Quality of life after the initial treatment of atrial fibrillation with cryoablation versus drug therapy.
Quality of life after the initial treatment of atrial fibrillation with cryoablation versus drug therapy.
- 2022
Available online through MWHC library: 2004 - present
BACKGROUND: The STOP AF First trial recently demonstrated that initial treatment with cryoballoon ablation (CBA) is safe and superior to antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) therapy for preventing atrial arrhythmia recurrence in patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). CONCLUSION: First-line CBA vs AAD therapy is associated with larger improvements in AF-specific QoL and a higher rate of symptom resolution. Copyright (c) 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc. METHODS: Patients with symptomatic AF not previously receiving rhythm control therapy were randomized to AAD (class I or III) or CBA (Arctic Front Advance, Medtronic, Mounds View, MN). QoL was evaluated at baseline and at 6 and 12 months by using the Atrial Fibrillation Effect on QualiTy-of-Life (AFEQT) and the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions questionnaires. A review of AF-associated symptoms was conducted at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the change in quality of life (QoL) and symptoms after first-line CBA vs AAD therapy. RESULTS: In total, 203 subjects received either CBA (n = 104 [51.2%]) or AAD therapy (n = 99 [48.8%]). Improvements in the AFEQT summary and subscale scores were significantly larger with CBA than with AAD therapy at 6 and 12 months (P < .02 for all). Clinically meaningful improvement (>5 points) in the AFEQT summary score from baseline to 12 months was observed in 96.0% (100) of patients in the CBA arm vs 72.2% (71) of patients in the AAD arm (P < .001). No significant between-group differences were observed in the change in the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions index or visual analog scale scores. Overall, 54.4% (57) of the CBA group vs 29.7% (29) of the AAD group reported no AF-specific symptom recurrence after a 90-day blanking period (P = .0005).
English
1547-5271
10.1016/j.hrthm.2021.10.009 [doi] S1547-5271(21)02236-0 [pii]
*Anti-Arrhythmia Agents/tu [Therapeutic Use]
*Atrial Fibrillation/dt [Drug Therapy]
*Atrial Fibrillation/su [Surgery]
*Cryosurgery
*Quality of Life
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute
Journal Article
Available online through MWHC library: 2004 - present
BACKGROUND: The STOP AF First trial recently demonstrated that initial treatment with cryoballoon ablation (CBA) is safe and superior to antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) therapy for preventing atrial arrhythmia recurrence in patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). CONCLUSION: First-line CBA vs AAD therapy is associated with larger improvements in AF-specific QoL and a higher rate of symptom resolution. Copyright (c) 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc. METHODS: Patients with symptomatic AF not previously receiving rhythm control therapy were randomized to AAD (class I or III) or CBA (Arctic Front Advance, Medtronic, Mounds View, MN). QoL was evaluated at baseline and at 6 and 12 months by using the Atrial Fibrillation Effect on QualiTy-of-Life (AFEQT) and the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions questionnaires. A review of AF-associated symptoms was conducted at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the change in quality of life (QoL) and symptoms after first-line CBA vs AAD therapy. RESULTS: In total, 203 subjects received either CBA (n = 104 [51.2%]) or AAD therapy (n = 99 [48.8%]). Improvements in the AFEQT summary and subscale scores were significantly larger with CBA than with AAD therapy at 6 and 12 months (P < .02 for all). Clinically meaningful improvement (>5 points) in the AFEQT summary score from baseline to 12 months was observed in 96.0% (100) of patients in the CBA arm vs 72.2% (71) of patients in the AAD arm (P < .001). No significant between-group differences were observed in the change in the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions index or visual analog scale scores. Overall, 54.4% (57) of the CBA group vs 29.7% (29) of the AAD group reported no AF-specific symptom recurrence after a 90-day blanking period (P = .0005).
English
1547-5271
10.1016/j.hrthm.2021.10.009 [doi] S1547-5271(21)02236-0 [pii]
*Anti-Arrhythmia Agents/tu [Therapeutic Use]
*Atrial Fibrillation/dt [Drug Therapy]
*Atrial Fibrillation/su [Surgery]
*Cryosurgery
*Quality of Life
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute
Journal Article