Table 1

Study characteristics

Reference	Location	Sample size	Recent onset or persistent AF	Inclusion criteria	Exclusion criteria	Shock protocol suggests	Successful cardioversion
Walsh et al 200525	England	294	Persistent	Elective cardioversion of stable AF	Other arrhythmias, electrolyte imbalances or age <18 years	70, 100, 150, 200J	Restoration of sinus rhythm for at least 30 s after a shock
Siaplaouras et al 200523	Germany	123	Persistent	Elective cardioversion of stable AF	Other arrhythmias, pacemaker, potassium <3.5 or >5 mmol/L	120, 150, 200J	Termination of AF with at least two consecutive sinus beats after a shock
Brazdzionyte et al 200624	Lithuania	103	Recent onset/persistent	Elective cardioversion of stable AF	Age <18 years. Inadequate anticoagulation therapy*	100, 150, 200, 300J+crossover	Presence of at least one clearly visible P wave within 30 s after the administration of the shock
Muñoz-Martínez et al 201015	Spain	91	Persistent	Elective cardioversion of persistent and stable AF	Age <18 years, acute myocardial infarction, pregnancy, high risk of thromboembolism†	150, 200, 200J+crossover‡	After the final shock all patients were observed for 15 min at the intensive care unit and then moved back to the department and discharged with sinus rhythm after 2 hours if the patient was stable.
Schmidt et al 202126	Denmark	467	Recent onset/persistent	Elective cardioversion of stable AF	Age <18 years, other arrhythmias, ICD, pregnancy or previous enrollment in protocol	100, 150, 200, 360J	Sinus rhythm 1 min after first shock or 1 min after final shock.

*International normalised ratio >2 for at least 3 weeks before cardioversion.
†Inadequate anticoagulation therapy or verified auricular thrombus in echocardiography.
‡As the energy level for second and third shock were similar, we counted the second shock as the final.
AF, atrial fibrillation; ICD, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.