title: [Quality of life differences in patients with typical atrial flutter following cavotricuspid isthmus ablation].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to assess and measure health-related quality of life (HRQoL) changes in patients with typical atrial flutter following catheter ablation. The outcome was standardized and normalized to the Spanish population adjusted by age and sex.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-five consecutive patients who had undergone cavotricuspid isthmus ablation were included. The SF-36 questionnaire was self-administered before the procedure and at 1-year follow-up. We used the effect size and the standardized response mean as measures of responsiveness to quantify the change in HRQoL and the minimum clinically important difference to assess the smallest difference in score that patients perceived as beneficial.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 95 patients initially included, 88 completed the 1-year follow-up. We observed a large improvement (effect size ≥0.8) on the physical functioning, role-physical , general health, and vitality scales and on the physical component summary. We detected a moderate improvement (effect size ≥0.5) on the role-emotional, social functioning, and mental health scales and on the mental component summary. On all scales except bodily pain and social activity, the improvement was clinically perceived by patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A clinically significant improvement in HRQoL measures was found in patients with typical atrial flutter who underwent cavotricuspid isthmus catheter ablation.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Arritmias, Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, España. Javier.Garcia.Seara@sergas.es
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García Seara
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gude
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cabanas
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Martínez Sande
authors.forename: Xesús
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fernández López
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Elices
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brugada Terradellas
authors.forename: José Ramón
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: González Juanatey
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001282:Atrial Flutter / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014261:Tricuspid Valve / Q000601:surgery*