Symptom severity assessment in patients with atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation using a smartphone application

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Observational. Population: Atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation (n=140). Intervention: Smartphone-based symptom severity assessment. Primary outcome: Feasibility of smartphone-based symptom severity assessment and predictors of symptom severity.

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Smartphone-based assessment of symptom severity after atrial fibrillation catheter ablation is feasible with moderate adherence, showing that symptom severity is higher during arrhythmia, in women, and with elevated heart rate, despite nearly half of AF episodes being asymptomatic. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.METHODOLOGICAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Emma Sandgren; Konstanze Betz; Monika Gawałko; Astrid N L Hermans; Zarina Habibi; D V M Verhaert; S Philippens; Bianca Vorstermans; Mandy Kessels; David Bovenkerk; B J M Hermans; Jeroen Hendriks; Dennis W. den Uijl; Sevasti‐Maria Chaldoupi; Justin Luermans; Theo Lankveld; Ulrich Schotten; Kevin Vernooy; Dominik Linz

doi:10.1093/europace/euag139

Key result

Smartphone app assesses symptom severity in AF patients following catheter ablation.

n=140

Figures

Why the study?

Conventional assessments of symptom severity in atrial fibrillation lack temporal precision, limiting understanding of symptom variability after catheter ablation.

Key Points

To evaluate the feasibility of smartphone-based symptom severity assessment following catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation and to determine predictors and variability of reported symptoms.
Analyzed 140 patients from the ISOLATION study using a photoplethysmography-enabled smartphone application to record heart rhythm, symptoms, and symptom severity.
Recordings were taken three times daily and on-demand during symptoms for 7-day periods at 3, 6, and 12 months post-ablation, graded via the modified European Heart Rhythm Association scale.
A total of 8,575 recordings were evaluated with a median adherence of 67%, and 11% of all recordings demonstrated atrial fibrillation.
Symptom severity was elevated during atrial fibrillation episodes, among female patients, and with higher heart rates.
Nearly half of all recordings confirming atrial fibrillation were entirely asymptomatic.

Study Design

Type

Observational (n=140)

Structured PICO

P

Population

140 patients with atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation who used a smartphone application to record heart rhythm and symptoms for 7 days at 3, 6, and 12 months post-ablation.

E

Exposure

Photoplethysmography-supported smartphone application to record heart rhythm, symptoms, and symptom severity three times daily and when symptomatic for 7 days at 3, 6, and 12 months after ablation

O

Outcome

Feasibility of smartphone-based symptom severity assessment, predictors, and variability of symptom severitypatient reported

Smartphone-based symptom severity assessment is feasible after AF ablation and highlights significant individual variability and a high rate of asymptomatic AF.

Implication

May aid post-ablation AF symptom monitoring; leaves open validation in larger outcome trials.

Abstract

AIMS: Symptom severity in atrial fibrillation (AF) influences healthcare use, but conventional assessments lack temporal precision. We evaluated the feasibility of smartphone-based symptom severity assessment after AF catheter ablation and explored predictors and variability of symptom severity. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this analysis of the ISOLATION study, 140 patients used a photoplethysmography-supported smartphone application to record heart rhythm, symptoms, and symptom severity three times daily and when symptomatic for 7 days at 3, 6, and 12 months after ablation. Symptom severity was classified using the modified European Heart Rhythm Association scale. A total of 8575 recordings were analysed, of which 11% showed AF. Median adherence was 67%. Symptom severity was higher during AF, in women, and with higher heart rate. Nearly half of AF recordings were asymptomatic. CONCLUSION: Smartphone-based symptom severity assessment after AF ablation is feasible and reveals substantial individual variability beyond rhythm status alone.

Discussion

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Cite This Study

Sandgren et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation (n=140). Smartphone-based symptom severity assessment was evaluated on Feasibility of smartphone-based symptom severity assessment and predictors of symptom severity. Smartphone-based symptom severity assessment after AF ablation was feasible with a median adherence of 67%, revealing that nearly half of the AF recordings were asymptomatic.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a31572eaf7cf7f8256b3e0f https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euag139

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Symptom severity assessment in patients with atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation using a smartphone application

Figures

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Symptom severity assessment in patients with atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation using a smartphone application

Figures

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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