title: Long term quality-of-life in patients with bradycardia pacemaker implantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) values shortly after pacemaker (PM) implantation for bradycardia have been established, however little is known about long-term HRQoL.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the generic SF-36 and the PM specific Aquarel questionnaire, HRQoL was repeatedly measured during a 7.5 year follow-up period in 881 bradycardia PM recipients included in the large scale nationwide Dutch FOLLOWPACE study. HRQoL over time, corrected for age, gender, diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, cardiovascular disease and AV-synchrony, was assessed with a linear mixed model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Increased scores both on overall SF-36 and on all SF-36 subscales were observed shortly after implantation. Although scores on SF-36 gradually declined over time, scores remained improved over the measured pre-implantation values. Also, scores for almost all subscales remained increased throughout the 7.5 year observation period, except for physical functioning which showed a gradual decline several years after the initial rise. Additionally, higher scores on all Aquarel scales were observed after implantation. Scores on the arrhythmias and chest discomfort subscales improved and remained stable throughout follow-up (FU), whereas the dyspnea at exertion subscale showed a gradual decline during FU to reach pre-implantation values at 5 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased HRQoL is observed not only shortly after PM implantation, but also after long-term FU.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00135174; http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00135174.
authors: Department of Cardiology, UMC Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, UMC Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: e.o.udo@umcutrecht.nl.
authors: Erik O
authors: EO
authors: Udo
authors: Norbert M
authors: NM
authors: van Hemel
authors: Nicolaas P A
authors: NP
authors: Zuithoff
authors: Heidi
authors: H
authors: Nijboer
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Taks
authors: Pieter A
authors: PA
authors: Doevendans
authors: Karel G M
authors: KG
authors: Moons
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Follow-up; GH; Health-related quality of life; MCS; MH; Mental Component Scale; PCS; PF; PM; Pacemaker; Physical Component Scale; RE; RP; SF; VT; general health perceptions; general mental health; pacemaker; physical functioning; role limitations due to emotional problems; role limitations due to physical health problems; social functioning; vitality