title: Variation in quality of life with type of atrial fibrillation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common arrhythmias. It is classified according to its presentation as either paroxysmal, persistent or permanent. The presence of this arrhythmia has been associated with a decrease in patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The Atrial Fibrillation-Quality of Life (AF-QoL) questionnaire, which is specifically for use in patients with AF, has recently been developed and validated. The aim of this study was to use this questionnaire to investigate differences in HRQoL associated with different types of AF.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective observational multicenter study was performed in a regular clinical context in Spain. The AF-QoL questionnaire was administered to study patients, who were diagnosed as having one of the three types of AF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study involved 341 patients with AF, 43% of whom had persistent AF, while 37% had paroxysmal AF, and 20% had permanent AF. Although the type of AF had no significant effect on the overall AF-QoL score, patients with permanent AF had the highest scores on the psychological dimension (i.e. better HRQoL). In addition, an increased frequency of symptoms, more emergency department visits, and poorer functioning were also associated with significant differences in HRQoL in AF patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of the AF-QoL questionnaire showed that the HRQoL of AF patients was influenced by the clinical characteristics of the disease but not, except on the psychological dimension, by the type of AF.
authors.affiliation: Sección de Arritmias, Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, España. rpeinado@secardiologia.es
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peinado
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Arribas
authors.forename: José Miguel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ormaetxe
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Badía
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents