Maze surgery in 48 patients with drug-refractory atrial fibrillation significantly improved health-related quality of life at 6 months and 1 year, reaching levels of the general Swedish population.
Cohort (n=48)
Does the Maze operation improve health-related quality of life in patients with drug-refractory atrial fibrillation?
The Maze operation significantly improves health-related quality of life in patients with drug-refractory atrial fibrillation, restoring it to levels comparable to the general population.
BACKGROUND: Maze surgery for atrial fibrillation (AF) is a curative therapy, but its effect on health-related quality of life has not been studied. METHODS AND RESULTS: Maze operations were performed in 48 patients with drug-refractory AF. The majority of patients (80%) had lone AF, and the primary indication for surgery in all patients was AF. The SF-36 Health Survey was used to assess quality of life before operation and at 6 months and 1 year after surgery. Twenty-five patients were available for the 1-year follow-up and completed all questionnaires. Before maze surgery, the SF-36 scores were significantly lower than in the general Swedish population, reflecting significant impairment in well-being, physical and social functioning, and mental health. After maze surgery, the quality of life was significantly improved at 6 months and at 1 year on all scales except for bodily pain, which, however, was not significantly decreased before surgery. At both 6 months and 1 year after maze surgery, quality of life, measured by the SF-36, reached the levels of the general Swedish population. CONCLUSIONS: The maze operation can significantly improve the health-related quality of life in selected groups of patients with both paroxysmal and chronic AF refractory to antiarrhythmic therapy.
Lönnerholm et al. (Tue,) conducted a cohort in Atrial Fibrillation (n=48). Maze operation vs. Pre-operative baseline was evaluated on Health-related quality of life assessed by the SF-36 Health Survey. Maze surgery in 48 patients with drug-refractory atrial fibrillation significantly improved health-related quality of life at 6 months and 1 year, reaching levels of the general Swedish population.