A nurse-led intervention improves quality of life and reduces arrhythmic recurrences in patients undergoing atrial fibrillation ablation. Results of the NURSECAT-AF randomized clinical trial

Background/Introduction Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent condition that can lead to a decrease in quality of life and frequent re-hospitalizations. Some data suggest that integrated care nurse-led may blunt these consequences in unselected patients with AF, but not all studies support this. While AF ablation is becoming a cornerstone treatment for symptomatic patients with AF, it is unclear what impact a nurse-led intervention would have on these, quite likely, more receptive patients. Purpose To assess the impact of nurse-led intervention on quality of life among AF patients undergoing ablation. Methods We conducted a single-centre prospective randomised clinical trial to test the effect of an expert nurse-based intervention consisting of an educational programme on AF, support for the patient undergoing cardiac ablation to ensure its success, and management of risk factors associated with this arrhythmia. The control group underwent standard medical follow-up. Patient selection was based on chronological order. Only patients who underwent their first ablation and did not have heart failure were included. The primary endpoint was quality of life at 12 months post-ablation using the Arrhythmia-Specific Scale in Tachycardia and Arrhythmia (ASTA) questionnaire (higher values denote impaired quality of life). Secondary endpoints were AF knowledge and satisfaction at 15 days post-ablation using validated instruments, symptoms using the ASTA questionnaire as well, and readmissions rates, emergency room visits, and AF recurrence rates over a one-year period. Results 116 patients were screened (50 were excluded mostly because were re do). A total of 66 patients were eventually included and randomized (33 per arm; mean age [mean±SD] 63±10 years; 44 men [67%]). At 12 months, quality of life was significantly better in the intervention group than in the control group (4.5 ± 6.1 vs 0.57 ± 2.3, respectively, p=0.001)(Figure). Furthermore, satisfaction levels (17 ± 4.1 vs 12.7 ± 5.4, p>0.001) and disease knowledge (20.5 ± 5.1 vs 15.9 ± 4.5, p<0.001) were higher in the intervention group. Patients in the control group experienced a higher symptom burden during the first year (0.6 ± 1.5 vs 3.8 ± 4.5, p<0.001. Relevant clinical endpoints such as readmissions (3% vs 18.2%, p=0.046), emergency room visits (21.2% vs 57.5%, p=0.021), and arrhythmia recurrences (15.2% vs 45.5%, p=0.02) were all significantly lower in the intervention group. Conclusion(s) Nurse-led integrated care for patients undergoing AF ablation yields substantial improvements in quality of life and symptomatic relief at one year post-procedure. Additionally, it enhances patient knowledge of AF and satisfaction levels, and reduces readmissions, emergency room visits, and arrhythmia recurrences.