵* Abstract only.
AF, atrial fibrillation; CABG, coronary artery bypass graft surgery; DB, double blind; DHA, docosahexaenoic acid; EC, electrical cardioversion; EPA, eicosapentaenoic acid; ICU, intensive care unit; NA, not available.; OL, open-label; PC, placebo-controlled; PUFA, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids; R, randomised; RCT, randomised controlled trial; RASi, renin–angiotensin system; SR, sinus rhythm.