Validation of the AF-QoL, a disease-specific quality of life questionnaire for patients with atrial fibrillation

AIMS: To assess the performance of AF-QoL, a quality of life questionnaire for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS AND RESULTS: Observational, prospective, multicentre study in 29 Spanish centres. Three patients' groups were identified at baseline visit: AF patients receiving a new therapeutic intervention according to physician criteria (intervention group); AF clinically stable patients according to physician evaluation (clinically stable group); and patients in a stable condition for more than 1 year after a myocardial infarction (control group). All patients were > or = 18 years. Follow-up visit was at 1 month (clinically stable group) and 3 +/- 1 months (intervention group). Sociodemographic and clinical information was gathered. AF-QoL, SF-36, and patient self-perception of general health status were administered. A total of 417 patients was included. Mean (SD) age was 61.2 (12.4), 31.4% women. AF-QoL mean overall score in AF patients (43.6) was lower (worse health-related quality of life, HRQoL) than in the control group (51.7) (P < 0.05). At baseline, patients with higher frequency of symptoms (P < 0.05) and worse NYHA functional class (P < 0.01) reported lower AF-QoL scores. AF-QoL and SF-36 correlated in all of their domains (r = 0.14-0.8, P < 0.01). AF-QoL showed good internal consistency (0.92) and test-retest reliability (0.86). CONCLUSION: AF-QoL is a valid and reliable HRQoL measure. Further investigation is recommended before using it in clinical practice.