Female gender, heart failure, and >10 pre-ablation AF episodes positively predicted symptom and HRQoL improvement after RFA, while diabetes, LA volume, and AF recurrence were negative predictors.
Cohort (n=192)
What are the clinical predictors of improvement in arrhythmia-specific symptoms and health-related quality of life after radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation?
Patient characteristics such as gender, diabetes, heart failure, and pre-ablation AF burden can predict the degree of symptom and quality of life improvement following atrial fibrillation ablation.
p-value: p=<0.001
Background The primary goal of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) is to improve symptoms and health‐related quality of life (HRQoL). However, most studies have focused on predictors of AF recurrence rather than on predictors of improvement in symptoms and HRQoL. Hypothesis We sought to explore predictors of improvement in arrhythmia‐specific symptoms and HRQoL after RFA of AF, and to evaluate the effects on symptoms, HRQoL, anxiety, and depression. Methods We studied 192 patients undergoing their first RFA of AF. The Medical Outcomes Study 36‐Item Short‐Form Health Survey (SF‐36), arrhythmia‐specific questionnaire in tachycardia and arrhythmia (ASTA), and hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) questionnaires were filled out at baseline, at 4 months, and at a 1‐year follow‐up. Results All questionnaire scale scores improved significantly over time. In the ASTA symptom scale score, female gender and > 10 AF episodes the month before RFA were significant positive predictors of improvement, while diabetes and AF recurrence within 12 months after RFA were significant negative predictors ( R 2 = 0.18; P 10 AF episodes the month before RFA were significant positive predictors of improvement, while diabetes, maximum left atrial volume and AF recurrence were significant negative predictors ( R 2 = 0.20; P < 0.001). Conclusion Left atrial volume, gender, diabetes, heart failure, the frequency of AF attacks prior to RFA, and recurrence of AF after RFA were significant factors affecting improvement in symptoms and HRQoL after RFA of AF. Future studies are warranted to confirm these findings.
Barmano et al. (Wed,) conducted a cohort in Atrial fibrillation (n=192). Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) was evaluated on Predictors of improvement in arrhythmia-specific symptoms and health-related quality of life (p=<0.001). Female gender, heart failure, and >10 pre-ablation AF episodes positively predicted symptom and HRQoL improvement after RFA, while diabetes, LA volume, and AF recurrence were negative predictors.