title: Impact of radiofrequency ablation on health-related quality of life in patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia compared with a norm population one year after treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the impact of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT).
  
  
  METHODS
  HRQOL was assessed with the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) and EuroQol (EQ)-5D at baseline and 3 and 12 months after RFA. At 12 months, the patients were compared with an age- and gender-matched reference group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients showed a marked improvement in all the SF-36's scales at 3 months after treatment compared with baseline. Patients scored higher in all scales in the SF-36 but not in the EQ-5D's index at 12 months compared with baseline. No further improvements were detected from 3 to 12 months follow-up. Twelve months after treatment, patients scored equal to the reference group in the SF-36 and EQ-5D index, indicating a complete restoration of the HRQOL after RFA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PSVT is a condition with a pronounced impact on HRQOL. At 12 months follow-up after RFA, patients' HRQOL scores were similar to those of the age- and gender-matched reference group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Division of Nursing Science, Linköping University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden. ulla.walfridsson@lio.se
authors.forename: Ulla
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Walfridsson
authors.forename: Håkan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Walfridsson
authors.forename: Kristofer
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arestedt
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Strömberg
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000367:Age Factors; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013614:Tachycardia, Paroxysmal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents