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Association Between Atrial Fibrillation Symptoms, Quality of Life, and Patient Outcomes: Results From the Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (ORBIT-AF).

Publication ,  Journal Article
Freeman, JV; Simon, DN; Go, AS; Spertus, J; Fonarow, GC; Gersh, BJ; Hylek, EM; Kowey, PR; Mahaffey, KW; Thomas, LE; Chang, P; Peterson, ED ...
Published in: Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes
July 2015

BACKGROUND: Instruments to assess symptom burden and quality of life among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) have not been well evaluated in community practice or associated with patient outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using data from 10 087 AF patients in the Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment of AF (ORBIT-AF), symptom severity was evaluated using the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) classification system, and quality of life was assessed using the Atrial Fibrillation Effect on Quality-of-Life (AFEQT) questionnaire. The association between AF-related symptoms, quality of life, and outcomes was assessed using Cox regression. The majority of AF patients (61.8%) were symptomatic (EHRA >2) and 16.5% had severe or disabling symptoms (EHRA 3-4). EHRA symptom class was well correlated with the AFEQT score (Spearman correlation coefficient -0.39). Over 1.8 years of follow-up, AF symptoms were associated with a higher risk of hospitalization (adjusted hazard ratio for EHRA ≥2 versus EHRA 1 1.23, 95% confidence interval, 1.15-1.31) and a borderline higher risk of major bleeding. Lower quality of life was associated with a higher risk of hospitalization (adjusted hazard ratio for lowest quartile of AFEQT versus highest 1.49, 95% confidence interval, 1.2-1.84), but not other major adverse events, including death. CONCLUSIONS: In a community-based study, most patients with AF were symptomatic and had impaired quality of life. Quality of life measured by the AFEQT correlated closely with symptom severity measured by the EHRA class. AF symptoms and lower quality of life were associated with higher risk of hospitalization but not mortality during follow-up.

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Published In

Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes

DOI

EISSN

1941-7705

Publication Date

July 2015

Volume

8

Issue

4

Start / End Page

393 / 402

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Registries
  • Quality of Life
  • Prospective Studies
  • Prognosis
  • Outpatients
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Hospitalization
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Freeman, J. V., Simon, D. N., Go, A. S., Spertus, J., Fonarow, G. C., Gersh, B. J., … Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (ORBIT-AF) Investigators and Patients, . (2015). Association Between Atrial Fibrillation Symptoms, Quality of Life, and Patient Outcomes: Results From the Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (ORBIT-AF). Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes, 8(4), 393–402. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.114.001303
Freeman, James V., DaJuanicia N. Simon, Alan S. Go, John Spertus, Gregg C. Fonarow, Bernard J. Gersh, Elaine M. Hylek, et al. “Association Between Atrial Fibrillation Symptoms, Quality of Life, and Patient Outcomes: Results From the Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (ORBIT-AF).Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 8, no. 4 (July 2015): 393–402. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.114.001303.
Freeman, James V., et al. “Association Between Atrial Fibrillation Symptoms, Quality of Life, and Patient Outcomes: Results From the Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (ORBIT-AF).Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes, vol. 8, no. 4, July 2015, pp. 393–402. Pubmed, doi:10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.114.001303.
Freeman JV, Simon DN, Go AS, Spertus J, Fonarow GC, Gersh BJ, Hylek EM, Kowey PR, Mahaffey KW, Thomas LE, Chang P, Peterson ED, Piccini JP, Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (ORBIT-AF) Investigators and Patients. Association Between Atrial Fibrillation Symptoms, Quality of Life, and Patient Outcomes: Results From the Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (ORBIT-AF). Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2015 Jul;8(4):393–402.

Published In

Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes

DOI

EISSN

1941-7705

Publication Date

July 2015

Volume

8

Issue

4

Start / End Page

393 / 402

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Registries
  • Quality of Life
  • Prospective Studies
  • Prognosis
  • Outpatients
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Hospitalization