Quality of life and exercise performance in patients in sinus rhythm versus persistent atrial fibrillation: a Veterans Affairs Cooperative Studies Program Substudy.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine quality of life (QOL) and exercise performance (EP) in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) converted to sinus rhythm (SR) compared with those remaining in or reverting to AF.


BACKGROUND
Restoration of SR in patients with AF improving QOL and EP remains controversial.


METHODS
Patients with persistent AF were randomized double-blind to amiodarone, sotalol, or placebo. Those not achieving SR at day 28 were cardioverted and classified into SR or AF groups at 8 weeks (n = 624) and 1 year (n = 556). The QOL (SF-36), symptom checklist (SCL), specific activity scale (SAS), AF severity scale (AFSS), and EP were assessed.


RESULTS
Favorable changes were seen in SR patients at 8 weeks in physical functioning (p < 0.001), physical role limitations (p = 0.03), general health (p = 0.002), and vitality (p < 0.001), and at 1 year in general health (p = 0.007) and social functioning (p = 0.02). Changes in the scores for SCL severity (p = 0.01), functional capacity (p = 0.003), and AFSS symptom burden (p < 0.001) at 8 weeks and in SCL severity (p < 0.01) and AF symptom burden (p < 0.001) at 1 year showed significant improvements in SR versus AF. Symptomatic patients were more likely to have improvement. The EP in SR versus AF was greater from baseline to 8 weeks (p = 0.01) and to 1 year (p = 0.02). The EP correlated with physical functioning and functional capacity except in the AF group at 1 year.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with persistent AF, restoration and maintenance of SR was associated with improvements in QOL measures and EP. There was a strong correlation between QOL measures and EP.
Singh
Steven N
SN
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC 20422, USA. steve.singh@med.va.gov
Tang
X Charlene
XC
Singh
Bramah N
BN
Dorian
Paul
P
Reda
Domenic J
DJ
Harris
Crystal L
CL
Fletcher
Ross D
RD
Sharma
Satish C
SC
Atwood
J Edwin
JE
Jacobson
Alan K
AK
Lewis
H Daniel
HD
Lopez
Becky
B
Raisch
Dennis W
DW
Ezekowitz
Michael D
MD
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013015:Sotalol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014728:Veterans
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D013015:Sotalol; D000638:Amiodarone