Does atrial synchronous pacing improve exercise capacity and symptoms compared to ventricular pacing in patients requiring pacing?
Atrial synchronous pacing is superior to ventricular pacing in improving exercise capacity and patient-reported symptoms.
Thirteen patients have completed a randomised double blind cross over study to compare the effects of chronic ventricular and atrial synchronous pacing on exercise capacity and symptoms. Maximal symptom limited exercise was significantly increased after one month of atrial synchronous pacing compared with ventricular pacing. Symptomatic assessment (by diary card and monthly symptom scores) of "shortness of breath", "palpitation", and "general well-being" was significantly improved during the physiological pacing mode. Atrial synchronous pacing has been shown to be superior to ventricular pacing.
Perrins et al. (Mon,) studied this question.