title: Improvement in the Quality of Life and Exercise Performance in Relation to the Plasma B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Level After Catheter Ablation in Patients With Asymptomatic Persistent Atrial Fibrillation.
abstract: Efficacy of catheter ablation (CA) of asymptomatic persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) remains unclear. We assessed the quality of life (QOL), exercise performance (EP), and plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels following CA in patients with asymptomatic AF.
  
  
  
  We enrolled 34 patients with asymptomatic persistent AF. QOL, was assessed by 2 questionnaires: the Short Form-36 (SF-36) and a QOL questionnaire specific for AF (AFQLQ). The QOL, EP, and plasma BNP level were examined before and 6 months after CA. In the SF-36 survey 5 of 8 components and all 3 subsets of the AFQLQ significantly improved in the patients without recurrences (30 patients, 88%), but there were no differences in those with recurrences. In patients without recurrences, there was an increase in the metabolic equivalents of task (10.2±2.3 vs. 11.6±2.3 METs, P<0.0001), duration of maximal exercise (476±144 vs. 605±143 s, P<0.0001), and plasma BNP decrease (146.6±124.3 vs. 33.8±35.6 pg/dL, P<0.0001), with a linear correlation in the increased duration of exercise and plasma BNP decrease (R=0.620, P<0.0001).
  
  
  
  Maintenance of sinus rhythm after successful CA improved the QOL, EP, and plasma BNP level in patients with asymptomatic persistent AF. CA may be primarily applicable in such patients with previously unrecognized impairment in their QOL and EP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Musashino Red Cross Hospital.
authors.forename: Atsuhiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yagishita
authors.forename: Yasuteru
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamauchi
authors.forename: Hironori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: Tatsuhiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirao
authors.forename: Takamichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
authors.forename: Kenzo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirao
authors.forename: Mitsuaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Isobe
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000592:standards*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010807:Physical Endurance; D011788:Quality of Life; D012008:Recurrence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain