Patient perception of symptoms and quality of life following ablation in patients with supraventricular tachycardia.
OBJECTIVE
It remains unclear which symptom experiences and aspects of quality of life (QOL) change after ablation in patients with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). To determine how patient perceptions of symptoms and QOL change after ablation, we used a single group pretest-posttest design.


METHODS
Patients with SVT (n=52; mean age 41+/-17 years; 65% female) completed generic and disease-specific measures at baseline and 1 month after ablation.


RESULTS
Significant improvement after ablation was noted on virtually all measures (P <.05). Patients reported decreases from baseline regarding frequency and duration of episodes, number of symptoms, and impact of SVT on routine activities. All symptoms decreased in prevalence; however, no symptoms were completely eliminated at 1-month follow-up. Women, more so than men, reported larger changes in symptom and QOL scores after ablation.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the small sample, statistically significant improvement was found after ablation in a variety of patients with different symptoms and QOL indices.
Wood
Kathryn A
KA
Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, NC 27710, USA. kathryn.wood@duke.edu
Stewart
Anita L
AL
Drew
Barbara J
BJ
Scheinman
Melvin M
MM
Froëlicher
Erika S
ES
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D022062:Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011788:Quality of Life; D013611:Tachycardia, Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult