Key result
Catheter ablation of supraventricular tachycardia significantly improved arrhythmia-related well-being, with the U22 well-being score increasing from 5.9 at baseline to 7.9 at 6 months (P<0.0005).
Why the study?
Does catheter ablation improve arrhythmia-specific symptoms measured by the U22 questionnaire in patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia?
Cohort (n=58)
Single-blind
No
Does catheter ablation improve arrhythmia-specific symptoms measured by the U22 questionnaire in patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia?
Absolute Event Rate: 7.9% vs 5.9%
p-value: p=<0.0005
The arrhythmia-specific U22 questionnaire detected significant improvements in well-being after successful SVT ablation, whereas the generic SF-36 showed only modest changes.
Supports U22 over generic tools for SVT ablation assessment; leaves open causal efficacy pending randomized data.
INTRODUCTION: The main indication for ablation of supraventricular tachycardia is symptomatic relief. Generic measures of quality of life are not suitable for direct evaluation of arrhythmia-related symptoms, and a specific tool is needed. The questionnaire U22 quantifies symptoms associated with arrhythmic events. It uses discrete 0-10 scales for quantification of influence of arrhythmia on well-being, intensity of discomfort, type of dominant symptom, and a time aspect that summarizes duration and frequency of spells. We evaluated U22 in a well defined group of patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, undergoing an intervention with a distinct end-point and a high success rate. METHODS: Symptoms in patients with accessory pathway and atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia scheduled for ablation were measured with U22 and SF-36 on admission. The evaluation was repeated after 6 months. RESULTS: Altogether 58 patients successfully ablated in 2006-2008 completed the four forms (U22 and SF-36 at base-line and follow-up, 210 ± 35 days after ablation). The score for well-being (0-10; 10 being best) increased from 5.9 ± 2.6 to 7.9 ± 1.9 (P < 0.0005). The score for arrhythmia as cause for impairment in well-being (0-10; 10 being highest) decreased from 7.5 ± 2.8 to 2.0 ± 3.1 (P < 0.0005). The time aspect score (0-10) decreased from 4.7 ± 1.5 to 1.4 ± 1.8 (P < 0.0005). The two SF-36 summary measures PCS and MCS increased from 46.9 ± 9.4 to 48.4 ± 10.7 and from 44.9 ± 12.5 to 49.1 ± 9.9 (P = 0.04 and 0.002). CONCLUSION: After successful ablation of accessory pathway and atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia, the U22 protocol detected a relevant increase in arrhythmia-related well-being. Modest improvement in general well-being was detected by the SF-36 protocol.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Kesek et al. (2010) conducted a cohort in Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (n=58). Catheter ablation vs. Baseline (pre-ablation) was evaluated on U22 score for well-being (0-10 scale) (p=<0.0005). Catheter ablation of supraventricular tachycardia significantly improved arrhythmia-related well-being, with the U22 well-being score increasing from 5.9 at baseline to 7.9 at 6 months (P<0.0005).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: