Dataset Information

Symptoms and quality of life in patients with coexistent atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL) are two of the most common atrial arrhythmias and often coexist. Many patients with AF or AFL are symptomatic, which impacts their quality of life (QoL). The purpose of this study was to determine whether coexistent AFL represents an added burden for AF patients.

Methods

We combined baseline data from two large prospective, observational, multicenter cohort studies (BEAT-AF and Swiss-AF). All 3931 patients included in this analysis had documented AF. We obtained information on comorbidities, medication, and lifestyle factors. All participants had a clinical examination and a resting ECG. Symptom burden and QoL at the baseline examination were compared between patients with and without coexistent AFL using multivariable adjusted regression models.

Results

Overall, 809 (20.6%) patients had a history of AFL. Patients with coexistent AFL more often had history of heart failure (28% vs 23%, p = 0.01), coronary artery disease (30% vs 26%, p = 0.007), failed therapy with antiarrhythmic drugs (44% vs 29%, p < 0.001), and more often underwent AF-related interventions (36% vs 17%, p < 0.001). They were more often symptomatic (70% vs 66%, p = 0.04) and effort intolerant (OR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.01-1.28; p = 0.04). Documented AFL on the baseline ECG was associated with more symptoms (OR: 2.30; 95% CI: 1.26-4.20; p = 0.007).

Conclusion

Our data indicates that patients with coexistent AF and AFL are more often symptomatic and report poorer quality of life compared to patients suffering from AF only.

SUBMITTER: Stempfel S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7303549 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Symptoms and quality of life in patients with coexistent atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.

Stempfel Samuel S Aeschbacher Stefanie S Blum Steffen S Meyre Pascal P Gugganig Rebecca R Beer Jürg H JH Kobza Richard R Kühne Michael M Moschovitis Giorgio G Menghini Gianluca G Novak Jan J Osswald Stefan S Rodondi Nicolas N Moutzouri Elisavet E Schwenkglenks Matthias M Witassek Fabienne F Conen David D Sticherling Christian C

International journal of cardiology. Heart & vasculature 20200616

<h4>Aims</h4>Atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL) are two of the most common atrial arrhythmias and often coexist. Many patients with AF or AFL are symptomatic, which impacts their quality of life (QoL). The purpose of this study was to determine whether coexistent AFL represents an added burden for AF patients.<h4>Methods</h4>We combined baseline data from two large prospective, observational, multicenter cohort studies (BEAT-AF and Swiss-AF). All 3931 patients included in this ana ...[more]

PMID: 32577496

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Project description:Introduction:Atrial fibrillation (AF) and frailty syndrome (FS) are a part of the aging process. Both are still of great importance in the assessment of quality of life (QoL). There is definitely a lack of research clarifying the association between FS and QoL in AF patients. Objective:The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of FS on QoL in AF patients. Materials and Methods:The retrospective and observational study included 158 inpatients with mean age 69.8±7.1 years, treated for AF in the cardiac department from 1 April 2019 to 31 June 2019. The following instruments were used: the Arrhythmia-Specific Questionnaire in Tachycardia and Arrhythmia (ASTA) and the Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS). Results:The mean level of frailty in the study group was 8.5±5.0. In 25.9% of patients, the level of frailty was mild, in 10.1% moderate, and in 17.1% severe. Patients were divided into two groups based on their frailty status. In comparative analysis of the QoL, there were significant differences between the groups: the frail group had more intense symptoms of arrhythmia than the non-frail group (14.9±4.1 vs 11.9±4.9; p<0.001). In the analysis of the total score impact of arrhythmia on QoL, the frail group had a significantly higher score than the non-frail group (23.5±5.2 vs 14.5±5.5), which confirmed the stronger negative impact of arrhythmia on QoL. In the regression coefficient analysis, the independent predictor of symptom severity and QoL was FS. However, we observed a negative impact of diabetes, which increased the impact of arrhythmia on QoL, and physical activity, which improved QoL and decreased the impact of symptoms on everyday life. Conclusion:Patients in the frail group have worse QoL and higher impact of arrhythmia on QoL in comparison to patients in the non-frail group. Frailty is an independent predictor of higher intensity of symptoms of arrhythmia and worse QoL. Diabetes and physical activity are predictors of QoL for patients with AF.

Project description:ImportanceCurrent guidelines support treating atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL) as equivalent risk factors for ischemic stroke stratified by CHA2DS2-VASc scores, recommending anticoagulation therapy for patients with a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 2 or higher, but some studies found differences in clinical outcomes.ObjectiveTo investigate differences in clinical outcomes among AF, AFL, and matched control cohorts.Design, setting, and participantsThis nationwide cohort study analyzed data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database from January 1, 2001, through December 31, 2012. Follow-up and data analysis ended December 31, 2012. A total of 219 416 age- and sex-matched individuals participated in the study. Clinical outcomes were compared after stratification by CHA2DS2-VASc score (possible score range, 0-9; higher scores indicate greater risk of ischemic stroke).Main outcomes and measuresIschemic stroke, heart failure hospitalization, and all-cause mortality among the AF, AFL, and matched control cohorts were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regression.ResultsThis study comprised 188?811 patients in the AF cohort (mean [SD] age, 73.8 [13.4] years; 104 703 [55.5%] male), 6121 patients in the AFL cohort (mean [SD] age, 67.7 [15.8] years; 3735 [61.0%] male), and 24?484 patients in the matched control cohort (mean [SD] age, 67.3 [15.6] years; 14 940 [61.0%] male). The patients with AF were older, were more predominantly female, and had higher CHA2DS2-VASc scores than the patients with AFL and the control participants. After stratification by CHA2DS2-VASc score, the incidence densities (IDs; events per 100 person-years) of ischemic stroke (AF cohort: ID, 3.08; 95% CI, 3.03-3.13; AFL cohort: ID, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.28-1.62; controls: ID, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.92-1.03), heart failure hospitalization (AF cohort: ID, 3.39; 95% CI, 3.34-3.44; AFL cohort: ID, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.39-1.74; controls: ID, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.29-0.35), and all-cause mortality (AF cohort: ID, 17.8; 95% CI, 17.7-17.9; AFL cohort: ID, 13.9; 95% CI, 13.4-14.4; controls: ID, 4.2; 95% CI, 4.1-4.4) were significantly higher in the AF cohort than in the matched control cohort. For the AFL cohort vs the matched control cohort, the incidences of heart failure hospitalization and all-cause mortality were significantly higher across all levels, but the incidence of ischemic stroke was only significantly higher at CHA2DS2-VASc scores of 5 to 9. For the AF cohort vs the AFL cohort, the incidences of ischemic stroke and heart failure hospitalization were significantly higher at a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 1 or higher, but the incidence of all-cause mortality was significantly higher only at CHA2DS2-VASc scores of 1 to 3.Conclusions and relevanceThis study found different clinical outcomes between patients with AFL and AF and those without AF and AFL. The current recommended level of the CHA2DS2-VASc score in preventing ischemic stroke in patients with AFL should be reevaluated.

Project description:Objective. To investigate the contemporary status of stroke risk profile, antithrombotic treatment, and quality-of-life (QoL) of patients with all types of atrial fibrillation (AF) in China. Design. This is a multicenter, cross-sectional study. Setting. Tertiary (80%) and Tier 2 hospitals (20%) were identified in different economic regions (Northeast, East, West, and Middle) by using a simple random sampling. Participants. A total of 3562 (85.6%) patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and 599 (14.4%) with rheumatic valvular atrial fibrillation (VAF) were consecutively enrolled from 111 hospitals from July 2012 to December 2012. Data Collection. Patient information was collected and QoL was assessed using Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire. Primary and Secondary Outcome Measures. The risk of stroke was assessed using the CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc. QoL was assessed using Medical Outcomes Study SF-36 questionnaire. Results. Overall, 31.7% of the patients received anticoagulant treatment and 61.2% received antiplatelet treatment. The rate of anticoagulant treatment was higher in patients with VAF than in those with NVAF. The anticoagulant use was the lowest in Northeast and the highest in Middle regions. Independent risk factors associated with underuse of anticoagulants for NVAF were age, systolic blood pressure (SBP), non-Middle regions, nontertiary hospitals, and new-onset or paroxysmal AF. For VAF patients, the independent factors were age, paroxysmal AF, treatment in Tier 2 hospitals, SBP, diastolic blood pressure, history of coronary artery disease, and nonreceipt of antiarrhythmic therapy. Patients receiving anticoagulants fared significantly better in some QoL domains than those who received no antithrombotic therapy. Conclusions. These findings suggest that antiplatelet treatment is overused and anticoagulant treatment is underused both in Chinese patients with VAF and NVAF, even though usage of anticoagulants is associated with better QoL. Risk factors with underuse of anticoagulants were not identical in patients with NVAF and VAF.

Dataset Information

Symptoms and quality of life in patients with coexistent atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.

Aims

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Symptoms and quality of life in patients with coexistent atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.

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