Atrial fibrillation ablation significantly improved quality of life scores, with greater improvements observed in patients without AF recurrence (P<0.05) and those with an AF burden decrease >19 h/month.
Cohort (n=230)
Yes
Does atrial fibrillation ablation improve quality of life in patients with paroxysmal AF refractory to antiarrhythmic drugs?
Atrial fibrillation ablation significantly improves quality of life in patients with refractory paroxysmal AF, and these improvements correlate with a reduction in AF burden even if brief recurrences occur.
p-value: p=< 0.05
AIMS: Atrial fibrillation (AF) significantly impairs patients' quality of life (QOL). We performed this study to investigate the effect of AF-ablation success and atrial fibrillation burden (AFB) on QOL measures. METHODS AND RESULTS: Overall, 230 patients with paroxysmal AF refractory to antiarrhythmic drugs were enrolled and underwent ablation in a multicentre, prospective cohort. Electrocardiogram, 48-h Holter, Canadian Cardiovascular Society Severity of Atrial Fibrillation (CCS-SAF), short form-12 (SF-12), and Atrial Fibrillation Effect on Quality of life (AFEQT) scales were used to assess patients. Atrial fibrillation burden was defined as total duration of AF during the month prior to each visit (h/month). The change in AFB was calculated as the difference between the month prior to the 12-month post-ablation and the baseline pre-ablation. The Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) was considered as a 19-point change for AFEQT and 3-5-point change for SF-12 scores. There was significant rise in the AFEQT and SF12 and decrease in CCS-SAF score post-AF ablation; however, the magnitude of these changes was greater in patients without AF recurrence (P 19 h/month had significantly greater change in QOL scores. Atrial fibrillation burden < 24 h/month at 12-months post-ablation was associated with significant changes in QOL and CCS-SAF when adjusting for baseline scores and other covariates. These changes were consistent with the MCID of these measures. CONCLUSION: Patients experience significant improvements in QOL post-ablation, which correlate with a decrease in AFB despite ongoing brief recurrences of AF. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT01562912. https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01562912? term=capcost&rank=1.
Essebag et al. (Fri,) conducted a cohort in Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation refractory to antiarrhythmic drugs (n=230). Atrial fibrillation ablation vs. Patients with vs without AF recurrence was evaluated on Change in quality of life (AFEQT, SF-12) and CCS-SAF scores (p=< 0.05). Atrial fibrillation ablation significantly improved quality of life scores, with greater improvements observed in patients without AF recurrence (P<0.05) and those with an AF burden decrease >19 h/month.