Long-term health-related quality of life and rhythm outcomes of catheter ablation versus antiarrhythmic drugs in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Data on long-term effects of catheter ablation vs antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and atrial fibrillation (AF) burden are limited.

Objective: The study aimed to assess long-term HRQoL and rhythm data in patients with symptomatic AF.

Methods: The 75 patients who underwent ablation and 74 receiving AADs in the Catheter Ablation compared with Pharmacological Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation (CAPTAF) trial were followed for 48 months.

Accessory pathway properties are similar in symptomatic and asymptomatic preexcitation.

Purpose: Patients with WPW syndrome have an increased mortality rate compared to the general population. Although asymptomatic preexcitation has previously been considered benign, recent studies have found that also asymptomatic patients have clinical and electrophysiological factors associated with increased risk of sudden cardiac death. This study compares the baseline electrophysiological characteristics of accessory pathways in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with preexcitation.

Atrial fibrillation burden, episode duration and frequency in relation to quality of life in patients with implantable cardiac monitor.

Aims: To assess the relation between atrial fibrillation (AF) characteristics and health-related quality of life (QoL), and which AF characteristic had the greatest impact.

Method: The AF characteristics burden (percentage of time in AF), duration and number of AF episodes/month were obtained from implantable cardiac monitors during the 2-month run-in period in 150 patients included in the randomized CAPTAF trial comparing early ablation and antiarrhythmic drug therapy. The QoL was measured by the General Health and Vitality dimensions of the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey.

Idiopathic ventricular fibrillation - Long term prognosis in relation to clinical findings and ECG patterns in a Swedish cohort.

Background: Idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (IVF) is a rare cause of sudden cardiac arrest which may pose therapeutic and prognostic challenges. To date, the only effective treatment for survivors of cardiac arrest is the insertion of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). We sought to review the long-term outcome of a Swedish cohort with IVF.

Effect of Catheter Ablation vs Antiarrhythmic Medication on Quality of Life in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: The CAPTAF Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Quality of life is not a standard primary outcome in ablation trials, even though symptoms drive the indication.

Objective: To assess quality of life with catheter ablation vs antiarrhythmic medication at 12 months in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Randomized clinical trial at 4 university hospitals in Sweden and 1 in Finland of 155 patients aged 30-70 years with more than 6 months of atrial fibrillation and treatment failure with 1 antiarrhythmic drug or β-blocker, with 4-year follow-up.