Objective: CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores are two widely used systems for evaluating the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The Quality of life (QoL) after a single radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in AF patients with low CHADS2 score has been established. This study was designed to further explore the association between the QoL and AF patients with low CHA2DS2-VASc score after RFA.
Methods: We selected 367 AF patients with low CHA2DS2-VASc score (CHA2DS2-VASc<2) from the Chinese Atrial Fibrillation Registry (CAFR) between 2011 and 2013. They all completed both baseline and 6-month Atrial Fibrillation Effect on Quality-of-Life (AFEQT) questionnaires. Propensity score matching was used to construct a final cohort of 105 patients. They were divided into two groups: RFA group (n=44) and non-RFA group (n=61).
Results: Baseline clinic characteristics, and each domain and global score of AFEQT were comparable between the two groups. Except for domain of treatment satisfaction in non-RFA group (mean score change from baseline to 6-month: 3.55, P= 0.13) , the other domains in this group (mean score change from baseline to 6-month: symptom, 14.66; daily activities, 12.56; treatment concern, 17.69; global score, 14.71, all P<0.05) and all the domains in RFA group improved greatly within-group comparison (mean score change from baseline to 6-month: symptom, 20.42; daily activities, 17.1; treatment concern, 20.36; global score, 18.75; treatment satisfaction, 9.66, all P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in all domains of baseline to 6-month changes between two groups (all P>0.05).
Conclusions: No significant changes could be viewed in QoL between RFA and non-RFA AF patients with low CHA2DS2-VASc score, whose baseline AFEQT were balanced, and QoL from baseline to 6-month improves significantly.